The Milwaukee Bucks finished last season with 44 wins and 38 losses and was the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. After yet another disappointed playoff run by losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games, the Bucks are looking to compete after a big offseason. Here are three reasons why the Milwaukee Bucks will be in the Eastern Conference finals.

New coaching

The Bucks have had a rough stretch in the coaching department. Starting the season, they had three- year head coach Jason Kidd. After an underachieving start by Jason Kidd and company, they terminated his contract and gave assistant coach Joe Prunty interim head coach duties. After Joe Prunty finished the season with an improved record of 21-16, the Bucks decided not to continue his contract as head coach and Prunty became an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns. Milwaukee decided to sign former Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer. Budenholzer brings his staff and his new and innovative schemes to Milwaukee. He is a former winner of Coach of the Year award and a four-time NBA champion as an assistant coach. Budenholzer will provide much needed stability at the job and new schemes to space out the young Bucks and provide much needed three-point ability.

  Offseason additions

After losing starting power forward Jabari Parker, Milwaukee picked up players to round up the already competitive roster. To start the offseason, Milwaukee drafted a sharpshooting shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo from Villanova University to increase their three-point ability, where they were ranked 20th in the league. They also signed former starting center for the Lakers Brook Lopez. Lopez brings much needed help in rebounding and big man scoring for the Bucks. Milwaukee also rounded out their bench by signing  former 76er and Buck Ersan Ilyasova. Ilyasova brings three-point shooting and depth in the power forward position

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is arguably the best player under the age of 24 in the league. If Antetokounmpo continues on the progression he has been on, the sky’s the limit for what he can achieve.  After finishing sixth in Most Valuable Player voting for the NBA, Antetokounmpo is looking to leap into the top three. Look for Antetokounmpo to take even more leadership and more spacing on the court.