OT- NBA playoffs Lillard

[nelsonmuntz]

They totally figured out Giannis.

Nope. Toronto left Middleton, Bledsoe, etc. wide open and bet that the Bucks would choke from outside.

Outside of Giannis and Hill, the Bucks were 6 for 24 from 3. That is a full blown choke.

 

[polycom]

If the bucks figure out how to win this series they are going to get swept by the warriors if iggy is back

 

[superjohn]

Nope. Toronto left Middleton, Bledsoe, etc. wide open and bet that the Bucks would choke from outside.

That's part of figuring him out. Awful job by Budenholzer too, he didn't play Mirotic at all.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

That's part of figuring him out. Awful job by Budenholzer too, he didn't play Mirotic at all.

It's Giannis' fault that his teammates are shooting worse than a men's rec league team from outside. Got it.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Boston going all in for Kawhi would’ve been interesting for sure.

Had they not made the kyrie trade they probably had the assets for him and brow (and could’ve traded for brow at the trade deadline).

TODAY the Celtics not getting Kawhi looks like a poor choice and for 2018-19 it may have been. Come July 1st when he signs with the Clippers not so much.

What's even more amazing to me is that right now playing THROUGH the leg injury (same thigh injury??!!) Kawhi is better than Giannis and able to seize control of these games. Yes Kawhi has a more experienced supporting cast, but ultimately these games are coming down to Kawhi getting BUCKETS when they are desperately needed. Kawhi's performance while hurt definitely increases curiosity about if Kawhi could have played last year and at same time IF that same injury is still hanging around it is an argument that he needed the rest.

Meanwhile at games end Giannis is charging like a bull in a china shop. Chris Weber (who knows shrinking from the moment) was 1000% correct to identify the BS in Giannis removing himself from the game with just over a minute left. WTF?! Bucks definitely crumbled in that game and it starts at the top. Middelton being their go-to guy when they need a bucket late is just weird.

I thought Kenny Smith, as always was really insightful after the game when he commented that now the Bucks get to find out if they are championship caliber or not. Who can step up and keep fighting no matter what? Last night it was only Lopez & Brogdon, maybe Bledsoe a little but even at his best he makes a lot of ill-fated over penetrating decisions (is he a rich man's Taliek Brown?). But maybe the Bucks have what it takes as Giannis is learning at a super high level. Yet it is driving me crazy that they don't get him the ball in the low post or even high post more than giving it to him at the three point line and trying to have him dribble create. Their shooters have deteriorated with Middleton blanketed. And Giannis passes, often behind himself after WALL thwarted penetration are off - making the three's much harder. In contrast Kawhi had 9 assists last night and every... single... assist .... led to a three...wow! Giannis in the post, especially late, might just get fouled and miss the free throws. I say try it anyway, if you are scared of your best player on the line you are toast anyway. At least his passes from there should be better.

Definitely these last two games lead me to believe that Bucks are shrinking as the moment gets bigger, doesn't bode well if they make the finals - although they'd obviously have to overcome this to do so. Raptors in contrast have been in more playoff series and are emboldened by less fear of failure.

 

[superjohn]

It's Giannis' fault that his teammates are shooting worse than a men's rec league team from outside. Got it.

Greek Freak's numbers look fine but they figured out how to play him. Don't let him live in the paint and let him beat you. They aren't letting Giannis and Milwuakee run and in the halfcourt they build a wall and let Giannis run into it every time. Bucks still haven't made an adjustment, it's Giannis stubbornly running into the wall and then having trouble making the right decision with the ball. If Milwaukee beats you because of Lopez, Bledsoe and co. then so be it.

When the Raptors went on their run Greek Freak put his head down and dribbled into the wall over and over making an inaccurate pass as a last resort or turning it over. On the other end Kawhi was getting whatever he wanted.

 

[Lefty2one]

That's part of figuring him out. Awful job by Budenholzer too, he didn't play Mirotic at all.

 

[Walker11]

Kawhi doing work [Giannis points per 100 by defender]
Not sure why I can't post a photo. Kawhi is by far the best individual defender against him in the league.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Bucks in the middle of one of the most epic second half collapses that I can remember in a conference Final. Up 15 over halfway through the third, and give up a 26-3 (and counting) run.

 

[superjohn]

Not sure I've ever seen a series and closeout game turn like this. 26-3 run from Toronto, Giannis and Budenholzer not ready from prime time.

 

[superjohn]

Geez, Giannis got exposed. Not even looking to shoot the ball from 6 feet out, Brook friggin' Lopez was their go to guy. Giannis totally disappeared again in winning time.

Congrats to Kawhi and Toronto, they deserve it.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

This is the difference between championship contenders and teams that are just happy to be in the playoffs. This Bucks team is more likely to get worse than they are to get better next season, and Giannis will need to make a decision next year about whether to pursue a SuperMax in Milwaukee or playing for a winner in a bigger market. The future is not looking good for Milwaukee.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think the Eastern Conference Finals are also proving just how overrated and disruptive to team chemistry Kyrie Irving is. A year ago, this Celtics team, without Kyrie, beat the Bucks in the first round. This year, with Kyrie, the Celtics get knocked out in 5 games, and the 3 of the losses were by 10+ points.

There was some excuse making around "the Bucks are unstoppable". Well, the Raptors are showing that the Bucks are very stoppable, but not when Kyrie is playing hero ball for 35 minutes a game. It was hard enough for the Kyrie apologists to defend him after the Bucks series, but now, watching the Bucks struggle with the Raptors, it is impossible to defend Kyrie.

If there is any question that Kyrie is hot garbage, it got answered by the Bucks performance in the Conference Finals. The Bucks looked like a team of mediocre chokers against the Raptors, yet they dominated a Kyrie led Celtics team in the second round.

 

[Robertelamin]

Congrats to Drake!

Is Klay going to be guarding Kawhi?

 

[superjohn]

Congrats to Drake!

Is Klay going to be guarding Kawhi?

Yes he will be but as this thread has taught us Klay is just a one trick pony role player.

 

[Walker11]

Congrats to Drake!

Is Klay going to be guarding Kawhi?

Klay will guard Lowry to start probably. Hide Curry on Green or FVV.

The Raptors have a real chance in this series with their unbelievable D. The Warriors can't exactly be stopped on offense but the Raptors have great defensive options for every Warrior. Kyle on Steph, Green on Klay, Kawhi on KD, Siakam can guard either Draymond or Iggy.

 

[superjohn]

 

[Walker11]

This is the difference between championship contenders and teams that are just happy to be in the playoffs. This Bucks team is more likely to get worse than they are to get better next season, and Giannis will need to make a decision next year about whether to pursue a SuperMax in Milwaukee or playing for a winner in a bigger market. The future is not looking good for Milwaukee.

Giannis seems very happy in a small market. They have a lot of decisions to make in the offseason but their window is going to be open for a long time, especially with GSW breaking up. He is just going to get better and better. They don't exactly have a stacked roster. Giannis makes everyone else far better and that will continue with whoever surrounds him.

 

[superjohn]

Giannis seems very happy in a small market. They have a lot of decisions to make in the offseason but their window is going to be open for a long time, especially with GSW breaking up. He is just going to get better and better. They don't exactly have a stacked roster. Giannis makes everyone else far better and that will continue with whoever surrounds him.

Learning how to shoot is paramount for him. We see how great he already is and that's without being able to shoot.

Who else do you think is leaving the Warriors besides Durant?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Giannis seems very happy in a small market. They have a lot of decisions to make in the offseason but their window is going to be open for a long time, especially with GSW breaking up. He is just going to get better and better. They don't exactly have a stacked roster. Giannis makes everyone else far better and that will continue with whoever surrounds him.

I think the Warriors are going into a slow decline even if Durant is the only one of their Top4 that departs.

Giannis, Bledsoe and Ilyasova are the only 3 of the Bucks Top 7 that are definitely returning. Brogdon and Middleton are free agents, and the Bucks need to sign both. The Bucks problem is that they got Hill and Lopez for virtually nothing. Lopez is going to command a big raise, and the Bucks need to waive Hill by July or they pick up an $18 million year, which they cant afford. Further down the bench, they cant afford Mirotic and they are stuck with Snell.

The Bucks best case is Middleton and Brogdon sign for reasonable contracts, which is possible, and they find the next versions of Lopez and Hill, which seems unlikely. The Bucks will still be good if this happens, but they will certainly take a step back.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

There are so many free agents this summer that I think some of the smarter, small market teams like Indiana, Utah and the Milwaukee may stay on the sidelines in the beginning and let other teams, like the Knicks and Lakers or even Sacramento and Orlando, blow through their cap space on the top names. Then the Bucks could step in and get what is left at potentially big discounts to what some of these assets may be priced at right now.

 

[Walker11]

Learning how to shoot is paramount for him. We see how great he already is and that's without being able to shoot.

Who else do you think is leaving the Warriors besides Durant?

Nobody else. I expect they will remain the favorites, just not the prohibitive favorites.

 

[Walker11]

I think the Warriors are going into a slow decline even if Durant is the only one of their Top4 that departs.

Giannis, Bledsoe and Ilyasova are the only 3 of the Bucks Top 7 that are definitely returning. Brogdon and Middleton are free agents, and the Bucks need to sign both. The Bucks problem is that they got Hill and Lopez for virtually nothing. Lopez is going to command a big raise, and the Bucks need to waive Hill by July or they pick up an $18 million year, which they cant afford. Further down the bench, they cant afford Mirotic and they are stuck with Snell.

The Bucks best case is Middleton and Brogdon sign for reasonable contracts, which is possible, and they find the next versions of Lopez and Hill, which seems unlikely. The Bucks will still be good if this happens, but they will certainly take a step back.

I won't be surprised if Lopez takes a pay reduction and returns but Hill is gone.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I won't be surprised if Lopez takes a pay reduction and returns but Hill is gone.

That Bledsoe contract looked worse every game this post season. A team doesn't typically find itself in Miami's or Charlotte's cap situation with one big bad contract. That happens when they sign 3 or 4 deals that are all a little above market, and they wake up one day and realize they have no moves to make.