Kolek planning to go pro
Does Nick Nurse realize he’s not coaching college? Not sure I’ve ever seen a more animated coach on the sidelines in the NBA.
To be fair that's only because Bud can't get in and out of squats
I know nobody here said the Warriors were actually better without Durant, but others have.Yeah, because winning 2 NBA titles in 2 attempts, with him being the Finals MVP both times certainly proves they are better without him.Peeples is stoopid sumtimez.
I don't know what the minutes are, but I heard a stat on the radio about how Giannis and Middleton have played 200-some minutes in the Playoffs so far this year (or maybe going into game 1) while Kawhi was well into the 400 minutes.The Bucks are a better team. It felt like they stole this win. When you're the worse team, you can't have someone steal a game you controlled. I hope the Bucks come out and roll from start to finish tomorrow night, and Kawhi starts dreaming of being in LA.
During the Sixers series Toronto frequently played only 7. Last night they got only 40 bench minutes and 4 out of 5 starters played 40 minutes or more (technically Gasol was 5 seconds short). In contrast, only Giannis (37 minutes) played 35 for the Bucks and they got 79 minutes from arguably the best bench in the NBA. That will almost always make a difference down the stretch. When the Bucks could elevate their game in the 4th to 'maximum effort', Toronto simply couldn't answer.The Raptors played as well as they are capable. Lowry had a monster game. For the most part, the Bucks played poorly although the energy was consistent throughout. But the Bucks still won. They won because they're simply a better and deeper team.
During the Sixers series Toronto frequently played only 7. Last night they got only 40 bench minutes and 4 out of 5 starters played 40 minutes or more (technically Gasol was 5 seconds short). In contrast, only Giannis (37 minutes) played 35 for the Bucks and they got 79 minutes from arguably the best bench in the NBA. That will almost always make a difference down the stretch. When the Bucks could elevate their game in the 4th to 'maximum effort', Toronto simply couldn't answer.
Don't know how it played on TV, but at the game it was very obvious the Raptors were gassed in the 4th. Their biggest problem is that Kawhi has to play 40+ minutes every game for them to have a chance. He was a completely different player in the 4th after being far and away the best player on the floor for the first 2 1/2 quarters.
Most of Kawhi's shots were short. Classic sign of fatigue.
Yep, same as in the Blazers/Warriors game. Blazers had a ton of trouble on rotations. Basically never made a necessary second rotation cause they were so slow. Granted the Warriors move the ball so well and force shifts aggressively, but Blazers coming off a grueling and emotional Game 7 on Sunday, travel day, then playing Tues night, they were beat. Raptors same situation. Running on fumes
This is exactly why, I think, Bud is right that playoff basketball is really no different than regular season basketball. Bucks depth has consistently enabled running people out of the gyms in the 3rd and 4th quarters. I'll say this, if Toronto needs Kyle Lowry playing like Steph Curry to beat the Bucks, coupled with the Bucks shooting 25% from 3, I'll take those odds and tip my cap if it happens.
Those are both good points but there are outliers both ways. Raptors not named Lowry were 0-15 in the 4th quarter. That's not happening again. Non-Lowry Raptors were 8-33 from 3P range. That likely is not happening again. Kawhi shot 38%. That probably will be his series low. Brook probably played his best game he'll play this series.I think the Bucks win the series but I've seen a lot of "The Bucks played awful and still won!" today. As if the Raptors didn't play awful outside of Lowry. Both teams got one good performance (Lopez, Lowry). Giannis was better than Kawhi. Nobody else really played well besides maybe Brogdon.