NBA Thread 2020-21

[Billy Hoyle]

This is insane. The Bucks D hasn’t even been that stifling, the Nets just are literally colder than any team I’ve ever seen since the Bucks in game 2

you jinxed them. 30-11 first quarter for the Bucks, so far 15-2 for the Nets in the second.

[MuggsyB]

you jinxed them. 30-11 first quarter for the Bucks, so far 15-2 for the Nets in the second.

Apparently. 

[MuggsyB]

The Bucks have 3 points in over 7.5 mins.in the 2nd Q.  Their h-c offense is an absolute disaster.   WTH is Budenholzer doing?

[MuggsyB]

Van Gundy is 100% correct.  Giannis should not be initiating offense in their h-c sets.  He has zero confidence in his jump shot and they are literally giving him a wide open look from 12 feet and beyond.   He is 3 for 29 from distance in the playoffs.  Enough.  Get him off the ball.  The Bucks look like they're in serious trouble.  Durant has shot horribly and it's a 1pt game.

[wadesworld]

Brook Lopez has one two point attempt. While playing a team that plays Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, and Bruce Brown at the 5. And while watching Giannis shoot 7 three pointers, none of which are at the end of the shot clock.

Bud has absolutely gotta go. He didn’t learn from the Toronto series when they let Fred Van Vleet guard Brook and we still just had him float around the perimeter.

[wadesworld]

Trying to win an isolation game against the greatest isolation team ever assembled in the history of the sport. Worked so well in game 2, let’s just run it back in game 3.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

No ball movement.

[MuggsyB]

Wow.  A W is a W.

[MuggsyB]

Brook Lopez has one two point attempt. While playing a team that plays Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, and Bruce Brown at the 5. And while watching Giannis shoot 7 three pointers, none of which are at the end of the shot clock.

Bud has absolutely gotta go. He didn’t learn from the Toronto series when they let Fred Van Vleet guard Brook and we still just had him float around the perimeter.

I'm with you.  8 threes for Giannis?  WTF?  He should take the 12-14 footer with confidence but axe launching triples.  The Bucks must get Holiday and others involved in the offense or the next few games could be ugly.

[cheebs09]

It was ugly, but they won. I wonder if that takes some pressure off them now that they got a W under their belts.

Granted, they aren’t really putting themselves in positions to succeed. Even Van Gundy said after a Giannis 3 that they really needed to get their best player a shot in his best spot. A Giannis 3 ain’t it.

[MuggsyB]

It was ugly, but they won. I wonder if that takes some pressure off them now that they got a W under their belts.

Granted, they aren’t really putting themselves in positions to succeed. Even Van Gundy said after a Giannis 3 that they really needed to get their best player a shot in his best spot. A Giannis 3 ain’t it.

Has Budenholzer or Giannis looked at his 3pt shooting percentage in the playoffs? His jumper and FTP should be much better.  It's all mental.  Stop hesitating and take the 12 footer but not the triple.

[MU82]

Nice work by Smoe Middleton.

[MuggsyB]

The Bucks' overall 3pt percentage has been abysmal through three games.  If they can ger it back on track they have a chance. 

[cheebs09]

Has Budenholzer or Giannis looked at his 3pt shooting percentage in the playoffs? His jumper and FTP should be much better.  It's all mental.  Stop hesitating and take the 12 footer but not the triple.

His jumper looked pretty smooth his second year. Now it’s a roller coaster if he can get a free throw off in time.

[Mutaman]

Can't disagree with all the angst but seems to me that was a pretty decent defensive effort. Some great play by Lopez down the stretch.
Would be nice to get a few points out of Connaughton and Forbes.

[MuggsyB]

His jumper looked pretty smooth his second year. Now it’s a roller coaster if he can get a free throw off in time.

I believe he was a 73% FT shooter.  His jump shot is an absolute dumpster fire and getting worse.  What he needs to do imo is go to the Semi-J, meaning shooting it on the way up a la Curry.  It's not that he has a bad jumper now, he has no jumper.  Someone fked him up and it's quite sad.

[Jockey]

Donovan is exhibit A that college numbers are meaningless. Averaged 11 pts and 2 assists at Louisville.

It is all about skills and how they project at the next level.

[MuggsyB]

Mitchell is putting on a show for the Jszz.  Hopefully they get Conley back. 

[lawdog77]

I believe he was a 73% FT shooter.  His jump shot is an absolute dumpster fire and getting worse.  What he needs to do imo is go to the Semi-J, meaning shooting it on the way up a la Curry.  It's not that he has a bad jumper now, he has no jumper.  Someone fked him up and it's quite sad.

Reminds me of what happened to Steve Sax

[MU82]

I think I'll root for the Jazz the rest of the way. I love watching Mitchell, they have a lot of guys who play their roles very well, they are well-coached, their fans are loud and supportive, and they're as deserving of a title as anybody. They had the best record in the league, and yet before the playoffs everybody talked about the Nets, Lakers, Clippers, Sixers, Heat, even the Suns. And the fact that Wade is part of their new ownership group is the cherry on top.

The Suns seem very likeable too, and I'm a huge Jae fan. I'd like to see the Bucks come out of the East, but can they?

[MuggsyB]

I think I'll root for the Jazz the rest of the way. I love watching Mitchell, they have a lot of guys who play their roles very well, they are well-coached, their fans are loud and supportive, and they're as deserving of a title as anybody. They had the best record in the league, and yet before the playoffs everybody talked about the Nets, Lakers, Clippers, Sixers, Heat, even the Suns. And the fact that Wade is part of their new ownership group is the cherry on top.

The Suns seem very likeable too, and I'm a huge Jae fan. I'd like to see the Bucks come out of the East, but can they?

The Jazz need Conley.  With him I think they're the most complete team.  After the Bucks I'd be cool with Utah or Phoenix winning it.  I think most people don't want Brooklyn.

[GB Warrior]

Cool stuff here. Good for Jrue and Juan

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31610564/portland-trail-blazers-carmelo-anthony-5-finalists-nba-kareem-abdul-jabbar-social-justice-champion-award

[MU82]

The Jazz need Conley.  With him I think they're the most complete team.  After the Bucks I'd be cool with Utah or Phoenix winning it.  I think most people don't want Brooklyn.

Agree with all of this.

If the Nets do make the Finals, I hope Harden is healthy ... and I hope the West winner beats 'em!

[wadesworld]

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/6/11/22529547/kevin-durant-pj-tucker-fight-bodyguard-bucks-vs-nets-nba-playoffs

Hah.  I thought this was just a Fiserv security guard who overstepped his roll and thought it was a bad look for the Bucks.  Turns out the "security guard" is KD's personal body guard, who is on the Net's payroll.  The NBA should step in and do something about this.  If players cannot enter the court of play during scuffles, I can't imagine a personal body guard is allowed to...

[GB Warrior]

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/6/11/22529547/kevin-durant-pj-tucker-fight-bodyguard-bucks-vs-nets-nba-playoffs

Hah.  I thought this was just a Fiserv security guard who overstepped his roll and thought it was a bad look for the Bucks.  Turns out the "security guard" is KD's personal body guard, who is on the Net's payroll.  The NBA should step in and do something about this.  If players cannot enter the court of play during scuffles, I can't imagine a personal body guard is allowed to...

There should be no circumstances in which someone's personal detail should be allowed. No wonder Ham was pissed breaking it up.

Otherwise we dissolve into anarchy and end up with something like this.