NBA Thread 2019-20

[MUfan12]

I have been harping on this for awhile, but the Bucks don't have a guy who is a threat to score from multiple points on the floor.  Giannis is lethal on the break, but in the half court, teams sag on him daring him to shoot.  Middleton is a great scorer, but isn't a guy who can consistently put it on the floor and beat the guy off the dribble.  Bledsoe and the rest are just inconsistent.

So often the offense bogs down in crunch time when teams have the discipline to pack the line.  It happened last year v. Toronto and is happening now v. Miami.  They need dual threat guy, and they just don't have one.  I love Giannis, but you can't just give him the ball and say "score or create something." 

2016. Kidd brings Middleton back for an utterly meaningless game in Philly. He goes off and the Bucks win, which hurts their lottery odds. They fall to 10 and take Thon, when they could have had a shot at Jamal Murray had they just completed the tank.

[MU82]

The Bucks will be in the Finals.  Relax.

Unlike Orlando, the Heat is very good. They don't have a singular star like Giannis, but they do have an All-Star in Jimmy, a lot of really good role players, guys who hustle and play D. And they are well-coached.

I'm perfectly relaxed, because I'm not a Bucks fan, but I'm thinking the Bucks probably already have dug too deep a hole. Then again, I've been wrong before, and I'll be there again.

[MUfan12]

Miami is well-coached, connected, and led by guys who are competitive as hell. It'll take a miraculous turnaround for the Bucks.

[4everwarriors]

Bucks have a better chance of being swept by the Heat than advancing to the Finals.

[jesmu84]

haven't watched one dribble of NBA and life is good!

Will you be watching Marquette when college basketball resumes?

[JWags85]

Unlike Orlando, the Heat is very good. They don't have a singular star like Giannis, but they do have an All-Star in Jimmy, a lot of really good role players, guys who hustle and play D. And they are well-coached.

I'm perfectly relaxed, because I'm not a Bucks fan, but I'm thinking the Bucks probably already have dug too deep a hole. Then again, I've been wrong before, and I'll be there again.

I was telling a friend yesterday, I think the Heat are a better build team for the playoffs than the Bucks.  Bucks have the MVP but then a 2nd option who cant create his own shot and is incredibly streaky in Middleton.  Lopez is nice but then the rest of the team is role players and very limited young talent.

The Heat have a top 10 player in Butler, and then a supporting 3 of Crowder, Dragic, Adebayo (who are a wash with Middleton, Bledsoe, Lopez IMO).  Adebayo is an All Star with a HUGE ceiling that I would take over Middleton in a HEARTBEAT.  Herro so far is  >>>> Divencenzo.  And their George Hill/Marvin Williams is a former Finals MVP and Olympic team member in Iggy.

Not to mention Spoelstra is coaching circles around Bud and his refusal to switch to playoff rotations and minutes.  The Bucks aren't out of it, but the Heat are GNARLY and way closer to the Bucks than people might think.

[Galway Eagle]

Bucks need the Lopez of Brooklyn to turn this around. Not the fraction of a player he's been the past three years.

[wadesworld]

Bucks need the Lopez of Brooklyn to turn this around. Not the fraction of a player he's been the past three years.

He's been great in the bubble.  The Bucks need to be going to him more down the stretch when it turns into a half court slug fest.

[MUfan12]

Kevin Arnovitz on the Lowe Post today had a pretty blunt assessment of the Bucks backcourt and depth. Worth a listen.

[MU24]

haven't watched one dribble of NBA and life is good!

I dont see why you'd think people would care. Do you want an award or something?

[MU82]

I dont see why you'd think people would care. Do you want an award or something?

rocket is very proud of his "heritage," though he at least should have been open to watching Herro, DiVincenzo, Doncic, Connaughton, Caruso, Ingles, etc.

[Mutaman]

rocket is very proud of his "heritage," though he at least should have been open to watching Herro, DiVincenzo, Doncic, Connaughton, Caruso, Ingles, etc.

  That Herro is one cold blooded kid.

[GooooMarquette]

Miami is well-coached, connected, and led by guys who are competitive as hell. It'll take a miraculous turnaround for the Bucks.

I don't think I'd go with miraculous, but it would take a huge effort to win this series.

[Skatastrophy]

The Celtics Raps game was a wonderful one with an electric ending. I'm excited the Raptors came to life tonight!

https://streamable.com/4hhwv5

[Jockey]

The Celtics Raps game was a wonderful one with an electric ending. I'm excited the Raptors came to life tonight!

https://streamable.com/4hhwv5

It was.

Utah had the same shot on their inbounds play, but didn't pull the trigger on the pass.

[MU82]

I've watched the Raptors' winning play a bazillion times and I still can't figure out how Anunoby got SO wide open.

If nothing else, it's an advertisement for not defending the IB passer. Make sure each of the other 4 are covered tightly and have your 5 in the lane to pick up cutters around screens. The Celtics did 4 of those 5 things -- Smart was on Siakim; Tatum was watching VanVleet; Brown was locked up with Gasol and Theis was at 5 ready to help with whomever ... but rather than have somebody defend Anunoby (who was a long way from the basket), Stevens elected to have his tall guy Tack pressure Lowry on the IB.

It took Lowry's long, perfect pass, and a dead-eye shot, but Anunoby wouldn't have been able to do it had a defender been locked on him.

At least that's how I see it. I'm certainly not claiming to know more than Brad Stevens. The Raptors were good and lucky, and now it's a series.

[Skatastrophy]

I've watched the Raptors' winning play a bazillion times and I still can't figure out how Anunoby got SO wide open.

Same, and Anunoby's little kick to (presumably) give him a little more pop on the shot is hillarious.

[Skatastrophy]

This Heat v Bucks game is unwatchable ref ball. Good lord.

[cheebs09]

Does Bud coach another bucks game after Game 4?

[4everwarriors]

Y kant wee ever rekruit a playa like Jimmy Butler, hey?

[The Sultan]

Does Bud coach another bucks game after Game 4?

Yeah. That was really bad. I mean I didn't think there would have been a chance at him not coming back until that fourth quarter.

[Uncle Rico]

Y kant wee ever rekruit a playa like Jimmy Butler, hey?

Loved Senior Jimmy getting Marquette an 11-seed

[The Sultan]

Remember when the Wolves were mad when JFB was mean to their team in a practice?

[cheebs09]

Remember when the Wolves were mad when JFB was mean to their team in a practice?

It's a shame the Bucks couldn't have gotten Jimmy instead of extending Middleton.

[MUfan12]

Bud's toast.