2021-22 NBA Thread: The Bucks are Reigning Champs

[rocket surgeon]

we gotta get mathew a ring baby-he was clutch

[Uncle Rico]

Don’t peddle his zz

[wadesworld]

we gotta get mathew a ring baby-he was clutch

Much more productive than I thought he’d be this year. Hopefully he has one more lock down defensive game in him this series.

[MuggsyB]

Wow. That was incredible. Jrue has a knack for coming up big. Love that he did it against the DPOY.

The play on Smart's baseline drive was maybe even better than his swipe of Booker in the Finals last year.

[brewcity77]

The play on Smart's baseline drive was maybe even better than his swipe of Booker in the Finals last year.

The combination of the baseline block followed by the flawlessly clean game clinching steal was awesome. Both amplified by being against Smart.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Not sure what I enjoyed more, Portis' go-ahead putback, Holiday destroying Smart's shot and throwing it off him, or Holiday picking Smart's pocket to seal the win.

Only complaint is that Jrue didn't dunk it to put an exclamation point on the win.

[MuggsyB]

There does seem to be a correlation between the Bucks hitting more than 10 triples and winning.  Four players on the floor for the Bucks made plays down the stretch. 

[GB Warrior]

Not sure what I enjoyed more, Portis' go-ahead putback, Holiday destroying Smart's shot and throwing it off him, or Holiday picking Smart's pocket to seal the win.

Only complaint is that Jrue didn't dunk it to put an exclamation point on the win.

Will be a good career experience for Smart to watch the tape and see DPOY caliber defense

[MuggsyB]

That flop of Smart on Giannis was a total joke btw.  Karma?

[MuggsyB]

I missed that Smart complained on both of Holiday's stellar plays and actually flopped on the game ending steal.

[MuggsyB]

Apparently the Dubs decided they wouldn't show up tonight.

[brewcity77]

I missed that Smart complained on both of Holiday's stellar plays and actually flopped on the game ending steal.

We watched every replay angle and it was funny. Jrue didn't touch him, but Smart reacted like he got decked. I've never seen a team as flop prone as Boston. It's like watching five Brad Davisons.

[GB Warrior]

I missed that Smart complained on both of Holiday's stellar plays and actually flopped on the game ending steal.

Disrespect the game and the game disrespects you.

[MuggsyB]

We watched every replay angle and it was funny. Jrue didn't touch him, but Smart reacted like he got decked. I've never seen a team as flop prone as Boston. It's like watching five Brad Davisons.

I think this should be noted because aa you stated, Holiday literally got all ball on both plays.  I mean it wasn't even close and we're talking WWE stuff from Smart which should result in technical fouls imo.

[MU82]

Apparently the Dubs decided they wouldn't show up tonight.

I just tuned in and wondered if GS forgot to set their alarms.

[cheebs09]

That flop of Smart on Giannis was a total joke btw.  Karma?

I don’t know. I think Giannis was ticked and got tangled up with him on the other end. It was embellished but not a smart play by Giannis.

[wadesworld]

I don’t know. I think Giannis was ticked and got tangled up with him on the other end. It was embellished but not a smart play by Giannis.

If that contact is a foul (in either direction) then there's a foul on literally every single possession in every single playoff basketball game.  Heck, there's a foul on all 4 matchups on every inbound in basketball when it's being inbounded on a team's offensive end.

[wadesworld]

By the way, Kenny with the line of the night during the Memphis/Golden State halftime show.  When showing Giannis's late 3, Chuck said, "What'd you say about Giannis Kenny?"  Kenny's response was, "Fearless.  You're gonna have to kill him, because he's not gonna die."

This team has been absolutely resilient the last two years.  The number of times I've counted them out in the past two Playoffs has been numerous.  Let's hope they can close this series out at home on Friday and then get Khris back and see if they can't defend that title.

[MuggsyB]

I don’t know. I think Giannis was ticked and got tangled up with him on the other end. It was embellished but not a smart play by Giannis.

Cheebs he acted as if he was charged by a Rhino.  That's just my take, I thought Smart's reaction was absurd.

[GB Warrior]

https://twitter.com/Dario_Melendez/status/1524505055008862209?t=M9j4MnMSnY7KfZg6wyJpww&s=19

[cheebs09]

Cheebs he acted as if he was charged by a Rhino.  That's just my take, I thought Smart's reaction was absurd.

I don’t disagree. Smart is a flop artist. Just it seemed like Giannis’ frustration boiled over a bit and gave the ref an opportunity to make a call. And Smart an opportunity to flop for one.

[tower912]

Giannis lowered his shoulder and extended his arm.  Smart sold it.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

It was a clear foul.  Smart clearly flopped. 

[MU82]

That's where I am, too. That was pretty low on the list on the "no way was that a foul, the defender flopped, I'm outraged" meter. Giannis clearly moved his body into Smart, and clearly extended his arm. And yes, Smart clearly acted like he had been shot by a sniper. The majority of refs, at every level, would have called that an offensive foul IMHO.

About a minute later, Giannis set a pretty obvious moving screen. But the defender didn't sell it, and the refs didn't call it. And that's OK. Sometimes you're gonna get called for it, though.

All in all, Giannis absorbs more punishment than he gives, kind of like Shaq used to. He's done an incredible job of learning how to play through contact.

I'm glad that the refs didn't fall for Smart's weak attempts to flop for other fouls later in the game. Those would have been horrible calls.

[MUfan12]

It's counter to the narrative, but for the most part I think the refs have been fine outside of Game 3.

This series is so physical it's damn near impossible to keep any flow to it while calling it by the book. So the refs pick and choose their spots, some of which are... interesting.

The screening in this series could get whistled most every trip. Lots of extra hip/shoulder bumps and holds. Horford had two hands on Giannis while driving all night and it only got called once that I can remember. Giannis initiates a ton of contact, and it's hard to figure what's legit and embellished sometimes.

Lord knows I complain a bunch about college officiating, but the NBA refs have a ridiculously hard job, especially in a series like this one.