Game 65: Bucks at Clippers - 3/10/24 - 2:00 - BSWI - George and Kawhi Out

[MickeyDavis]

We beat them Monday night without Giannis but it took a great 4th quarter to do so.

0-2 on this road trip with 2 tough games to go. No back to backs, I had hoped for at least 2-2.

Clippers will be on a B2B, they play the Bulls Saturday afternoon. They were also on a B2B when we played them Monday night. They didn't sit anyone in that game and I expect they don't sit anyone in this one either. Westbrook is still out.

Still no word on Khris. Some think he's the magic elixir, as soon as he's back it's full speed ahead. I'm dubious. Are we better with him? Of course. But whether it's just bad luck or whatever, he can't be counted on anymore. Whatever we get from him is gravy. The 20/20 hindsight "we should have traded him a year, 2 years, 3 years ago" is pointless. MAYBE he's tradeable as an expiring down the road but right now he's a Buck. Hopefully he can stay injury free the rest of the season. Which at this point may not go into May.

Go Bucks.

[chonestown]

Christ we just played these guys last night?

ETA: There's two Los Angeles teams. Good job, Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBALACOC.

[mediocrityrules]

Schedule or not, this is a loss. Our defensive form is in the gutter again.

[pifhluk23]

We desperately need Khris for when teams with long Boi guards/wings blitz double team Dame. It's very effective when we don't have that 3rd guy who can create offense.

[MickeyDavis]

Big second half, Clippers took care of the Bulls this afternoon

[HKPackFan]

Must win?

[blazza18]

Team came into the road trip playing too well to start it 0-3 but who really knows with this team. They shouldn't have lost either of the last two.

[yb90]

A Sunday game after spending the weekend in LA does not look promising.

[sidney lanier]

Still no word on Khris. Some think he's the magic elixir, as soon as he's back it's full speed ahead. I'm dubious. Are we better with him? Of course. But whether it's just bad luck or whatever, he can't be counted on anymore. Whatever we get from him is gravy. The 20/20 hindsight "we should have traded him a year, 2 years, 3 years ago" is pointless. MAYBE he's tradeable as an expiring down the road but right now he's a Buck. Hopefully he can stay injury free the rest of the season. Which at this point may not go into May.

An uncharacteristically dark and brooding game thread starter.



Come back. We miss you.

120-104.

[MickeyDavis]

Scott Foster officiating

[sidney lanier]

It hasn't been much of a trip
Even old fans are losing their grip
But here's a quick reading --
We haven't lost seeding
If the Clippers are ripe for the clip

Yes, it's a little disappointing that this team hasn't reached cruising altitude this far into the season, but I don't understand reaching for the parachutes, even if the FASTEN SEAT BELTS sign is still on.

[MickeyDavis]

I'm usually an optimist. One game doesn't mean much, overly long regular season, etc... But after 64 games there are trends and patterns that are concerning, even post AG. And not a hell of a lot of time to figure it all out. 18 games isn't a lot of time to re-integrate Middleton back into the lineup (he only played 3 games after Doc took over, no changes had been implemented yet), slowly increase his minutes and hope he stays healthy.

[sidney lanier]

Maybe we have no more reason to be optimistic than we had when down 2-0 to Phoenix in the Finals. I guess it comes down to how strong our belief is in prime Giannis.

[BigO]

Maybe we have no more reason to be optimistic than we had when down 2-0 to Phoenix in the Finals. I guess it comes down to how strong our belief is in prime Giannis.

Instead of a one person play, I see this as a three person play (KM and Dame) with all three needed to succeed. The rest of the team are role players, which this board spends too much time on.

[yb90]

I think the Bucks are going to need Giannis to be fully healthy during the playoffs so he can be the "Big Joker" card for Doc to use on defense. He will need to take the hot hand even if it's a guard to cool them off. He is not the best at getting around screens but when he is good enough to do it when he focuses on D. I would even trap or show n retreat against guards like Maxey, Brunson, and Haliburton to give Giannis that extra time to recover off screens. Hopefully, Pat Bev will be the one who can lock those type of guards down so Giannis can stay with the Wings/Bigs but he is going to need to be Aaron Gordon and Joker in the playoffs.

[MickeyDavis]

George, Harden and Kawhi are all questionable. I doubt they punt this one though. Even if they do they may still win.

[rilamann]

I said before the Lakers game that the game was a big litmus test game for the Bucks, and the Bucks failed miserably.

This game today is another litmus test. Do top tier contenders who have of the goal of reaching the NBA finals have 3 game losing streaks at this point season? A month before the playoffs.

I am not not talking about 3 game losing streaks in November or December or January, or even February.

I couldn't picture teams like the Nuggets or Celtics (Who we are supposed to be in the top tier with) having 3 game losing streaks in almost mid-March, especially against mediocre teams.

[rilamann]

George, Harden and Kawhi are all questionable. I doubt they punt this one though. Even if they do they may still win.

If the Lakers without Lebron can beat us and the Grizzlie's G-league squad can can beat us. I don't think there is any scenario in which this Bucks team can't be beaten....lol.

That Grizzlies game is still crazy to me. Imagine if you were a Grizzlies fan and you were suiting up a G-league squad against Giannis, Dame and the Milwaukee Bucks and you won.

[rilamann]

Seeing the Bucks lose by 1 possession against the Lakers after Dame wasted a bunch of possessions pathetically baiting for fouls.

Today I am going to start tracking how many possessions this clown wastes baiting for fouls each game.

[Dick Tate]

Pretty funny to call it a litmus test when you’ve already pulled the **** plug.