Round 1: Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers

[Grang33r]

Portis was stroking 3’s causing concern for the next game.

The Bucks offense is so unbalanced and hard to figure out.

In the third quarter Kuzma went off, scored 8 of Bucks 10 points in a stretch.

Kevin Porter hits that buzzer beater to end 3Q and then scores 2 of their first 3 baskets in the 4th.

Then Portis goes off at the end. Porter and Kuzma were pretty irrelevant besides the hot streak. Portis was having a good game throughout but hitting 3 threes in 3 minute span surely helped his box score.

[JMaster5K]

After watching both these games,.... I've been really impressed with Myles 1v1 defense,... particularly when he's switched out on Giannis? There have been a few times now,... that Giannis has wanted to drive, wanted to set something up off his shoulder turning the corner, and there is nothing there. That door is closed.

He has really been set down in his stance, like a guard on the ball, moving on the balls of his feet to keep himself between Giannis & the basket without giving him anything to create some movement. Not many 7'+ guys can do that.

It's just my opinion,... but his defense has actually been better over the last two years, than when he was getting all the blocks & in the conversation for DPOY?

[Scoot McGroot]

After watching both these games,.... I've been really impressed with Myles 1v1 defense,... particularly when he's switched out on Giannis? There have been a few times now,... that Giannis has wanted to drive, wanted to set something up off his shoulder turning the corner, and there is nothing there. That door is closed.

He has really been set down in his stance, like a guard on the ball, moving on the balls of his feet to keep himself between Giannis & the basket without giving him anything to create some movement. Not many 7'+ guys can do that.

It's just my opinion,... but his defense has actually been better over the last two years, than when he was getting all the blocks & in the conversation for DPOY?

Giannis is an absolute, rarely stoppable, freak of nature on offense. But this team has done everything possible to minimize the impact he provides, and they’ve done it as a team with rolling, switching, doubling, and just pure energy.

[JMaster5K]

After watching both these games,.... I've been really impressed with Myles 1v1 defense,... particularly when he's switched out on Giannis? There have been a few times now,... that Giannis has wanted to drive, wanted to set something up off his shoulder turning the corner, and there is nothing there. That door is closed.

He has really been set down in his stance, like a guard on the ball, moving on the balls of his feet to keep himself between Giannis & the basket without giving him anything to create some movement. Not many 7'+ guys can do that.

It's just my opinion,... but his defense has actually been better over the last two years, than when he was getting all the blocks & in the conversation for DPOY?

Giannis is an absolute, rarely stoppable, freak of nature on offense. But this team has done everything possible to minimize the impact he provides, and they’ve done it as a team with rolling, switching, doubling, and just pure energy.

I would have to go back through the video,... but on 1 possession, at different spots on the floor as he was trying to create something, Giannis was guarded by Nesmith, Pascal, & Myles, off switches & picking up the next man. Very impressive.

[Wizop]

in his presser Doc Rivers noted that we had 10 more points off turnovers than they had in an 8 point game. I'd noticed that too.

[GermanFan120]

Time for Pacers to show up at least 1 game on the road. This kind of test proves whether an already good squad is truly capable to win.

[Pacers_Freak]

Time for Pacers to show up at least 1 game on the road. This kind of test proves whether an already good squad is truly capable to win.

Have to get a split. Don't want it to turn into a best of 3 where they have 2 guys capable of taking over. Have them in a hole, need to keep them there.

[JMaster5K]

HoopsHype does a 'global ranking' of the players in the playoff each year. It takes into account the players performance & their teams performance,... not sure I give it a bunch of hype,... but I do look to see how they are listing the players with respect to each other during the playoffs?

https://hoopshype.com/lists/global-rating-rankings-the-best-players-of-the-2025-nba-playoffs/

Someone on here said (I can't find the quote, but I think it was Scoot?) that the Bucks have the best player & we have the better team. This bears that out,... of the 30 best players in the playoffs so far (per the HH formula?) 4 of the top 30 are Pacers,... the only team with 4 is Boston. It is interesting to scroll through their other 'categories'? We have 2 players in the top 10, best 6th man. We generally have 2 players in most of the top 10 categories.

Part of this is team performance,.. so teams that win are going to have higher rated players,... but still, it does reinforce the point, that we are winning because we are playing as a team, instead of having 1 or 2 dominant superstars?

[Wizop]

Someone on here said (I can't find the quote, but I think it was Scoot?) that the Bucks have the best player & we have the better team.

I'm not sure who said it first, but Stephen A. definitely said it on TV.

[JMaster5K]

Someone on here said (I can't find the quote, but I think it was Scoot?) that the Bucks have the best player & we have the better team.

I'm not sure who said it first, but Stephen A. definitely said it on TV.

Now that you mention it,.. pretty sure it was Shaq. (Haven't seen the statement by Stephen A. but who knows who was first in that crowd?) But you can't blame me?... Shaq & Scoot are pretty easy to mistake for each other!

[Wizop]

Someone on here said (I can't find the quote, but I think it was Scoot?) that the Bucks have the best player & we have the better team.

I'm not sure who said it first, but Stephen A. definitely said it on TV.

Now that you mention it,.. pretty sure it was Shaq. (Haven't seen the statement by Stephen A. but who knows who was first in that crowd?) But you can't blame me?... Shaq & Scoot are pretty easy to mistake for each other!

Stephen A definitely said it on ESPN. perhaps Shaq also said it on TNT.

[boomershadow]

Isn't that kinda just the general sentiment? I've heard a few people say that. Like it's kinda undeniable. Neither Siakam or Haliburton are MVPs

[JMaster5K]

Isn't that kinda just the general sentiment? I've heard a few people say that. Like it's kinda undeniable. Neither Siakam or Haliburton are MVPs

Though,.. could it go deeper? If you say Dame & G are better than Tyrese & Pascal,... ok. But then who do the bucks actually match up with Myles? maybe, Brook? Bobby?.... neither really does, but maybe it can be argued one come close?,... then OB?... then Andrew? Aaron? Finally,... they need someone to actually matchup with Benn?..... and not least,.. a bench player that can slow down TJ?

If you look at the potential opponents, in those terms,... Boston can match up with their all-star cast starting 5,... Cleveland's big 4 are supremely talented, but can they match up to us, 5-9? NYK sold out some of it's depth to increase their overall talent?

idk?.... can a deep group of exceptionally good (arguably not 'elite') players, who exemplify elite teamwork, beat teams with a couple of superstars & a less talented supporting cast? consistently? in playoff basketball?....

[boomershadow]

The start time of this game is super annoying.

[Wizop]

I worry when we get into 3 point shooting contests.

[Pacers Forever]

Let’s close out the series Tuesday and bbq some deer.

Seriously Kyle Kuzma 3 points, no rebounds, 1 assist in 16 minutes as a starter. I’d have to venture a guess that he just doesn’t fit in their system or he isn’t used right because he’s looked bad compared to Gary Trent Jr., A J Green, and Kevin Porter Jr.

In the same poll where players said Tyrese was overrated they voted Doc Rivers 3rd worst coach in the NBA. I’ve never liked him or his smugness. I don’t think he’s the downfall for the Bucks as I think they’re just not deep enough to beat the Pacers.

[basketballwacko2]

I just looked at the Bucks board they've got a post game thread they are ripping their GM and Doc.

[Wizop]

I just looked at the Bucks board they've got a post game thread they are ripping their GM and Doc.

I didn't check it tonight, but there's also an active thread on the General Board and the Doc posts are there too. But didn't I hear he's 4th all time in playoff wins?

[Scoot McGroot]

The start time of this game is super annoying.

I wasn’t even able to stay up for it. I was brushing my teeth when I saw the Dame injury (which absolutely sucks. Hope it’s not what we all fear it is..) and woke up to the final score.

9:30 tipoffs on a school night suck!

[JMaster5K]

9:30?.... I'll trade ya?..... LOL

Haven't yet seen the replay,... Did Myles really play as well as most of the commentaries are saying?...... o0

Reporting here says Dame's injury is confirmed as a Achilles tear. Article said he might be out as long as all of next season,... but it's way too early for a timeline.

Praying for him & his family,... and that he fully recovers & we get to see him, at full talent, back on the floor, as early as possible!