GAME #45: BUCKS (25-17) @ LAC (25-19)—SAT 1/25 7:30 PM

[esqtvd]

Kawhi a surprising team-worst minus-13 in a load-managed 24 minutes. His minutes are usually top of the +/- heap. Everyone else except Powell [minus-5] was in the plus. Which means, just wait until Kawhi gets all the way back! [Hopefully.]

Beard and Norman combined for a blazing 73 points, but KPJ [24 minutes] and Coffey [31 minutes!] were ~plus+16 and that's where the game was won. [Mann and Nico chipped in about 15 minutes apiece too.]

And that was the difference. Giannis and Dame combined for 65, but the Bucks have NO depth--Gary Trent had 19 points playing starter's minutes but the rest of their bench had ZERO points combined. Doc is so screwed--after their top 4 [their top 2, really], there's nothing there to coach. After that horrid start, he's been doing it with smoke and mirrors over there.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705212

[Captain Ballmer]

Harden was feeling those legs under him tonight like his MVP days. What an offensive force he becomes when that happens.

[esqtvd]

A tad more than halfway through the season, Zu has already tied his career high for double-doubles. His per-36 numbers are up only marginally--it's his increased stamina and conditioning that are translating to more minutes thus more production.

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[esqtvd]

ADD KAWHI: still on cruise control but that's fine

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[Roscoe Sheed]

Lue deserves credit for making the proper adjustments in this game- particularly on defense. Giannis is so difficult to guard- he is too quick for most big men and too big for most wing players. The refs also ref him in an odd manner- seems like they allow him to initiate a lot of contact, but if you barely contact him as a defender they call a foul.

[TrueLAfan]

May not have been the biggest win of the season, but maybe the most satisfying. The Bucks aren't really title contenders, but they're a very good team, a vet team, and pretty much all their starters and 6th man played well. But we simply outplayed them and pulled away in the fourth. Like I said--satisfying.

The thing I continue to love about this year's team is the versatility and bench stepping up. Coffey is having a great year. KPJ is has basically gotten to what I hoped/expected of him—an 11/3.5/3.5 guy in around 21 mpg. (When/if his shot comes around more, he’ll be a steal.) With Kawhi playing, Dunn goes to the bench and he’s playing great. Mann has been disappointing, but he’s an okay 8th/9th man. Batum is kind of looking his age, and Bamba and Kai Jones have played at 12th man level (i.e., not very well). Still, with Kawhi available, we’re running 9 deep and solid. We still need a PF/C but we’re playing at 47-48 win pace. I’ll take that. Damn.

[Roscoe Sheed]

May not have been the biggest win of the season, but maybe the most satisfying. The Bucks aren't really title contenders, but they're a very good team, a vet team, and pretty much all their starters and 6th man played well. But we simply outplayed them and pulled away in the fourth. Like I said--satisfying.

The thing I continue to love about this year's team is the versatility and bench stepping up. Coffey is having a great year. KPJ is has basically gotten to what I hoped/expected of him—an 11/3.5/3.5 guy in around 21 mpg. (When/if his shot comes around more, he’ll be a steal.) With Kawhi playing, Dunn goes to the bench and he’s playing great. Mann has been disappointing, but he’s an okay 8th/9th man. Batum is kind of looking his age, and Bamba and Kai Jones have played at 12th man level (i.e., not very well). Still, with Kawhi available, we’re running 9 deep and solid. We still need a PF/C but we’re playing at 47-48 win pace. I’ll take that. Damn.

Very good analysis- I think this team is playing at the peak of what any of us could have hoped- credit to Lue and his coaching staff, Harden, Powell, and Zubac.

It is encouraging to see Kawhi coming around- let's hope his progress continues- when you look at his physique you wonder how he could ever get injured- so solidly built. He basically has the perfect body type for basketball- long and strong. It is truly a shame he has chronic knee injuries because he has top 10 talent when healthy.

[Ballings7]

Very good win

Most of Doc's guys are gone, but still.. "We gotcha' Doc.. yep we gotcha.."

Kawhi's impact has been evident, and the game is noticably easier. Something we haven't seen yet: Harden with a healthy Kawhi in the playoffs. Look out.

Everyone's reservations that got made for crow prior to the season, are in line to have that delivered by this team. 8)

[LamarWho]

Interesting that Mo Bamba was DNPCD last night after having his best game in a Clipper uniform against the Wizards.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Interesting that Mo Bamba was DNPCD last night after having his best game in a Clipper uniform against the Wizards.

I think Lue said that he realized that Lillard was exploiting bigs in screen/roll action and decided to go small because of that- which ended up working in the long run

[Clemenza]

Lue deserves credit for making the proper adjustments in this game- particularly on defense. Giannis is so difficult to guard- he is too quick for most big men and too big for most wing players. The refs also ref him in an odd manner- seems like they allow him to initiate a lot of contact, but if you barely contact him as a defender they call a foul.

Giannis has perfected the "screaming flop". Not the physical flailing flop, but the art of yelling/screaming at the top of his lungs like he's getting mugged as soon as he gets touched in the paint which 9 times out of 10 the refs will blow the whistle and give him the call.

[esqtvd]

May not have been the biggest win of the season, but maybe the most satisfying. The Bucks aren't really title contenders, but they're a very good team, a vet team, and pretty much all their starters and 6th man played well. But we simply outplayed them and pulled away in the fourth. Like I said--satisfying.

The thing I continue to love about this year's team is the versatility and bench stepping up. Coffey is having a great year. KPJ is has basically gotten to what I hoped/expected of him—an 11/3.5/3.5 guy in around 21 mpg. (When/if his shot comes around more, he’ll be a steal.) With Kawhi playing, Dunn goes to the bench and he’s playing great. Mann has been disappointing, but he’s an okay 8th/9th man. Batum is kind of looking his age, and Bamba and Kai Jones have played at 12th man level (i.e., not very well). Still, with Kawhi available, we’re running 9 deep and solid. We still need a PF/C but we’re playing at 47-48 win pace. I’ll take that. Damn.

Very good analysis- I think this team is playing at the peak of what any of us could have hoped- credit to Lue and his coaching staff, Harden, Powell, and Zubac.

It is encouraging to see Kawhi coming around- let's hope his progress continues- when you look at his physique you wonder how he could ever get injured- so solidly built. He basically has the perfect body type for basketball- long and strong. It is truly a shame he has chronic knee injuries because he has top 10 talent when healthy.

I didn't watch him closely enough but I'm assuming he really didn't bust ass on D--or anywhere, which resulted in his team-worst minus-13 and dragging Norm down to the only other minus [-5] in the box score. Kawhi's offensive numbers looked fine.

As the Straw That Stirs the Drink on the Clippers, this year's model is top of the table in defense but needs points, so that's where Kawhi is gonna go.

I'll remind everybody that Kawhi was NOT the leader or dominant player on either of his championship Spurs or Raptors. Just give him a good team to make great, and he's your man.

[LamarWho]

Lue deserves credit for making the proper adjustments in this game- particularly on defense. Giannis is so difficult to guard- he is too quick for most big men and too big for most wing players. The refs also ref him in an odd manner- seems like they allow him to initiate a lot of contact, but if you barely contact him as a defender they call a foul.

Giannis has perfected the "screaming flop". Not the physical flailing flop, but the art of yelling/screaming at the top of his lungs like he's getting mugged as soon as he gets touched in the paint which 9 times out of 10 the refs will blow the whistle and give him the call.

Lot of players do that nowadays. AD comes to mind for sure. It's quite annoying TBH.

[esqtvd]

Interesting that Mo Bamba was DNPCD last night after having his best game in a Clipper uniform against the Wizards.

I think Lue said that he realized that Lillard was exploiting bigs in screen/roll action and decided to go small because of that- which ended up working in the long run

Thx, RS. Nice Xs and Os analysis,way over my head. Ty knows something about basketball, apparently. No wonder nearly everyone in says he's a good coach. Except on the internet...