PG Detroit - Giannis Boogie - Bucks Take Care of Business for 7th Straight

[ShootingtheJ]

Early in the season I had to listen to the nonstop trash that "Giannis has to swallow his ego and let Dame run the offense". Complete garbage. We see now how that was exactly what was holding this team back. The offense now, with Giannis as the hub, is absolutely cranking, and because it's not spamming 3s, it'll work in the playoffs too.

It's amazing to have an offense this good with so little talent opposite of Giannis.

[Willie Colon]

Let's not get too cocky yet. The schedule has been mostly weak. Minny was destroying us for 3 quarters (plus we've also beaten them without Giannis and Lillard) and Detroit is a young team that made some questionable coaching decisions late. Indiana is the real test.

[German Athens]

I think KPJ has breathed life into this team, and his pace, both quickly getting into the teeth of the defense and his poise when he gets there, is a big reason why.

Thats not meant as a rebuke of Dame. We saw all year that when Dame’s aggressive, we’re a very good team. He’s just not regularly aggressive, because I think he’s old and mostly going through the motions.

I would expect an aggressive Dame when the game’s matter, and that’s a good reason to keep him. I do think, like Giannis, there’s another gear he can hit when he just decides he wants to.

[ShootingtheJ]

I think KPJ has breathed life into this team, and his pace, both quickly getting into the teeth of the defense and his poise when he gets there, is a big reason why.

Thats not meant as a rebuke of Dame. We saw all year that when Dame’s aggressive, we’re a very good team. He’s just not regularly aggressive, because I think he’s old and mostly going through the motions.

I would expect an aggressive Dame when the game’s matter, and that’s a good reason to keep him. I do think, like Giannis, there’s another gear he can hit when he just decides he wants to.

I agree that Dame can still get his, but I think it's done at the cost of everyone else, and he'll be targeted on the other end.

[German Athens]

Shoutout to:

Bobby for doing Bobby things, and playing well defensively in a zone.

AJ Green for continuing to hit clutch threes, and fighting for the ball on a couple important late possessions. That latter part, along with his defense, gives him a really nice trajectory beyond just a shooter. Loved the toughness, and would like to keep seeing that.

KPJ for keeping his eyes up when he gets into the middle of the defense. Particularly that play where Detroit tried to ice him and he found Giannis for the dunk. The dude’s incredible. If you go back and watch that play, KPJ sort of winces because I think he realized he missed a passing opportunity to Giannis earlier, but he stuck with it and found him a moment later.

Gary Trent for actually making contact with the ball on his gambles of late. Him and KPJ have been a disruptive duo back there.

Rollins for smoothly attacking and finishing at the hoop when a lane presents itself. It’s pretty hilarious how jarring it is to watch someone get all the way to the rim and finish off a ball swing. Pat’s kind of the only other wing who can do that stuff, but clearly he’s been a declining presence for us the past few seasons. More of this please, Rollins.

[ShootingtheJ]

Let's not get too cocky yet. The schedule has been mostly weak. Minny was destroying us for 3 quarters (plus we've also beaten them without Giannis and Lillard) and Detroit is a young team that made some questionable coaching decisions late. Indiana is the real test.

Minnesota, Detroit, and Miami are all top 10 in defensive rating.

[blazza18]

Everything comes down to whether or not the shooters make enough shots. They’re going to be asked to prove they are ready for the bright lights.

[Ron Swanson]

Lol, I’d cool it on the smug, way too premature victory laps but I guess this was entirely predictable. Just like everyone predicted we were gonna win a bunch of these games down the stretch based on how many tanking/G-league rosters we got to face and were literally saying as much even after the embarrassing Atlanta loss.

This team has an actual shot to make it to the 2nd round, and that’s as it should be when you have a player like Giannis despite having to overcome Doc’s coaching. I’ll certainly take it after the disaster of a season that it’s been.

[fan230]

A dilemma: Dame plays and we are again back to the slow plodding predictable offense vs Dame shines as the top 75 player.

Or

Dame doesn’t play. Giannis and kpj and the rest of the team shines vs Teams smother Giannis the only big weapon and we have no other superstar to negate this situation. Also GA could break down having to carry the load alone.

Not sure what will happen, or what Doc should do.Thoughts?

[Bucksmaniac]

Lol, I’d cool it on the smug, way too premature victory laps but I guess this was entirely predictable. Just like everyone predicted we were gonna win a bunch of these games down the stretch based on how many tanking/G-league rosters we got to face and were literally saying as much even after the embarrassing Atlanta loss.

This team has an actual shot to make it to the 2nd round, and that’s as it should be when you have a player like Giannis despite having to overcome Doc’s coaching. I’ll certainly take it after the disaster of a season that it’s been.

It’s been a strange season, perhaps the oddest in NBA history, especially if we somehow can overachieve with this roster in the postseason. We won the NBA cup with a rotation that looks much different (and much slower) than our current one. We may have somehow extended our window by a couple years if we can get KPJ extended.

[randy84]

A dilemma: Dame plays and we are again back to the slow plodding predictable offense vs Dame shines as the top 75 player.

Or

Dame doesn’t play. Giannis and kpj and the rest of the team shines vs Teams smother Giannis the only big weapon and we have no other superstar to negate this situation. Also GA could break down having to carry the load alone.

Not sure what will happen, or what Doc should do.Thoughts?

Pacers will target Brook and try to run him out of the gym. Sims would be a big help if he can comeback.

[chonestown]

As for the Giannis-Beas thing, both guys played hard.imo

It's not that KPJ has shone in the p-and-r game with Giannis. He's done it with Brook and Sims. He's just a lot better at that than Dame.

[Ron Swanson]

If anything it’s important for this stretch to remind both the fanbase and the organization to count their blessings we have a player that makes it so much easier to build a championship contender around. Like the discussion just a couple weeks ago, you’re never more than one good offseason away with a dude like Giannis on the roster.

[Turk Nowitzki]

A dilemma: Dame plays and we are again back to the slow plodding predictable offense vs Dame shines as the top 75 player.

Or

Dame doesn’t play. Giannis and kpj and the rest of the team shines vs Teams smother Giannis the only big weapon and we have no other superstar to negate this situation. Also GA could break down having to carry the load alone.

Not sure what will happen, or what Doc should do.Thoughts?

Pacers will target Brook and try to run him out of the gym. Sims would be a big help if he can comeback.

I can't believe how badly we need Jericho Sims back for the playoffs. I guess who knows if Doc would even play him now that Bobby's back.

[msiris]

Just feel that when Dame is on the floor everyone just stands there and watches him do his thing. More fun too watch games without him. Sorry

[emunney]

When I started posting here, if someone would have said, "Would you rather make the playoffs 9x in a row, or...", I think 80% of us would have said YUP before hearing the rest of it.

Looking forward to the playoffs.

[emunney]

If anything it’s important for this stretch to remind both the fanbase and the organization to count their blessings we have a player that makes it so much easier to build a championship contender around. Like the discussion just a couple weeks ago, you’re never more than one good offseason away with a dude like Giannis on the roster.

I couldn't have asked for a better illustration of this than the MarJon for KPJ trade.

[raferfenix]

Early in the season I had to listen to the nonstop trash that "Giannis has to swallow his ego and let Dame run the offense". Complete garbage. We see now how that was exactly what was holding this team back. The offense now, with Giannis as the hub, is absolutely cranking, and because it's not spamming 3s, it'll work in the playoffs too.

It's amazing to have an offense this good with so little talent opposite of Giannis.

The ‘Giannis has gotta let Dame be Dame’ theory was tested and now seems proven to not be the problem.

[ShootingtheJ]

If anything it’s important for this stretch to remind both the fanbase and the organization to count their blessings we have a player that makes it so much easier to build a championship contender around. Like the discussion just a couple weeks ago, you’re never more than one good offseason away with a dude like Giannis on the roster.

I couldn't have asked for a better illustration of this than the MarJon for KPJ trade.

Agree. Our present 4 man wing rotation is -.6 VORP on the season with the Bucks. Moving Dame for a good wing or 2 improves us dramatically, and keeps the window open.

[raferfenix]

What’s it look like if KPJ emerges but we keep Dame?

That’d either be because he comes back during the playoffs and it works on the court. Or he doesn’t and we just don’t get any offers worth it.

How much Giannis wants to run it back with Dame is a big variable too.