Bucks News, Transactions, Trade Ideas - Sign Pete Nance to 2-way

[JayMKE]

I feel like Dame has looked more comfortable this season than last, a lot of comes down to him just shooting way better this season compared to last tho. The overall offensive numbers with Griff really seem like an outlier or quirk with the scheduling, maybe Doc’s antiquated “system” is just really bad compared to Griff’s non-system too. I’m ready to move on from Doc too as long as they don’t triple down with another coach just like him.

[German Athens]

I don’t really think our 3pt attempt rate has anything to do with why our offensive rating has dropped this year.

We’re averaging 0.6 fewer 3pt attempts per game this year compared to last, but we’re actually making more per game.

I agree that we should be shooting more of them, because it’s clearly a strength of this team, but it doesn’t explain why our offensive rating has dropped 3.5 pts compared to last year.

[Fotis St]

AJ Green has been my pick for our starting SG for 2 years.

He fits more with the starters cause he is a better defender than GTJ and he is used and probably feels comfortable hitting 3-4 3s on low volume. GTJ is more of a microwave player with a higher volume that is more suitable for bench scoring.

Bottom line I think GTJ is a rhythm 3p shooter, while Green is a 3p sniper ... stays still and boom boom boom can hot 3/3 or like 4/5 3s ... He doesn't need attempts to hit his shots. This is super rare imo and fits perfectly with our two top75

Be aware of Porter Jr too... He could become our starter if he starts a run playing good D and be a threat on offense.

[Badgerlander]

Personally think we should start Green in place of Prince and slide Dre up. When Giannis comes back, Dre goes to the bench, and you bring him in immediately if the starters come out flat.

100%, Dre and Giannis minutes should be staggered

[pifhluk23]

Personally think we should start Green in place of Prince and slide Dre up. When Giannis comes back, Dre goes to the bench, and you bring him in immediately if the starters come out flat.

I dig this

Dame, Green, Kuzma, Giannis, Brook is the obvious best starting unit

If; then

If energy is needed; insert Ajax
If scoring punch is needed; insert Bobby, Trent or KPJ
If ball handling is needed; insert KPJ or Rollins
If (???) is needed; insert Prince
If touching a forehead to the rim is needed; insert Sims

I think GTJ is a better overall player, Green may get there but GTJ is just better right now. Green was better earlier in the season because GTJ couldn't hit a shot. I'm not sure Green can play 30+ mpg without fouling out.

[drdrG]

Personally think we should start Green in place of Prince and slide Dre up. When Giannis comes back, Dre goes to the bench, and you bring him in immediately if the starters come out flat.

I dig this

Dame, Green, Kuzma, Giannis, Brook is the obvious best starting unit

If; then

If energy is needed; insert Ajax
If scoring punch is needed; insert Bobby, Trent or KPJ
If ball handling is needed; insert KPJ or Rollins
If (???) is needed; insert Prince
If touching a forehead to the rim is needed; insert Sims

I think GTJ is a better overall player, Green may get there but GTJ is just better right now. Green was better earlier in the season because GTJ couldn't hit a shot. I'm not sure Green can play 30+ mpg without fouling out.

Regardless of preference, our 2 spot should be 42 minutes of AJ/GTJ a night that's largely dependent on who is hot. I have even really liked them on the court together when Dame is off. The whole point is that the defense is always giving up a good three point look to a guy who shoots 45%+. That strategy is unsustainable.

Beasley and Forbes before them were similar shooters. Forbes was playing next to Jrue with prime Giannis, healthy Middleton, younger Lopez and PJ Tucker. Beasley looked a lot worse because of what was around him. Now we have two elite shooters that can hold their own in most matchups on defense and we're messing around with the biggest non-shooter in the league (AJax) and a guy who can't really defend or rebound on the wing (TP).

Totally agree Kuzma should be our starting three and AJax needs to go to the bench.

[-Jragon-]

It seems clear neither Dame or Giannis are comfortable playing off the ball or deferring to each other, they have more pressure to “get theirs” when forced to share that role which leads to an iso heavy turns taking offense. I don’t think this is going to change, the idea Giannis is going to be Amare on offense & be the full time 5 is about as realistic as Dame being Steve Nash on offense and playing defense for the first time in his career in his mid 30s. The fit is just fundamentally bad and it would be wise to move on in the offseason, can’t force square peg into a round hole.

I agree with your premise but disagree that they can't work it out. I've just seen Giannis add a whole Hakeem package to his game and Dame become a nightly triple double threat... these guys take time to change themselves but they do.. and When (not if) they do it's going to be lights out.

This might be as simple as making Dame's give and go package (getting him in his spots with a triple threat + momentum) a permanent play in the offense and then developing plays off of that to get guys open slashing (back screens/cuts).. plus we might have the athleticism and guys willing to set those screens and make said cuts now.

[Ron Swanson]

If Giannis "can't make it work" with one of the greatest perimeter gravity players ever, then that tells us more about Giannis than it does about anyone else honestly, but I get that it's an uncomfortable conversation to have.

[raferfenix]

When Dame attacks the hoop everything seems to go better for us even aside from when he chooses to try on defense.

I feel like if Dame were balling out more individually (All-NBA vs fringe All-Star) then critiques would have more merit about Giannis not setting hard screens and doing the dirty work kind of tasks KG did in his Boston era that this team is in desperate need of.

As it stands though Giannis thinks he has to conserve energy to lead the charge offensively which isn't entirely unreasonable.

[Siefer]

If Giannis "can't make it work" with one of the greatest perimeter gravity players ever, then that tells us more about Giannis than it does about anyone else honestly, but I get that it's an uncomfortable conversation to have.

They've been making it work for a long time now, I think. Just not as regularly hitting the highs that are possible as long as we'd all like (although it's been getting better and better). Emunney noted we still aren't regularly using motion to actually make room when Giannis and Dame share the floor, and I think he's on the money.

This is kind of a classic set for us - Dame bringing it up, with Giannis running ahead to the elbow or the block. Dame gets a high screen from Brook who floats behind the line, while Prince and Dre sit in the corners with their guys sagging 8-10 feet off of them ready to collapse onto Giannis. Sometimes that's a good enough start because of how talented these guys are, but other times they just immediately trap Dame and he dumps it to Brook. Brook either shoots the three (37%) or hands it back to Dame who's running back to the ball.

Our offense just resulted in a semi-open Brook three, or we're at 12 seconds on the clock and nobodies moving. If the offense resets they will try the screen again, Dame will isolate, or he'll feed it inside to Giannis who will either drive, shoot the midrange, or kick it to the corners. It's pretty sludgy, man.

I think Dame and Giannis are doing a pretty good job given what they have to work with.

[thonnisbeastley]

Giannis and Dame are the two greatest players to ever suck at the two-man game. It's crazy how bad they are for one another.

[Milbucks96]

Dame does a lot of spacing for Giannis and makes his life easier just by being on the court. It’s the opposite for Dame because Giannis’s defender just clogs the lane preventing Dame from getting to the rim which is a huge part of his game. Idk how to gameplan around that which is why I don’t think they’re that great of a fit offensively.

[JayMKE]

If Giannis "can't make it work" with one of the greatest perimeter gravity players ever, then that tells us more about Giannis than it does about anyone else honestly, but I get that it's an uncomfortable conversation to have.

It’s a two way street but I don’t think many people are complaining about Giannis not being able to get his. Giannis got more efficient with Dame whereas at least last year Dame has been the opposite, it’s definitely more an issue on Dame’s end than vice versa. What is uncomfortable about that? Unless you’re suggesting Giannis is who is stopping this team from winning and that the team should be built around heliocentric Dame, then I would just call you insane.

[Dick Tate]

The "fit" wasn't bad last season though and the numbers 100% prove it. You guys decide what the common denominator is here.

There are two ways to look at this.

1 - They both haven't been healthy together enough, including playoffs. So we need to see the playoffs this year. Which we're going to do. (and Doc's lineups with them have sucked)

2 - You've got two top 75 players yet their collective record together only flutters a couple games above .500. And each guy seems to thrive when the other one is out injured.

I think neither should be playing B2Bs from here on out, so they should alternate them those games, stagger minutes more in other games, play to their strengths. Then if either are hobbled during the playoffs, the other is ready to run the show. I’m not concerned they won’t be able to “figure out” how to play together in the big games.

[GoldenAntlers]

3 games until the break. 8 days off. Return with a home/road B2B and 3/4.

Does this happen to other teams? It must, but I feel like it's been brutal these past 2 or 3 years specifically.

[yb90]

I get it, Dame just had a great game. He has had great games with Giannis but the problem is consistency. There have been weeks were Dame's shot has been off or where he couldn't finish nor able to attack the rim because he was doubled. Dame is a great shooter but he is not Curry or Kyrie. He's not even Jalen Brunson. He has never been a consistent 40% 3pt shooter or 50% 2pt shooter. Dame looks great at times and other nights he looks avg or worse. It is not because of Giannis this has been Dame's career.

[Ron Swanson]

Giannis and Dame "not fitting well" is an exaggerated narrative and seems like only the people that have an axe to grind feel the need to manifest it into a problem. That's the entire point that I was making. But if the same people want to run with that narrative, then it's important to point out to them that Dame is the guy who's been sacrificing here (shots and usage slightly down even more this season while his efficiency is much better).

I mean, if you're looking for a reason beyond the obvious (Doc's lineups and offensive philosophy) then sorry, can't cheer on Giannis letting mid-rangers fly (yay most inefficient shot in basketball!) as he posts career highs in usage, shot attempts, etc. while having the worst FT efficiency of his career and then turn around and ask, "why isn't the offense better?"

The "fit" wasn't bad last season though and the numbers 100% prove it. You guys decide what the common denominator is here.

There are two ways to look at this.

1 - They both haven't been healthy together enough, including playoffs. So we need to see the playoffs this year. Which we're going to do. (and Doc's lineups with them have sucked)

2 - You've got two top 75 players yet their collective record together only flutters a couple games above .500. And each guy seems to thrive when the other one is out injured.

Ultimately, yes. And you alluded to the lineup stuff, but the answer(s) we're looking for were:

1) Griffin/Doc (offensive scheme)

2) Horst (poor roster construction around those two)

The latter though is why I'm at least holding out hope that something could still click with this new Dame/Giannis/Kuzma trio. Injuries robbed Khris of being an ideal #3, but there's an avenue for this team to win multiple playoff rounds if they've finally found a guy that can unlock the Giannis Center lineups.

[Daver]

Personally think we should start Green in place of Prince and slide Dre up. When Giannis comes back, Dre goes to the bench, and you bring him in immediately if the starters come out flat.

No dre needs to get his ass out of the starting lineup period no moving him up .Dude doesnt belong in the starting lineup he cant score or shoot or basically do anything

[chonestown]

Giannis and Dame are the two greatest players to ever suck at the two-man game.

Based on a comprehensive reading of vibes, I second this.

[-Jragon-]

Personally think we should start Green in place of Prince and slide Dre up. When Giannis comes back, Dre goes to the bench, and you bring him in immediately if the starters come out flat.

No dre needs to get his ass out of the starting lineup period no moving him up .Dude doesnt belong in the starting lineup he cant score or shoot or basically do anything

Probably at best he's an energy bench dude you can throw at some opposing hot player to tire him out. If we want Dre to get less minutes (and avoid the Pat pothole) we probably need a buyout wing that can D up and has a 3 point shot