PG Sixers: Trust the Process ends the streak

[SirChurros]

Also, I will say that aside from not using a challenge in obvious spots, I thought Bud’s gameplay, especially defensively, was great.

[Siefer]

Bully-ball worked fine, and it's the best plan B in the league. The problem is the offense was already singing on ball movement and open threes, and Giannis went iso and killed the vibes.

Our fourth quarter defense on Harden was really weird. Philly shot very well, and Harden was cooking, but we went away from the proven defense this team invented, and let him go at Midds over and over. Midds had a bad game, and got smoked in the fourth, but he's also never been able to cover Harden. Really curious decision-making on that.

[th87]

Bully-ball worked fine, and it's the best plan B in the league. The problem is the offense was already singing on ball movement and open threes, and Giannis went iso and killed the vibes.

Our fourth quarter defense on Harden was really weird. Philly shot very well, and Harden was cooking, but we went away from the proven defense this team invented, and let him go at Midds over and over. Midds had a bad game, and got smoked in the fourth, but he's also never been able to cover Harden. Really curious decision-making on that.

Maybe a test for the playoffs. That's all I got.

[paulpressey25]

Bully-ball worked fine, and it's the best plan B in the league. The problem is the offense was already singing on ball movement and open threes, and Giannis went iso and killed the vibes.
.

Correct. There was that stretch where Lopez was cooking, and then he went to the bench for Giannis. My initial thought at that time was “damn, we’re loaded with talent. Lopez leaves, Giannis enters”

But then Giannis decided to play all five positions on offense himself. It just doesn’t work against the top tier clubs. And yes, Bud needs to rein that in, but also think Giannis does have a Westbrook gene. It’s part of what makes him great, but has a downside to it as well.

[jute2003]

Bully-ball worked fine, and it's the best plan B in the league. The problem is the offense was already singing on ball movement and open threes, and Giannis went iso and killed the vibes.

Our fourth quarter defense on Harden was really weird. Philly shot very well, and Harden was cooking, but we went away from the proven defense this team invented, and let him go at Midds over and over. Midds had a bad game, and got smoked in the fourth, but he's also never been able to cover Harden. Really curious decision-making on that.

Maybe a test for the playoffs. That's all I got.

I think the Giannis stuff is a giannis flaw. He doesn't always make great decisions and he does seem to enjoy running into brick walls over and over. the weird defense might have been working on something specific as a team though. They tend to do weird stuff like that often.

[JayMKE]

Can't win giving up 48 points in the 4th quarter

[Badgerlander]

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[jschligs]

There were at least 3-4 moments where Giannis was trying to do too much on defense. He was helping too much, left a guy open, or have harden 4’ of space (which he’ll gladly take).

Then that 30’ Harden 3 down 4, I knew it was over.

[CharityStripe34]

This game came down to about 4-5 crucial mistakes in the fourth quarter. Some by Gianni, some by Khris, some by Jrue and Bud. C'est la vie we weren't gonna go undefeated the rest of the year. Onto the next one.

I will agree that the old "PG Giannis from the top of the key" stuff can suck against better teams. He looks much more dominant in the half-court when we're running him in pick-and-rolls as the screener, getting him into easy lobs or advantageous post-up spots. I wish Bud actually ran more set plays.

[DMBucks22]

Anyone catch what the code is to redeem the 5 free wingstop wings?

[BigO]

Calling Giannis a moron is harsh and unnecessary, but I do think the criticism is fair game, even if he had 34.

He had 16 points after three quarters and things were flowing nicely. The 4th was pretty brutal. He started dominating the ball and got tunnel vision.

Sometimes in games where we have big leads and he’s got a mediocre stat line, I swear it feels like a “ok, we’ve got a nice lead, now I need to get mine” mentality. I’m sure that’s just me reading into it, but I have had that thought on numerous occasions. And it seems to happen when he’s playing against other stars.

The Bucks scored 31 points in the fourth quarter. The problem wasn't the offense. Giving up 48 n the fourth quarter was the problem.

[CharityStripe34]

Another thing I noticed in the fourth is the guy guarding Niang when he went on his hot streak was sagging off him way too much. The bad old habit of over-helping. They have to remember to trust the 2 lead defenders in the high-screen and stay disciplined. Each one of the Big Three allowed costly threes to Niang for that same reason.

I actually think that was a good smack in the face for the team that they can't just relax and think after a big run the other team's going to lay down. Especially a very good team with star players. Let's see how they respond.

[BigO]

Also, I will say that aside from not using a challenge in obvious spots, I thought Bud’s gameplay, especially defensively, was great.

Yep. That defensive scheme on Harden in the fourth quarter was pure genius. It's worked playing him on his left side, but Bud thought he'd fool them by having every player in the fourth quarter guard Harden on the right, forcing him to go left where he always wants to go.

48 points n the fourth quarter, the vast amount of that due to Harden and the vast amount of that due to the scheme.

[BigO]

Another thing I noticed in the fourth is the guy guarding Niang when he went on his hot streak was sagging off him way too much. The bad old habit of over-helping. They have to remember to trust the 2 lead defenders in the high-screen and stay disciplined. Each one of the Big Three allowed costly threes to Niang for that same reason.

I actually think that was a good smack in the face for the team that they can't just relax and think after a big run the other team's going to lay down. Especially a very good team with star players. Let's see how they respond.

Niang was playing pretty bad leading up to the Bucks game, so I don't blame bud for sagging off him. Bud finally changed the scheme to keep someone on Niang, and wasn't a problem after that.

[ReddoverKobe]

The frustrating part to me was this was mostly on the bucks. The sixers player okay but Milwaukee just stopped doing what was working, got lazy and then had some of the worst mental mistakes I have seen on this team in a long time.

I was going to go over all of them but there are so many I don't want to type them all out lol

[CharityStripe34]

Another thing I noticed in the fourth is the guy guarding Niang when he went on his hot streak was sagging off him way too much. The bad old habit of over-helping. They have to remember to trust the 2 lead defenders in the high-screen and stay disciplined. Each one of the Big Three allowed costly threes to Niang for that same reason.

I actually think that was a good smack in the face for the team that they can't just relax and think after a big run the other team's going to lay down. Especially a very good team with star players. Let's see how they respond.

Niang was playing pretty bad leading up to the Bucks game, so I don't blame bud for sagging off him. Bud finally changed the scheme to keep someone on Niang, and wasn't a problem after that.

Niang going hot was instrumental in them erasing the 18pt lead starting the fourth. For all the consternation about Gianni's mental mistakes, if he doesn't score 14 straight points we would've been down way earlier. I agree that it was the defensive brainfarts all around that, to me, looked worse. Guys can miss shots but this team's bread and butter is incredibly stout defense leading to efficient offense. Once the Sixers got back into the game the pace on offense slowed to a crawl.

I was already over the loss not long after, because I know Bud will replay the fourth quarter in film session and show the guys their mental lapses late in the game. Especially the way the ball stopped moving around.

[drew881]

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I’m fine with most of those plays with exception of leaving Niang wide open. Harden had a great 4th. He won’t have 4 of those over a playoff series.

[nagawicka]

Calling Giannis a moron is harsh and unnecessary, but I do think the criticism is fair game, even if he had 34.

He had 16 points after three quarters and things were flowing nicely. The 4th was pretty brutal. He started dominating the ball and got tunnel vision.

Totally agree that throwing labels and calling names is uncalled for (Khris being targeted this year with un-earned & unfair derogatory names). Better way to articulate that would be "Player X made some boneheaded decisions . . ."
OTOH, the game, the fanbase, the board is chock-full of derogatory name-calling of various players, if not near-constant then on a regular basis. Common here to see 'Khris is washed/fat/lazy'; 'Carter can't defend anyone over 4'6" & is a liability at PG'; 'Grayson is unplayable & can't hit the 3-pointer'; 'Brook is washed/slow'; 'Jrue is a complete catastrophe'. Most often, none of that is true. I mean, even Mamu passed the ball. For that reason, Giannis' poor decision-making has to be noted out loud because it's so blatant, it doesn't work, and it damages the team (along with his poor play (was he possessed by Thanasis last game or what)). Review the play, don't name-call the player, sure. Now let's see the rest of the board apply that to the rest of roster. It's not gonna happen.

[nagawicka]

I will agree that the old "PG Giannis from the top of the key" stuff can suck against better teams.

Is that a concession? Because 'PG Giannis from the top of the key" is not playing point guard. It's not having a point guard on the floor at all. Calling your own number because you can't see what doesn't work and won't run what does work, is literally not playing point guard. Some here complain Carter isn't a point guard bc he supposedly doesn't run plays; where are they now.

He looks much more dominant in the half-court when we're running him in pick-and-rolls as the screener, getting him into easy lobs or advantageous post-up spots. I wish Bud actually ran more set plays.

Integrated into the flow it works, as one of 5 on the floor, sure. If GA ever played point guard, by initiating actual plays, sure. That works.

[nagawicka]

Calling Giannis a moron is harsh and unnecessary, but I do think the criticism is fair game, even if he had 34.

He had 16 points after three quarters and things were flowing nicely. The 4th was pretty brutal. He started dominating the ball and got tunnel vision.

Sometimes in games where we have big leads and he’s got a mediocre stat line, I swear it feels like a “ok, we’ve got a nice lead, now I need to get mine” mentality. I’m sure that’s just me reading into it, but I have had that thought on numerous occasions. And it seems to happen when he’s playing against other stars.

The Bucks scored 31 points in the fourth quarter. The problem wasn't the offense. Giving up 48 n the fourth quarter was the problem.

Giannis wasted all that energy trying to overpower opponents on O (impossible task). OF COURSE he couldn't adequately defend when needed. Series of defensive blunders looked like Thanasis took over his body.