Preseason Game 2: Lakers at Bucks - 10/10/24 - 7:00 - BSWI/NBATV

[TroyD92]

Just watching highlights but 18 was getting abused. Like what i saw from AJ Johnson and a bobby heater

[Fotis St]

As I have said Portis is more important to us than Khris ... it takes you 2 years to figure out what the **** I am saying and seeing

[AussieBuck]

As I have said Portis is more important to us than Khris ... it takes you 2 years to figure out what the **** I am saying and seeing

Forget Bobby, give me your hottest Magic Johnson take Fotis.

[Fotis St]

As I have said Portis is more important to us than Khris ... it takes you 2 years to figure out what the **** I am saying and seeing

Forget Bobby, give me your hottest Magic Johnson take Fotis.

He has an elite skill, speed, I like that.
It will not translate unless he masters his handles. Saw some elite Kyrie like layups from him. Has to get stronger, learn to read the game as a point guard in order for coach to trust him.
I like him but it seems he is a long time project. I like that he somehow got the attention of alot of vets that can mentor him into something special. If he could become the fastest 3p shooting Ri9cky Rubio I would love it.

My hot take is that he will become a starter Point Guard on another team cause we will probably trade him for a "win now" piece. Unfortunately we don't have the minutes he needs to get developed properly

[RogerMurdock]

It's been talked about, but I think it was apparent last night: if he stays on the big league squad instead of going to the Herd, I think AJ Johnson can succeed early on in his career if he understands his job is to support the scorers, to facilitate. Pick your spots to do some dynamic stuff, but don't worry about filling up a highlight reel. Use your speed and vision to get the vets good looks and then pick and choose opportunities to score when guys like Giannis and Middleton draw attention.

Get used to the game, get stronger, and eventually you can develop into more of "the man." For now, just be the best support guy you can be.

[RogerMurdock]

Didn't watch a lot of the game carefully last night. First quarter, some of the second, then casually watched some of the summer league time in the second half while I was doing other things. Second half was mostly in the background for me.

Stats were weird. Lakers took 17 more shots than the Bucks, which seems like a lot.I naturally thought we must have gotten outrebounded by a ton. Outrebounded by 6, so nothing crazy. Turnovers? Only 2 more than the Lakers. They had one more block than we did, so it's not like we were swatting their shots out of bounds, giving them another shot opportunity.

Just found that strange.

[fansinceforever]

Brandon freaking Jennings lead a 46 win team in minutes as a rookie.

Give Johnson a shot until he shows that he can't handle it.

And then give him more. If it's really all about the playoffs and being prepared when it's time, developing an x factor like him is a huge part of that.

[PG Graveyard]

So, am I seeing things or does AJJ have some serious defensive chops?

Screen navigation. Jrue like.

This kid is going to have Giannis playing into his 40s.

Wouldn’t that be amazing. He looks the part right now.

[Ron Swanson]

As someone who maintains that the G-league does nothing for actual player development, I'm totally fine with that idea. History tells us that one or two of these dudes will get 5-6 hundred minutes of regular season time between injuries and load management, and it sure as hell doesn't look like it should be any of Marjon, Andre, or Tyler Smith. All the better if it's your 19-20 year old 1st round pick.

[Ron Swanson]

Other thoughts:

- Andre might be cooked. Dude is practically allergic to putting a basketball through the basket. A guard size Ben Simmons just isn't an NBA player, and if we're not gonna actually let him play on-ball and utilize his only NBA level offensive trait (passing), I'm about ready to already close the book on this whole weird experiment.

- We all know Pacezniks (I don't care enough to spell his name correctly) isn't it. What are we doing here? Give his two-way to Robbins or bring back Badji.

- Umude, Livingston, Rollins, etc. are all just guys. Livingston's got some potential still so you keep him around, but none of these dudes should be penciled in for anything other than warming the bench and getting some G-league reps. Nothing more to say about Marjon. Best for both parties to move on.

[Matches Malone]

I'm definitely in favor of taking our lumps with the rookie in the rotation. His ballhandling with the second unit feels crucial when you're trotting out Wright, Green, and Connaughton as your main guards off the bench. Delon can handle it a bit, but AJ's speed and handle is another level and adds a new dimension to the bench. Also doesn't hurt that he can shoot it a bit and isn't just a pure speed, one trick pony.

[Packbuckman]

I have read the posts of AJJohnson and I like that some see what I seen from the moment this kid started playing for us he’s a special talent. I know some are on Horst for drafting players but this pick in my opinion is like the Giannis pick he’s going to be the best of this draft will he be an mvp probably not but I will take a multiple all star and that’s what this kid can be. Play him this year as much as possible and get him ready for the playoffs where his speed and talent will help us against the certain teams. And hell no to people who say to ever trade this kid!

[chonestown]

<sweatsuit-era rap voice>
I used to like AJ
Now I like AJ
huh-HA

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Didn't watch a lot of the game carefully last night. First quarter, some of the second, then casually watched some of the summer league time in the second half while I was doing other things. Second half was mostly in the background for me.

Stats were weird. Lakers took 17 more shots than the Bucks, which seems like a lot.I naturally thought we must have gotten outrebounded by a ton. Outrebounded by 6, so nothing crazy. Turnovers? Only 2 more than the Lakers. They had one more block than we did, so it's not like we were swatting their shots out of bounds, giving them another shot opportunity.

Just found that strange.

I did the exact same thing in the 3rd quarter. I couldn't get the math right in my head how the lakers had like 6 more possessions than you would think looking at the box score.

Side Rant - It is crazy obnoxious how the in-game staff feels everyone needs to be entertained all the time at full volume. I went with my kid and a parent with only my toddler in between us. Could not talk at all during the time-out due to the blasting of music and announcers. Only time you could talk is during the games like during free throws. I don't see the point of it, get extra loud while the players are chilling on the sidelines?

[WeMajor34]

This group of young guys is getting more questionable as we play more games.

-AJ Johnson looks like he could contribute a little off the bench this year. Even if it’s only spot minutes, like the Marjon and Ajax minutes last year, that could really help speed his development along. He has one thing that you can’t teach: confidence. He’s not afraid in the slightest, I can’t say the same for the rest of the young guys.

-Ajax has been super disappointing over his summer league and preseason play. He simply can’t score unless it’s a wide open fast break. We can’t afford to play a “nothing” on offense this year. We needed his energetic play last year in the playoffs because we ran out of guys who could actually play with the run and gun Pacers. I don’t think that’s the case anymore with the bench.

-The MarJon gradual decline is just sad to see. That kid showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, albeit in limited minutes. Ever since then, he’s looked like a shell of himself. All of his upside has vanished. Hopefully we can trade him without using an asset so that we can use that roster spot on someone who can actually play.

In the end, I’m not expecting any young guy to get actual minutes other than AJ Green (even he’s looking rough this preseason). It seems like we go through the young guy excitement every year, because how couldn’t we? We’re starved for young talent.

[jute2003]

I think johnson likely learns more being around Dame all year than he would being the man on a crappy herd.

The Bucks can also use his lack of old slowness. They need Jackson to figure out how to be useful and Green to remember how to shoot for the same reasons.

If they could use Bobby, Pat, Marjon, and any other table scraps to get a better defensive big and some effective athleticism on the wing, I'd still be all for it.

[chonestown]

I want Robbins to make the team so he can pass to Brook for a bucket and Lisa can say "Robbins Lopez!"

free to use no big deal?

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Other thoughts:

- Andre might be cooked. Dude is practically allergic to putting a basketball through the basket. A guard size Ben Simmons just isn't an NBA player, and if we're not gonna actually let him play on-ball and utilize his only NBA level offensive trait (passing), I'm about ready to already close the book on this whole weird experiment.

- We all know Pacezniks (I don't care enough to spell his name correctly) isn't it. What are we doing here? Give his two-way to Robbins or bring back Badji.

- Umude, Livingston, Rollins, etc. are all just guys. Livingston's got some potential still so you keep him around, but none of these dudes should be penciled in for anything other than warming the bench and getting some G-league reps. Nothing more to say about Marjon. Best for both parties to move on.

I have zero hope AJax or Marjon will be playable in May. You can find guys better than them on the free agent min market every year (ie look at this off-season). Marjon is now 24 for all you Aussies in the future (Happy B-Day, Marjon). Just go with Giannis, Midds, GTJ, Brook, Dame, Delon, Pat, Bobby, Prince, AJJ, Green as our roster as-is with a possibility of signing a buyout guy if anyone gets injured. I'm the resident Pj hater, but no issues cutting either guy for PJ in current state.

[Bernman]

Magic's practically a high schooler on account he barely played abroad last yr. So he'll benefit immensely from seeing what he can get away w/ & can't against (mostly young) men, nba-level athletes, & higher level processers he's typically before the G-League. I agree it's a suspect developmental tool in general, but it's not 1-size fits all.

In-between he can be around the big club to provide energy in games where nothing else is working & possibly play in load management games or we're down multiple pg's like early in this one. That's a good season at his stage of development. I feel many swing from one extreme to another. He can have a rough one next game, then bounceback, like he did in Summer League.

[nagawicka]

Hadn't even thought about it till I saw you lay it out. We DESPERATELY need a PG who can dribble. And another big would be nice. And a young wing who can defend and shoot (unless Dairy shows up).

I suggested Bobby for Gabe Vincent & a pick. Had a good audition tonight. There's your pg/sg.

"I credit my hard work over the summer," Portis said flatly. "A whole lot of naysayers talking crazy on my name. Every time I get on social media, every time I do something it's always somebody's saying something about me.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2024/10/10/milwaukee-bucks-los-angeles-lakers-takeaways-giannis-antetokounmpo-preseason-debut/75564113007/

Portis made his first three shots before missing, and then promptly drained four more to go 7 for 8 from the field overall. He also went 4 for 4 from behind the three-point line and assisted on a basket. The performance followed up a 16-point night in Detroit where he made 4 of 5 three-pointers.

Meanwhile, "Khris Middleton is progressing." That's not bait. He's progressing.

"I credit myself on working hard each and every year, getting better. One thing I've done my whole career is just continue to get better each and every year no matter what nobody says. So, my biggest thing this summer was to get in the gym and just work. I worked every (expletive) day of my life this summer, like a mad man, bro.

"I just want my work to show on the court. So hopefully it just translates in preseason. But I'm just playing with confidence and going out there and being who I am. I put a lot of work into my craft."