NBA Cup Finals - Bucks/Thunder - 12/17/24 - 7:30 - ABC - Middleton Out

[Prez]

The delusional optimist in me still believes despite the media/league’s best efforts to bury him, Giannis MV3 is still possible. Even if the game doesn’t count, a Giannis 40 to 50 piece in a win here would meaningfully help nudge narratives in a fun direction.

[tydett]

The delusional optimist in me still believes despite the media/league’s best efforts to bury him, Giannis MV3 is still possible. Even if the game doesn’t count, a Giannis 40 to 50 piece in a win here would meaningfully help nudge narratives in a fun direction.

Game won't count for standings/stats, but the only game that people will be able to watch for a week (and maybe the only chance to see the Bucks since the Christmas snub) for some watchers can't be understated.

[skbucks1985]

The delusional optimist in me still believes despite the media/league’s best efforts to bury him, Giannis MV3 is still possible. Even if the game doesn’t count, a Giannis 40 to 50 piece in a win here would meaningfully help nudge narratives in a fun direction.

I think you and I are on the same wavelength as far as the media's Jokic favoritism but I still do think what's baked into him being, presently, a slight favorite vs the field for MVP is the belief that the Nuggets will at some point go on a 16-4 stretch or something thereabouts. If they're 23-20 and a game or two up on the 11th seed I think his MVP chances will have dropped precipitously.

If that happens then everything opens up and I think he could get it if the Bucks are in the 3 spot but I think they'd have to be pushing Cleveland and Boston for a top-2.

[humanrefutation]

The delusional optimist in me still believes despite the media/league’s best efforts to bury him, Giannis MV3 is still possible. Even if the game doesn’t count, a Giannis 40 to 50 piece in a win here would meaningfully help nudge narratives in a fun direction.

I think you and I are on the same wavelength as far as the media's Jokic favoritism but I still do think what's baked into him being, presently, a slight favorite vs the field for MVP is the belief that the Nuggets will at some point go on a 16-4 stretch or something thereabouts. If they're 23-20 and a game or two up on the 11th seed I think his MVP chances will have dropped precipitously.

If that happens then everything opens up and I think he could get it if the Bucks are in the 3 spot but I think they'd have to be pushing Cleveland and Boston for a top-2.

I don't think Jokic is Giannis's primary competition for MVP, honestly. Even with how much the media loves Jokic and as great of a season he's having, I think he will be hard pressed to justify a fourth MVP in a five year span when he only has one finals trip during that timeframe and his Nuggets are decidedly mediocre this year (so far).

Like, history tells me that it's exceedingly rare for a dude to win 4 MVPs in 5 years anyway. Jordan never did it. LeBron did, but he led the top seeded team in three of those five years, went to the Finals 3 times, and won 2 rings. Is Jokic in that category? I know it's a regular season award, but I think those optics matter.

I think SGA and Doncic are bigger competition for Giannis and Jokic, even as I believe that the latter two are far better players and far more important to their teams. But the Thunder have the #1 seed and the Mavs are tied for the #3 seed in the West. Neither player has won an MVP and Doncic is coming off a Finals trip. I think the narrative is in their favor.

[HKPackFan]

The delusional optimist in me still believes despite the media/league’s best efforts to bury him, Giannis MV3 is still possible. Even if the game doesn’t count, a Giannis 40 to 50 piece in a win here would meaningfully help nudge narratives in a fun direction.

I think you and I are on the same wavelength as far as the media's Jokic favoritism but I still do think what's baked into him being, presently, a slight favorite vs the field for MVP is the belief that the Nuggets will at some point go on a 16-4 stretch or something thereabouts. If they're 23-20 and a game or two up on the 11th seed I think his MVP chances will have dropped precipitously.

If that happens then everything opens up and I think he could get it if the Bucks are in the 3 spot but I think they'd have to be pushing Cleveland and Boston for a top-2.

I don't think Jokic is Giannis's primary competition for MVP, honestly. Even with how much the media loves Jokic and as great of a season he's having, I think he will be hard pressed to justify a fourth MVP in a five year span when he only has one finals trip during that timeframe and his Nuggets are decidedly mediocre this year (so far).

Like, history tells me that it's exceedingly rare for a dude to win 4 MVPs in 5 years anyway. Jordan never did it. LeBron did, but he led the top seeded team in three of those five years, went to the Finals 3 times, and won 2 rings. Is Jokic in that category? I know it's a regular season award, but I think those optics matter.

I think SGA and Doncic are bigger competition for Giannis and Jokic, even as I believe that the latter two are far better players and far more important to their teams. But the Thunder have the #1 seed and the Mavs are tied for the #3 seed in the West. Neither player has won an MVP and Doncic is coming off a Finals trip. I think the narrative is in their favor.

I agree. Jokic will be in the conversation more as a standard bearer but not as a realistic choice.

I think giannis is in a similar boat and only quite very exceptional season and some kind of narrative revenge tour taking over the league would work.

But if SGA and Doncic teams are top contenders and putting up great numbers the narrative will be it's their turn. Probably more Doncic since he had a finals appearance.

This game would be great opportunity to start building the giannis mvp story. But it will always be an outside shot.

[MickeyDavis]

Khris missed practice today with an "illness". Bottle flu no doubt

[skbucks1985]

The delusional optimist in me still believes despite the media/league’s best efforts to bury him, Giannis MV3 is still possible. Even if the game doesn’t count, a Giannis 40 to 50 piece in a win here would meaningfully help nudge narratives in a fun direction.

I think you and I are on the same wavelength as far as the media's Jokic favoritism but I still do think what's baked into him being, presently, a slight favorite vs the field for MVP is the belief that the Nuggets will at some point go on a 16-4 stretch or something thereabouts. If they're 23-20 and a game or two up on the 11th seed I think his MVP chances will have dropped precipitously.

If that happens then everything opens up and I think he could get it if the Bucks are in the 3 spot but I think they'd have to be pushing Cleveland and Boston for a top-2.

I don't think Jokic is Giannis's primary competition for MVP, honestly. Even with how much the media loves Jokic and as great of a season he's having, I think he will be hard pressed to justify a fourth MVP in a five year span when he only has one finals trip during that timeframe and his Nuggets are decidedly mediocre this year (so far).

Like, history tells me that it's exceedingly rare for a dude to win 4 MVPs in 5 years anyway. Jordan never did it. LeBron did, but he led the top seeded team in three of those five years, went to the Finals 3 times, and won 2 rings. Is Jokic in that category? I know it's a regular season award, but I think those optics matter.

I think SGA and Doncic are bigger competition for Giannis and Jokic, even as I believe that the latter two are far better players and far more important to their teams. But the Thunder have the #1 seed and the Mavs are tied for the #3 seed in the West. Neither player has won an MVP and Doncic is coming off a Finals trip. I think the narrative is in their favor.

If the Nuggets win 52 games and end up as the 3 seed, I'd be mildly surprised if Jokic doesn't win MVP. I think people are just so convinced that he is the best player in the NBA and will work backwards from there to arrive at giving him MVP using whatever shifting logic they need to. For example last year, I wouldn't have voted for him for MVP but I didn't have a huge problem with him winning but for him to get 79 of 99 1st place votes suggested a more dominant season commensurate to the other best players in the league than I thought he had.

I also think that today's MVP voters are I won't say historically illiterate but I think are far less likely to place historical importance in their vote. Putting aside the 4 in 5 seasons for the sake of this point, just 4 period is something only 5 others have done at all and Lebron and Jordan are the only ones to do so entirely post NBA-ABA merger. But I don't think putting him in such rarified air will be something they will have qualms about.

[humanrefutation]

Khris missed practice today with an "illness". Bottle flu no doubt

Hopefully he gets plenty of rest and electrolytes. He's starting to get to that age where it'll take more than a day off to fully recover from a night on the strip.

[KidA24]

Khris missed practice today with an "illness". Bottle flu no doubt

Seriously? We are still trashing Kris?

Come on.

[Packbuckman]

I think you and I are on the same wavelength as far as the media's Jokic favoritism but I still do think what's baked into him being, presently, a slight favorite vs the field for MVP is the belief that the Nuggets will at some point go on a 16-4 stretch or something thereabouts. If they're 23-20 and a game or two up on the 11th seed I think his MVP chances will have dropped precipitously.

If that happens then everything opens up and I think he could get it if the Bucks are in the 3 spot but I think they'd have to be pushing Cleveland and Boston for a top-2.

I don't think Jokic is Giannis's primary competition for MVP, honestly. Even with how much the media loves Jokic and as great of a season he's having, I think he will be hard pressed to justify a fourth MVP in a five year span when he only has one finals trip during that timeframe and his Nuggets are decidedly mediocre this year (so far).

Like, history tells me that it's exceedingly rare for a dude to win 4 MVPs in 5 years anyway. Jordan never did it. LeBron did, but he led the top seeded team in three of those five years, went to the Finals 3 times, and won 2 rings. Is Jokic in that category? I know it's a regular season award, but I think those optics matter.

I think SGA and Doncic are bigger competition for Giannis and Jokic, even as I believe that the latter two are far better players and far more important to their teams. But the Thunder have the #1 seed and the Mavs are tied for the #3 seed in the West. Neither player has won an MVP and Doncic is coming off a Finals trip. I think the narrative is in their favor.

I agree. Jokic will be in the conversation more as a standard bearer but not as a realistic choice.

I think giannis is in a similar boat and only quite very exceptional season and some kind of narrative revenge tour taking over the league would work.

But if SGA and Doncic teams are top contenders and putting up great numbers the narrative will be it's their turn. Probably more Doncic since he had a finals appearance.

This game would be great opportunity to start building the giannis mvp story. But it will always be an outside shot.

Giannis is considered 2nd behind Jokic in a lot of rankings with current records because of the historic numbers both are putting up. I do agree record is going to have some say in it neither bucks or nuggets can be a 6th seed unless its a 50 win or so 6th seed. I see bucks winning a lot of games this year where games won’t matter if Giannis is healthy and keeps playing like he is. 48-16-12 4 block game

[MickeyDavis]

Khris missed practice today with an "illness". Bottle flu no doubt

Seriously? We are still trashing Kris?

Come on.

Yes I was completely serious

[blazza18]

[tsamo]

On one hand, we've got nothing to lose with this match. Even if we lose, it does not matter for stats or standings.
On the other hand, it would really help us to see how we stack against the best in the west and in a winner takes it all format, in order to iron out any chinks in our armor.
And it could really help with Giannis MVP campaign, if somethinng like that even exists.

Last night was also a really big missed chance to showcase how bad Jokic is defensively but DeRozan fumbled the final pass. Kings' players were attacking Jokic in the basket at will and they were getting anything they wanted. At points it was like he was not even there, lol.

[Sigra]

We got this. Its over !!

[randy84]

The delusional optimist in me still believes despite the media/league’s best efforts to bury him, Giannis MV3 is still possible. Even if the game doesn’t count, a Giannis 40 to 50 piece in a win here would meaningfully help nudge narratives in a fun direction.

If Giannis wants to change the MVP narrative he needs to average double digit assists while maintaining his points and rebounds.

[-Jragon-]

Take care of the ball
Take care of the ball
Take care of the ball
Take care of the ball

But yeah we have a lot of dudes sloppy with the ball and dont hold body position when we receive passes. The more we get Dame rolling the better. The more KM and all the other shooters catch and shoot 3s without fiddling with the ball, the better. Pump fake and get them in foul trouble. Trying to go 2 for 2 with them (or some 50% GA free throws shooting) is going to give them hope and they'll get tougher and tougher.. break their spirit early with some prime Dame Time stuff and let him sit at the line instead of GA. KM dribbling through traffic and crying for fouls as they make layups will turn things the opposite way and WE'LL be down 15 quick. The refs won't call many fouls as they dive at our feet while dribbling just to make the ball go off our foot and turn it into a track meet.

120 - 104 ... get it

[chonestown]

When the Bucks were two and eight and everybody was like there champion ship window is closed well well well today is December 17 and the Bucks are playing for a championship life is a merry go around innit

[Bernman]

anyone unironically suggesting the team should throw the cup finals to "rest" when the playoffs are 4+ months away should never be allowed to have any opinion on anything ever again

[MickeyDavis]

This is why I usually put game threads up the day before, not 3 days before

[sidney lanier]

The spotlight tonight is upon us
The Thunder's too small to outbrawn us
But they fast break and steal
They have pundit appeal
I'm just hoping for Chick-fil-A Giannis

And a 120-104 outcome in our favor.