Forget Spurs North - Could Raps Follow the 20-21 Bucks Model?

torsport · Post #1 » by **torsport** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:23 pm

For folks that have been on RealGM long enough, many posters often referred to our goal of becoming a version of the Spurs.

Build through the draft, acquire international players, play a consistent team game.

That vision came to reality with the acquisition of Kawhi.

In this new era, building around Scottie, is a Bucks model the way to go? That team had

Brook Lopez
Giannis
Khris Middleton
Bryn Forbes
Jrue Holiday
Bobby Portis
Pat Connaughton
Dante DiVincenzo
Torrey Craig

If you squint a little, it isn't hard to see how our lineup 'lines up' with a collection of BBQ, Poeltl, Gradey, Mogbo, Ja'Kobe, Shead. With a top pick that model can change.

What team building model/approach do you think fits best with the core that would = long-term success?

MessiahUjiri · Post #2 » by **MessiahUjiri** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:32 pm

I don’t really see it. Need some lockdown defenders.

That team had Giannis, Jrue, PJ Tucker, BroLo all as top defenders. Even Middleton.

Post #3 » by **tsherkin** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:33 pm

Short answer: obviously not. We don't have anyone even remotely close to a Giannis-level player, which was the start of how that team developed.

YogurtProducer · Post #4 » by **YogurtProducer** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:35 pm

MessiahUjiri wrote:I don’t really see it. Need some lockdown defenders.

That team had Giannis, Jrue, PJ Tucker, BroLo all as top defenders. Even Middleton.

After this year it is a model you can try to replicate, however.

Jrue was the big trade acquisition, but BroLo was a sneaky buy low on a vet that really paid off. That is next to impossible to do, but if you look at the 2017-18 Bucks it does make you wonder how they did it.

a 44 win team who took a Bledsoe/Snell/Middleton/Giannis/Henson starting lineup and upgrading everything around Khris/Giannis immensely.

ishoy123 · Post #5 » by **ishoy123** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:52 pm

Everyone getting a bit too giddy about our team. Our next 11 games are Bulls, Clippers, Knicks, Grizzlies, Thunder, Rockets, Sixers, Cavs, Heat, Suns, Celtics.

We probably go 1-10 or 2-9 over that stretch.

dTox · Post #6 » by **dTox** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:54 pm

We're just missing a Giannis, that's all.

PhilBlackson · Post #7 » by **PhilBlackson** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:01 pm

Problem # 1 - love Scottie but he is not comparable to Giannis lol

You’re talking about a top 2-3 player in the world that puts up 30 & 11+ routinely and is in MVP discussions for half a decade. Scottie has shown promise to but nothing remotely of that level.

Problem #2 - no one our roster is comparable to Middleton when he was balling as he was when they won. He was looking like Kawhi-lite to the point people were questioning up until the Finals who was more key to MIL winning in the Playoffs (him or Giannis)

Problem #3 - no one is comparable to Jrue as an elite POA defender, he’s simply bigger than our PGs and far more skilled scorer. When you combine Jrue/Middleton/Giannis/Brook…that’s a much longer and tougher defence.

So no this comparison doesn’t have much merit.

Senbonzakura · Post #8 » by **Senbonzakura** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:02 pm

Scottie is nowhere near as good as Giannis. He simply lacks the explosive athleticism that the Greek Freak has that makes him almost impossible to stop on drives or on the break.

We gotta stop doing this.

TorontoBarneys · Post #9 » by **TorontoBarneys** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:04 pm

OP's thinking is probably a lot closer to the FO's thinking than the replies, lol.

DelAbbot · Post #10 » by **DelAbbot** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:57 pm

TorontoBarneys wrote:OP's thinking is probably a lot closer to the FO's thinking than the replies, lol.

Difference is OP isn't being paid millions

billy_hoyle · Post #11 » by **billy_hoyle** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:08 pm

If we:
Draft Maluach and trade IQ for Cason Wallace I could squint and see it.
Cason = Jrue
RJ = Middleton
Barnes = Giannis
Maluach = Lopez

Similar roles, but worse player at literally every position
Our depth would be better tho. Maybe.

AbC? · Post #12 » by **AbC?** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:14 pm

I see it too. This recent stretch shows that if we were healthy we’re probably a near 50 win team.

Barnes < Giannis
RJ > Middleton
IQ = Jrue
Poeltl > Lopez

And our depth looks better. I think next year we make the 2nd round and then after that probably the finals.

ontnut · Post #13 » by **ontnut** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 7:30 pm

That Bucks team had one of the best defenses of ALL TIME. How's our defence this year?

TorontoBarneys · Post #14 » by **TorontoBarneys** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 7:57 pm

ontnut wrote:That Bucks team had one of the best defenses of ALL TIME. How's our defence this year?

We're the #1 defense in the NBA in the last 7 games. The OP is onto something.

I smell a play-in push.

Prestige · Post #15 » by **Prestige** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:08 pm

With the way this team has been winning, the only similarity may be lucking out and drafting our future superstar MVP with the 15th pick in the 2025 draft.

ItsDanger · Post #16 » by **ItsDanger** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:14 pm

Giannis was 24 yrs old when the Raps beat the Bucks in 2019 conference finals (won regular season MVP that year, was a candidate prior 2 seasons).

Scottie is 23 already.

MEDIC · Post #17 » by **MEDIC** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:17 pm

That's always been my kind of thinking. Surround Scottie with a bunch of elite 3+D players.

Kind of like what the pre-KAT Kincks did with Brunson.

You never know what kind of numbers Scottie could put up with the right spacing & right defenders around him.

MEDIC · Post #18 » by **MEDIC** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:19 pm

ontnut wrote:That Bucks team had one of the best defenses of ALL TIME. How's our defence this year?

That should be our goal.

junot111 · Post #19 » by **junot111** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:31 pm

PhilBlackson wrote:Problem # 1 - love Scottie but he is not comparable to Giannis lol

You’re talking about a top 2-3 player in the world that puts up 30 & 11+ routinely and is in MVP discussions for half a decade. Scottie has shown promise to but nothing remotely of that level.

Problem #2 - no one our roster is comparable to Middleton when he was balling as he was when they won. He was looking like Kawhi-lite to the point people were questioning up until the Finals who was more key to MIL winning in the Playoffs (him or Giannis)

Problem #3 - no one is comparable to Jrue as an elite POA defender, he’s simply bigger than our PGs and far more skilled scorer. When you combine Jrue/Middleton/Giannis/Brook…that’s a much longer and tougher defence.

So no this comparison doesn’t have much merit.

You're missing another integral piece, we don't have a 7 footer that can protect the rim while simultaneously stretch the floor like Brook.

This comparison makes zero sense lol

XTC · Post #20 » by **XTC** » Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:32 pm

torsport wrote:For folks that have been on RealGM long enough, many posters often referred to our goal of becoming a version of the Spurs.

Build through the draft, acquire international players, play a consistent team game.

That vision came to reality with the acquisition of Kawhi.

In this new era, building around Scottie, is a Bucks model the way to go? That team had

Brook Lopez
Giannis
Khris Middleton
Bryn Forbes
Jrue Holiday
Bobby Portis
Pat Connaughton
Dante DiVincenzo
Torrey Craig

If you squint a little, it isn't hard to see how our lineup 'lines up' with a collection of BBQ, Poeltl, Gradey, Mogbo, Ja'Kobe, Shead. With a top pick that model can change.

What team building model/approach do you think fits best with the core that would = long-term success?

Just find/discover a Giannis and sure.