Are the Bucks fools gold?

[Pachinko_]

I will admit that it was a bit disappointing that they didn't keep P.J. Tucker given they had his full bird rights and they could've convinced him to take a lesser deal with a smaller cap hit spread out over 3 years at say 17-20M but I understand the main reason being was that his added salary would've skyrocketed their tax bill. He would've been ideal for soaking up minutes in the regular season but oh well.

I think the main reason they let him go is he is 37.
As for soaking up minutes in the regular season, last year before Divicenzo got injured Tucker was 10th in minutes.
They just had to play him a tonne on the play offs, I don't think they actually wanted to.

[Pachinko_]

There's an identical thread a couple of lines down.

[Beethoven]

It'll be bucks and Chicago east finals

[Dutchball97]

Jrue and Khris missed half their games, Brook Lopez has played in 1 game and Divincenzo hasn't played at all yet. Giannis has literally been their only healthy starter this season. They'll be fine eventually.

[Duke4life831]

There's an identical thread a couple of lines down.

No way totally different themes

"The Bucks still legit?"
"Are the Bucks fools gold?"

Clearly the question of are the Bucks legit wasn't being discussed in the "Are the Bucks fools gold" thread. This definitely needed its own thread to discuss this...

[mpoo_sin]

If Bucks' championship is considered lucky, so should the Lakers' 2020 championship.

The 2020 Lakers didn't play a team missing their star to injury until maybe Bam for two games in the finals. How was it lucky? I don't consider the Bucks title lucky either. Now if the Suns won due to Giannis not playing, I'd 100% consider it lucky. That'd be an unprecedented run where all 4 teams would have a star missing.

The Lakers benefited like no other team from the pandemic. Their two injury prone/old stars had an offseason right before the playoffs.

[Duke4life831]

I say once we see the starting lineup of

Jrue
Grayson
Khris
Giannis
Lopez

With the bench of
Donte
Pat
Bobby
Hill

Once we see that team play some games together. If that team is performing under .500 and not on track to make the playoffs, then I think a thread questioning if this team is fools gold could be asked. But right now we got Semi and Hood playing big minutes off the bench and Bobby Portis as the starting 5. We haven't watched the actual Bucks team play yet.

[Dutchball97]

I can understand not watching every game but takes like this show you haven't even checked the boxscore.

[Rich Michmond]

There's an identical thread a couple of lines down.

No way totally different themes

"The Bucks still legit?"
"Are the Bucks fools gold?"

Clearly the question of are the Bucks legit wasn't being discussed in the "Are the Bucks fools gold" thread. This definitely needed its own thread to discuss this...

Now the only thread we need is "Have the Bucks been exposed"?

[picc]

Hmm. I distinctly remember Bucks fans' in the first game thread of the year, when they beat the Nets without Jrue, gloating about how "teams that get injured just persevere and win anyway if they're really that good".

Now its nothing but injury excuses for why they're starting slow.

Interesting.

[Karate Diop]

What do you mean by legit?

If by legit are you asking whether the Bucks end the season a good team? In that case, yes, they are legit

If you're asking whether the Bucks can win another a championship then the answer is the same as last year. No they can't without a significant amount of luck and the use of underhanded tactics.

[nuposse04]

they may not get the number 1 seed cause of the injuries but they will have a top 4 record likely by seasons end.

[Pachinko_]

What do you mean by legit?

If by legit are you asking whether the Bucks end the season a good team? In that case, yes, they are legit

If you're asking whether the Bucks can win another a championship then the answer is the same as last year. No they can't without a significant amount of luck and the use of underhanded tactics.

Seriously, why don't you start a thread to ask if people think Giannis intentionally injured Kyrie? Just to get some neutral opinions and get out of the echo chamber a bit.

[xinxin]

they havent played at full strength... & honestly, a team that has won it all; knows what it takes come playoff time.

if theyre healthy heading into the playoffs, theyre legit contenders to win it all again.

[JohnnyNightrain]

Why are basketball fans such insufferable crybabies? No matter who wins, a certain sect of people will go on and on about how it wasn’t “legit.” Injuries, the bubble, super teams, the refs, etc. Move on.

[Heat3]

Their fans had no problems calling the Heat bubble frauds so I’ll return the favor. Frauds!

[celticfan42487]

2019 raptors > 2021 bucks > 2020 lakers

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using RealGM mobile app

I'll take the Bucks and Laker teams easily over that Raptors team. Either in 4 or 5 pretty easy series for either team.

[dribble1614]

maybe / maybe not but they got their ring and capitalized on a gifted opportunity last year with harden/kyrie injured and banged up so what they do from here on out is pretty irrelevant.

[Lalouie]

absolute parity, ring hangover, unstable rotation

holiday just injury wise started off the season on the wrong foot

i think what you have in parity is all the non contender teams thinking like they have a chance, so instead of giving up or just playing a game out, they put in the extra 10%

the bulk of the bell curve is emboldened and just not afraid anymore

[Celts17Pride]

Bucks are NBA Champions. How can they be fools gold?