Is Milwaukee tanking for 3rd to avoid Philly/Miami?

NyKnicks1714 · Post #1 » by **NyKnicks1714** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 2:41 am

Or at least putting themselves in a position to be able to choose to play for 2nd or rest guys for 3rd in the last couple of games, depending on what happens between Miami and Indiana?

I'm not even saying it's deliberate, but in the back of their minds you know they're worried about playing Miami or Philly in the first round, and maybe that prospect is affecting how they're playing.

RookieStar · Post #2 » by **RookieStar** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 2:57 am

I know its probably a tin foil hat thing but NGL, you might have something there.

You cant explain all these losses.

Johnny Bball · Post #3 » by **Johnny Bball** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 2:59 am

NyKnicks1714 wrote:Or at least putting themselves in a position to be able to choose to play for 2nd or rest guys for 3rd in the last couple of games, depending on what happens between Miami and Indiana?

I'm not even saying it's deliberate, but in the back of their minds you know they're worried about playing Miami or Philly in the first round, and maybe that prospect is affecting how they're playing.

Why? The Bucks have had an even harder time with the Pacers this year.

Post #4 » by **dockingsched** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 2:59 am

Didn’t Indiana dominate them this year?

MartyConlonOnTheRun · Post #5 » by **MartyConlonOnTheRun** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:01 am

You don't play Giannis close to damn near 40 minutes when he's hobbled when you are trying to lose. Just fake an ankle injury and call it a day.

basketballRob · Post #6 » by **basketballRob** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:03 am

Giannis has a hamstring, and Lillard is banged up. I don't think they'd mind falling to 3.

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WemBA Time · Post #7 » by **WemBA Time** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:09 am

Does Doc Rivers know how to tank?

NyKnicks1714 · Post #8 » by **NyKnicks1714** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:10 am

dockingsched wrote:Didn’t Indiana dominate them this year?

All happened before Hali fell back down to earth hard, and obviously before Mathurin went down for the season. No doubt in my mind the top teams in the East would rather play Indiana than Miami or Philly.

theFireBlanket · Post #9 » by **theFireBlanket** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:16 am

MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:You don't play Giannis close to damn near 40 minutes when he's hobbled when you are trying to lose. Just fake an ankle injury and call it a day.

Giannis pushed to play. Doc wanted to sit him.

eyeatoma · Post #10 » by **eyeatoma** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:20 am

NyKnicks1714 wrote:Or at least putting themselves in a position to be able to choose to play for 2nd or rest guys for 3rd in the last couple of games, depending on what happens between Miami and Indiana?

I'm not even saying it's deliberate, but in the back of their minds you know they're worried about playing Miami or Philly in the first round, and maybe that prospect is affecting how they're playing.

Lol you give them too much credit. They just suck. They played Giannis on a bad hammy for 2 games in a row, and pushed him the entire game to try to get those wins. They also were battling back in this game. They are just old, no athleticism, Dame is on the decline, and have Doc Rivers.

heatwillbeback · Post #11 » by **heatwillbeback** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:24 am

No.

Miami was 6th before losing yesterday. 6-7-8 is so fluid, especially since 7 and 8 wont be decided until after the season.

There is not positioning going on yet with all this movement.

baldur · Post #12 » by **baldur** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:26 am

They just flat out suck.

NyKnicks1714 · Post #13 » by **NyKnicks1714** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:28 am

theFireBlanket wrote:
MartyConlonOnTheRun wrote:You don't play Giannis close to damn near 40 minutes when he's hobbled when you are trying to lose. Just fake an ankle injury and call it a day.

Giannis pushed to play. Doc wanted to sit him.

And Doc is right regardless. But considering how how much he cares about his image I wouldn't be completely shocked if he took measures to increase his chances of a more favorable first round matchup.

payton2kemp · Post #14 » by **payton2kemp** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:35 am

Doc Rivers 15-16 :lol:

NyKnicks1714 · Post #15 » by **NyKnicks1714** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:41 am

heatwillbeback wrote:No.

Miami was 6th before losing yesterday. 6-7-8 is so fluid, especially since 7 and 8 wont be decided until after the season.

There is not positioning going on yet with all this movement.

Like I said though it gives Milwaukee the option to position. Get close to to Cleveland/New York/Orlando and they have some control over who they might play when it gets down to the final 2-3 games of the season, when they otherwise would have had none.

AIfan3 · Post #16 » by **AIfan3** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:42 am

And draw the Pacers who swept them during the season with their plethora of scoring wings? They're in for a long 1st round either way.

If the Bucks were tanking, it'd be smarter just to tank to 4th, and hope to draw the Magic in the 1st round.

BloodNinja · Post #17 » by **BloodNinja** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:54 am

Not tanking, they just suck. Granted they've had Lillard, Middleton, Giannis missing games but if they have all 3 ready for the first round there's no excuses.

Post #18 » by **Harry Garris** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 3:56 am

It’s a top heavy team. When Lillard is out, Giannis is playing hurt, and Middleton is missing some of these games, the Bucks aren’t very good.

SweaterBae · Post #19 » by **SweaterBae** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 5:01 am

WemBA Time wrote:Does Doc Rivers know how to tank?

Only up 3-1.

eyeatoma · Post #20 » by **eyeatoma** » Sat Apr 6, 2024 5:02 am

SweaterBae wrote:
WemBA Time wrote:Does Doc Rivers know how to tank?

Only up 3-1.

Lol

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