paulpressey25 wrote:Ron Swanson wrote: I mean, we did just trounce an actual contender the previous game with Dame scoring 11 points on 12 shots...
In our new era NBA, matchups are now taking on significant importance. In ye olden days, the Kobe/Shaq Lakers could trounce everyone. In the new era, we can trounce OKC because we can pound them inside.
With LA, it seems like AD always get up for playing Giannis, which cancels out that matchup advantage we usually have. Then you come back to whether some of their more energetic guards (and forward in Rui) can run our guys ragged or exploit the scheme. Honestly, they are a worse matchup for us when LeBron sits.
You've theoretically got to be able to match-up with everyone and every style now to win the title. Simply noting that to win that title, I believe we need one more top-7 playoff rotation guy who is highly athletic.
You are really overthinking things.
The Bucks dominated the first 40 minutes of a 48 minute game against a Lakers team team that is painfully mediocre even when LeBron plays and were up 94-75 with 8 minutes to go.
The Bucks lost because a team that boasts Giannis/Lillard/Middleton couldn't make a shot down the stretch.
Even if some of the guys on the Lakers got hot, Bucks still win if the Bucks can hit a couple shots in the final 8 minutes. Lakers ended the game on a 26-7 run to force overtime. If Lakers go on 26-8 run, the Bucks win the game.
Plus, the Lakers got hot because they were given a new confidence and new life due to the Buck's inability to close the game. When the Bucks were up 94-75 with 8 minutes to go, the Laker's body language didn't look great. Lakers would have threw in the towel if the Bucks had scored just a couple more baskets. But once the Lakers realized the Bucks were chucking & choking down the stretch, they were like,
Wait a minute, we can steal this thing.Also, don't forget, the Bucks were still up by 10 with about 3 minutes to go if my memory is correct.
It's not about match-ups so much as it is about coming to play for 48 minutes.