PG Dallas: Bucks Roll

[Bernman]

I hate, hate that starting lineup in theory but cleaning the glass has them as elite with a +11.1 diff after 144 possessions. They’re clamping so far too. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it I guess but I just don’t think it’s a good lineup overall, but Doc knows best in this situation. Numbers don’t lie.

Well, then Doc doesn't know best, cuz he started Ajax for over 40 games, while it had a negative differential. So he was both wrong in theory and practice.

In this case it's wrong in theory, not as much in practice, yet. But it's still handily losing to the lineups that have Green as the 2 alongside the other starters. Ajax as the starting 2 began well also, but then cratered to fit the theory.

[ajb905]

Is Giannis still on minutes restriction? I notice that it was just the 32 minutes again.

It was more because we were up 20 to start the 4th he got extra rest.

Team is nice. I like KPJ, I like Kuz for what he can do (even with the warts), I like Sims in limited minutes. Add Bobby....oh boy, we've got a team.

Hopefully Doc can better manage Dame and Giannis minutes down the stretch. Team is playing well. Does Dame need to be playing 36 mpg? Giannis health is of course the key so he should be managed conservatively, at the expense of the regular season

[Matches Malone]

Walls of Jericho brought it on D tonight.

I'm starting to wonder if Jericho isn't as important as Brook or Bobby at this point. Our D looks much improved.

He's been a revelation on defense. His ability to switch on guards is huge. I hope he doesn't get DNP's or limited minutes once Bobby comes back for the playoffs, because I think he can still have a role, and he can still play next to Bobby if they want to stay big with the bench unit.

[old skool]

I think it is a false narrative to assert that Rivers always plays lineups with a primary goal of winning individual games.

NBA coaches need to rest players. They need to see how different players fit together. They need to develop individual players. They need to improve chemistry among 2 and 3 man tandems. They need to see if players can make a leap when given more minutes or a larger role. Progress is not necessarily linear, for an individual player or a team.

Ajax was given a larger role. I think it was a worthwhile experiment with a player having incredible physical talents and a winning collegiate pedigree. The experiment was not bearing fruit for 2024-25 and deserved to be shelved, imo.

For now Ajax and Rollins are sidelined, while the new acquisition trio of Kuzma, KPJ & Sims are getting about 25% of available minutes per game. This latest experiment looks good so far, in a small sample size against opponents that don't compare to the teams that the Bucks expect to face in the playoffs when all this really matters.

[soxperry]

I hate, hate that starting lineup in theory but cleaning the glass has them as elite with a +11.1 diff after 144 possessions. They’re clamping so far too. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it I guess but I just don’t think it’s a good lineup overall, but Doc knows best in this situation. Numbers don’t lie.

Well, then Doc doesn't know best, cuz he started Ajax for over 40 games, while it had a negative differential. So he was both wrong in theory and practice.

In this case it's wrong in theory, not as much in practice, yet. But it's still handily losing to the lineups that have Green as the 2 alongside the other starters. Ajax as the starting 2 began well also, but then cratered to fit the theory.

+11 would be elite as a team number but not a lineup number. it says right there on cleaning the glass: +11 is 69th percentile of all nba lineups over a certain possession threshold.

[Prez]

I hate, hate that starting lineup in theory but cleaning the glass has them as elite with a +11.1 diff after 144 possessions. They’re clamping so far too. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it I guess but I just don’t think it’s a good lineup overall, but Doc knows best in this situation. Numbers don’t lie.

We're talking a tiny sample size that's been inflated greatly by this last game though. Before the Mavs game it had a +1.7 net rating. The Mavs game alone is what is lifting it to double digits. We're also benefitting right now from poor opponent shooting luck from 3 post-ASB.

It's still a stupid lineup decision imo and it working against a depleted Mavs team doesn't sway my opinion on that. A healthy good team like the Cavs with two quick shifty guards is going to butcher that lineup IMO with Prince trying to chase one of them around.

If we're at the end of March and that lineup has a much larger sample size together and it's in the double digits in net rating and it performed well against the contenders we'll see in the next several weeks (Cavs, Knicks, Thunder, Lakers, etc), I'll change my tune. But I still strongly feel our starters would be noticeably better with GTJ or AJ.

[ShootingtheJ]

Walls of Jericho brought it on D tonight.

I'm starting to wonder if Jericho isn't as important as Brook or Bobby at this point. Our D looks much improved.

He's been a revelation on defense. His ability to switch on guards is huge. I hope he doesn't get DNP's or limited minutes once Bobby comes back for the playoffs, because I think he can still have a role, and he can still play next to Bobby if they want to stay big with the bench unit.

Brook has been a disaster in the last few playoffs. Sims should cut into or eliminate his minutes in certain matchups.

[pifhluk23]

On offense, Green did hit a couple of crucial 3s but overall he has not seemed impressive to me. Trent on the other hand has overall shot much better. Porter continues to impress me with his abilities.

True, but Green continues to be the better defender.

Debatable. Green cannot defend without fouling, GTJ gets steals as well.

[Bernman]

On offense, Green did hit a couple of crucial 3s but overall he has not seemed impressive to me. Trent on the other hand has overall shot much better. Porter continues to impress me with his abilities.

True, but Green continues to be the better defender.

Debatable. Green cannot defend without fouling, GTJ gets steals as well.

It's not debatable at all. Defenses have been better w/ Green on the court the last 2 seasons than any of Trent's career. Trent's +20 over Trent w/ starters. This season Trent is bottom 2 w/ Dame as the worst Bucks in d-rating. Green's #1 at his minute threshold.

Steals happen a small % of the time. You should play w/ your feet. Part of Gary's problem is he gambles. It's better a player stays in front, even if he fouls a good % of the time. And the whistle AJ gets is ridiculous. Those get called less in the playoffs.

[ShootingtheJ]

True, but Green continues to be the better defender.

Debatable. Green cannot defend without fouling, GTJ gets steals as well.

It's not debatable at all. Defenses have been better w/ Green on the court the last 2 seasons than any of Trent's career. Trent's +20 over Trent w/ starters. This season Trent is bottom 2 w/ Dame as the worst Bucks in d-rating. Green's #1 at his minute threshold.

Steals happen a small % of the time. You should play w/ your feet. Part of Gary's problem is he gambles. It's better a player stays in front, even if he fouls a good % of the time. And the whistle AJ gets is ridiculous. Those get called less in the playoffs.

AJ's FG% against is really strong too.

[Daver]

I would not be out raged by trying Green or Trent as a starter but I am skeptical of the results being much different. If Trent and Green were better passers, ball handlers, and drivers then I would be more outraged but I'm not sure the Bucks have a legit starting caliber 2 guard on their roster. Fortunately, they have enough rotation guards to make it work.

Trent is a hell of alot better driver thsn green who ironically doesnt drive at all.Trent is good at getting in the lane

[Packbuckman]

I would not be out raged by trying Green or Trent as a starter but I am skeptical of the results being much different. If Trent and Green were better passers, ball handlers, and drivers then I would be more outraged but I'm not sure the Bucks have a legit starting caliber 2 guard on their roster. Fortunately, they have enough rotation guards to make it work.

Trent is a hell of alot better driver thsn green who ironically doesnt drive at all.Trent is good at getting in the lane

Trent is the better player right now and that’s all I am looking at I don’t care what kind of defense he played last year or even earlier this year. The minute he comes in off the bench the game changes. He’s a better ball handler that can get his own shot than AJ. Defensively AJ has been fouling a lot with quicker guards Trent really has been trying on D he would be perfect 2 starting right now.

[blazza18]

On offense, Green did hit a couple of crucial 3s but overall he has not seemed impressive to me. Trent on the other hand has overall shot much better. Porter continues to impress me with his abilities.

Green is processing things very slowly on the court lately and honestly looks completely out of his depth athletically. It's not surprising that he's fouling more. I've also long been on the island that his shooting isn't good enough. He's as streaky as it gets.

[chonestown]

This latest experiment looks good so far, in a small sample size against opponents that don't compare to the teams that the Bucks expect to face in the playoffs when all this really matters.

The Bucks will most likely fall into the 4-5 game and go against Detroit or the Pavers.

Bucks last three games were against Houston, Denver and Dallas.

If anything, those 3 teams are all better than whoever the Bucks face in the first round.

[chonestown]

Four pages after an encouraging victory, y'all ought to be ashamed (or posting).

[MickeyDavis]

Four pages after an encouraging victory, y'all ought to be ashamed (or posting).

[Licensed to Il]

The trade deadline was a kick in the nuts, but now that we’re a few weeks down the road, I feel
(mildly) invigorated. If we can lower GA and Dame’s minutes and keep the 4 seed.. we have ECF potential.

[Shaffty]

This latest experiment looks good so far, in a small sample size against opponents that don't compare to the teams that the Bucks expect to face in the playoffs when all this really matters.

The Bucks will most likely fall into the 4-5 game and go against Detroit or the Pavers.

Bucks last three games were against Houston, Denver and Dallas.

If anything, those 3 teams are all better than whoever the Bucks face in the first round.

4-5 would be perfect cavs in 2nd round over celtics

[yb90]

On offense, Green did hit a couple of crucial 3s but overall he has not seemed impressive to me. Trent on the other hand has overall shot much better. Porter continues to impress me with his abilities.

Green is processing things very slowly on the court lately and honestly looks completely out of his depth athletically. It's not surprising that he's fouling more. I've also long been on the island that his shooting isn't good enough. He's as streaky as it gets.

Shooting over 40% on 500+ attempts in your first 3 years is far from streaky. I get that he has droughts but every player does.

[MVP2110]

Yea calling AJ Green streaky is wild. I guess in theory every shooter is streaky since they all miss over 50% of the 3s they take