Bucks/Pacers Lead-up - Dame Cleared for Practice

[yb90]

I do think those on/off splits might illuminate Doc’s thinking regarding TP.

Trent and AJ are capable shooters in tight windows, off movement, or off a pull-up whereas Prince has to be setup for his looks.

Prince isn’t going to see those looks with Giannis off the floor, so then he won’t be able to provide any value.

The weird part to me is that it seems like a mis-prioritization. Why would you emphasize putting TP in a position to succeed, over putting the team in a position to succeed? If maximizing the minutes you have winning lineups on the court means you play Prince fewer minutes then play Prince fewer minutes.

The problem is there is no one else with size besides Prince and Kuzma at the 3 and you only can run Trent Jr at the 3 for certain match ups or late in games when Giannis locks in on Defense. I would've loved if Doc would've loved if Doc would've started subbing out Kuzma sooner for Green like he's now doing or just moved one of Prince or Kuzma to the bench so Trent Jr or Green could start at the 2.

What also hurts is that Green and Trent Jr went through their worst shooting stretches as starters. They both shot horribly when given the opportunity. The sample size was small for both so who knows if it would've stayed that way but their numbers as starters are putrid.

[Bucksmaniac]

Is Sims going to be available? This will be the series where even casual fans won't be able to deny its time to move on from Brook. So sick of saying this year after year after year and he gets torched every playoff.

No matter whose playing though this will be an uphill battle. Carlisle will have several tricks up his sleave, if I were him I'd make everyone not named Giannis beat them. If Lopez Kuzma KPJ & Portis beat you in a 7 game series you didn't deserve to be there anyway.

Lopez has done well on offense in the Playoffs lately, of course it becomes a wash or worse at times due to defense but my guess is Kuzma is the main guy of those who they will want to bait to take shots.

[SupremeHustle]

Read on Twitter

This tells me Horst has been slipping. All this time all he's had to do is draft another guy or two like Giannis, and we'd be golden.

[yb90]

I hope Sims is back and would've loved to see him and point Giannis run the PnR with Giannis using the snake dribble to lock that trailing defender puting the help defender in that 2 on 1 bind.

[FrieAaron]

Read on Twitter

This tells me Horst has been slipping. All this time all he's had to do is draft another guy or two like Giannis, and we'd be golden.

Seriously. Just three of them and you get some crazy circular net rating boost that would break the league. Like the penrose stairs of basketball lineups.

[Milbucks96]

I can see us winning just because of Giannis but I’m going to say a loss. Not enough talent and I think KPJ comes back down to earth with the pacers game planning for him.

[WiscoKing13]

I don't know about starters but this How I'm hoping the minutes turn out.

PG
KPJ 35
Rollins13

2/3
Prince15
Kuzma15
Green 33
GTJ 33

4/5
Giannis 42
Brook 25
Bobby 25
Kuzma 4

Sent from my SM-S926U using RealGM mobile app

[German Athens]

I do think those on/off splits might illuminate Doc’s thinking regarding TP.

Trent and AJ are capable shooters in tight windows, off movement, or off a pull-up whereas Prince has to be setup for his looks.

Prince isn’t going to see those looks with Giannis off the floor, so then he won’t be able to provide any value.

The weird part to me is that it seems like a mis-prioritization. Why would you emphasize putting TP in a position to succeed, over putting the team in a position to succeed? If maximizing the minutes you have winning lineups on the court means you play Prince fewer minutes then play Prince fewer minutes.

The problem is there is no one else with size besides Prince and Kuzma at the 3 and you only can run Trent Jr at the 3 for certain match ups or late in games when Giannis locks in on Defense. I would've loved if Doc would've loved if Doc would've started subbing out Kuzma sooner for Green like he's now doing or just moved one of Prince or Kuzma to the bench so Trent Jr or Green could start at the 2.

What also hurts is that Green and Trent Jr went through their worst shooting stretches as starters. They both shot horribly when given the opportunity. The sample size was small for both so who knows if it would've stayed that way but their numbers as starters are putrid.

When you’re relying on minimum contract players there will inevitably be trade-offs, but what are we gaining in practice from TP’s size advantage?

That’s also beside the point that he’s starting at the 2 here which you acknowledged.

Frankly, I think AJ Green plays with more strength, and it’s harder to get deep positioning on him than TP. KPJ actually has a taller standing reach than Prince, and is quicker to get up out of his stance to contest. I just don’t think he’s providing much that other guys couldn’t do better.

Maybe doc was just using him as an 82 game player, and he’ll limit his minutes based off who’s playing better, but I’m still not sure I ever got the rationale.

[German Athens]

My prediction is we steamroll them kinda like the 2021 series against the Heat. Hali is very good, but there’s levels to this, and Giannis is ready.

[blazza18]

Taurean Prince took 16 shots in our last game in Indiana. I have great fears of what our offence is going to turn into with Giannis as the standalone star.

[Daver]

Is it already known thst dame isnt playing or the posters all just assuming

[MickeyDavis]

Is it already known thst dame isnt playing or the posters all just assuming

He's not close to returning

[Daver]

Is it already known thst dame isnt playing or the posters all just assuming

He's not close to returning

Thanks didnt know eead somewhere where ge was way ahead of schedule n there was a chance he might be back

[ShootingtheJ]

My prediction is we steamroll them kinda like the 2021 series against the Heat. Hali is very good, but there’s levels to this, and Giannis is ready.

I'm there with ya. It'll be a different Buck helping Giannis out each game, but this makeshift unit gets it done.

[nagawicka]

Read on Twitter

Kindofa dubious and predictable construct though. Giannis 'made them look better', but did he make them better players? How useful is this.
Do the 4 other Bucks in our highest-rated lineup also 'make Giannis look better'? If his numbers are slightly down from lineups where he puts on a one-man show, did 'they' make him worse? Or is he really better for real, functionally, b/c the lineup rises together and gets better as a whole, regardless of whether Giannis' personal stats are up or down.

[FlagsFlyForever]

Is it already known thst dame isnt playing or the posters all just assuming

He's not close to returning

Nobody has any idea.

Watch on YouTube

[tydett]

Read on Twitter

This tells me Horst has been slipping. All this time all he's had to do is draft another guy or two like Giannis, and we'd be golden.

Why don't they just build the plane out of that black box stuff?

[ReasonablySober]

Been 100% checked out since Dame went down. Kinda hope they get swept.

[KidA24]

I think this series will hinge on whether Doc Rivers can out coach a random dice roll for who gets starters minutes amongst the 6 guys who will play 1-3.

Rollins, KPJ, Green, Prince, Kuz, GPJ

I don't have any faith in Doc making good choices or putting his players in the best positions to succeed against the Pacers

[MrPerfect1]

Been 100% checked out since Dame went down. Kinda hope they get swept.

They are better without Dame