GT: Bucks @ Nets Game 5 - 6/15/21 8:30 pm EST

[HardenGoat]

Well it comes down to this for our home court stand missing our big 2 guards. We will need a stellar performance from Durant but more importantly there has to be a full commitment from our team with players stepping up to get this done. I see Blake having a big game becoming our second option here. He will need to post up when mismatched with a smaller player which will allow kick outs to our shooters. Harris absolutely has to hit his 3’s as well as Shamet and minutes from Tyler. Mike James is going to need a big game, I want to see him as the primary ball handler and for gods sake don’t let Durant run the offense from the throw in. Let’s get this done! We have to leave everything on the floor tonight!!!

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[sashaturiaf]

Backs to the wall, let's steal this one. It's a 3 game series and we got the best player in the series

[BooomBaby]

Let's go Nets!

I'll be rooting hard for you guys.

Hopefully they call a fair game and not the BS that happened last time.

[Born_Ready]

Win tonight and guarantee yourselves two more games, with a chance to win it in your building. On top of much needed rest for Harden & Irving.

Expect Tucker to have Kevin Durant on lock, so the role players that were brought in for moments such as this will need to step up to the challenge. Grit and Grind time.

[LOUiS-D]

I'll be screaming 10 second FT countdowns at my league pass and booing giannis every touch while foaming at the mouth.

[NyCeEvO]

Call it irrational confidence but I believe we’re going to win.

I expect/hope we will make some of the obvious adjustments that were needed in the last game to better attack MIL’s defensive schemes and structure. If we make no adjustments, we have no shot.

I want us to play a bit faster, especially early in the shot clock before MIL has the opportunity to set up their defense. Walking the ball up and allowing them to pressure KD 94ft plays right into their hands. They want to KD work for everything in the hopes that he tires out by the end of the game. With Kyrie out, KD will see a steady rotation of Tucker, Holiday, and Giannis all game, so it won’t be easy for him.

We need to have the others do as much of the grunt work and heavy lifting as possible so KD only has to focus on scoring and can actually get off quality shots.

The others can’t create like Harden, Kyrie, and KD but they can run hard, set hard screens, cut into open spaces, and make the game easier for KD.

When KD is at the top of the key looking to either pull up or get into the paint, set a hard screen on his man so he gets as much space as possible to get a clear look at the basket or attack the open space created by the screen.
When KD catches the ball at the high post, MIL will double him ASAP. We need the floor to be spaced properly with shooters like Joe and Shamet ready to shoot and cutters like Bruce Brown ready to slip into the open spaces created by the guy who left to double KD.

The crowd will be intense especially at the start. We need to open with a bang and not give MIL the chance to keep the crowd quiet. If we start well, I think the crowd will help bring the emotion that role players tend to feed off at home and find their rhythm.

I don’t think we’ll win by KD going off for 50+ nor do I expect it. IMO, if we win, it will be because everyone else stepped up and 3-4 role players rose to the occasion.

I’m hoping for (and I think we’ll need) 35-40 from KD and 70 split between Joe/Mike James/Blake/Green/Shamet/TJ.

I hope to see great defensive intensity, especially by walling off the restricted area. We’ll need more minutes from Claxton and I hope Bruce and Blake are ready to take some charges.

Believe guys…let’s go Nets!!!

[CalamityX12]

Harden has been upgraded to "doubtful"

Shoot around will be his final verdict...


Idk... we need him but can't risk long term health here.

[CalamityX12]

Take some risks, we got to play some guys some minutes here, need that energy and hustle.

I cannot support the idea of running players to the ground. We have a bench, use them!

[ecuhus1981]

The scene is set for a legacy performance from our ace. Kevin shines when the lights are brightest, and he knows we need his very best. I say he brings it.

Everyone else needs to play with unstoppable passion and motor. Hitting shots, crashing the boards, defending on a string, making plays and taking care of the ball would also help.

I like our chances. Go Brooklyn!

[CalamityX12]

Read on Twitter

Oh god... I mean... oh freaking God....

Durant has hammy issues???

Maybe don't run his ass for 60 mins straight!!!!

[HardenGoat]

Call it irrational confidence but I believe we’re going to win.

I expect/hope we will make some of the obvious adjustments that were needed in the last game to better attack MIL’s defensive schemes and structure. If we make no adjustments, we have no shot.

I want us to play a bit faster, especially early in the shot clock before MIL has the opportunity to set up their defense. Walking the ball up and allowing them to pressure KD 94ft plays right into their hands. They want to KD work for everything in the hopes that he tires out by the end of the game. With Kyrie out, KD will see a steady rotation of Tucker, Holiday, and Giannis all game, so it won’t be easy for him.

We need to have the others do as much of the grunt work and heavy lifting as possible so KD only has to focus on scoring and can actually get off quality shots.

The others can’t create like Harden, Kyrie, and KD but they can run hard, set hard screens, cut into open spaces, and make the game easier for KD.

When KD is at the top of the key looking to either pull up or get into the paint, set a hard screen on his man so he gets as much space as possible to get a clear look at the basket or attack the open space created by the screen.
When KD catches the ball at the high post, MIL will double him ASAP. We need the floor to be spaced properly with shooters like Joe and Shamet ready to shoot and cutters like Bruce Brown ready to slip into the open spaces created by the guy who left to double KD.

The crowd will be intense especially at the start. We need to open with a bang and not give MIL the chance to keep the crowd quiet. If we start well, I think the crowd will help bring the emotion that role players tend to feed off at home and find their rhythm.

I don’t think we’ll win by KD going off for 50+ nor do I expect it. IMO, if we win, it will be because everyone else stepped up and 3-4 role players rose to the occasion.

I’m hoping for (and I think we’ll need) 35-40 from KD and 70 split between Joe/Mike James/Blake/Green/Shamet/TJ.

I hope to see great defensive intensity, especially by walling off the restricted area. We’ll need more minutes from Claxton and I hope Bruce and Blake are ready to take some charges.

Believe guys…let’s go Nets!!!

This exactly. This is a fast break game where we need to dictate the pace and punish them for playing their bigs after they miss a shot. Hold the paint against Giannis, draw charges on him. Put him in foul trouble and put him on the bench. I believe we can do it, just have to show the passion to win, come out strong, Giannis crumbles when he is down trying to play catchup. He is a poor shooter. We have the best. Make him shoot. I like Mike James because he plays with confidence and is tenacious on defense. We need this from all the role players tonight. I believe we can do it .. and we will!

[HardenGoat]

Read on Twitter

Oh god... I mean... oh freaking God....

Durant has hammy issues???

Maybe don't run his ass for 60 mins straight!!!!

I almost threw up seeing that! missed the caption at first

[Hello Brooklyn]

Harden being upgraded is confusing.

If hes doubtful why not play him?

Seems to me like Harden will play Game 6 regardless.

In my view play him tonight and keep him out Game 6 if we win tonight.

[Prokorov]

To me, this is basically the situation Boston was in game 3.

No Brown, No Kemba, and must win game...

It took 50 points from Tatum, Smart chipping in with a great shoting night and 25 points, and poor shooting/coaching by the nets and the barely scraped by

im not confident. we need KD to score 45 AND someone else to turn into a star for 1 night (Brown? Harris? Shamet? James)

[NyCeEvO]

Harden being upgraded is confusing.

If hes doubtful why not play him?

Seems to me like Harden will play Game 6 regardless.

In my view play him tonight and keep him out Game 6 if we win tonight.

Yeah, it definitely seems like he'll play Game 6.

Even though he was listed as out for Game 5, Nash kept saying that he was unsure of his status because the performance team basically decides if the guys are good to guy and he hadn't checked with them to see if/when Harden could be available.

[MGrand15]

The key tonight is defense. We shut Milwaukee down the 1st 3 games. In G3, Middleton started getting loose. In G4, all their shooters got loose. Defense has been a problem all year and maybe we're going to regress or start to wear down. Kyrie is a much better defender than anyone else we can throw at guard. If we can somewhat keep them in check, I think we have a chance.

I'm sure the league got A LOT of film from the Nets on how KD was being 'defended' last game. I suspect the refs will actually do their job and they'll be forced to play actual basketball and not prisonball.

Harden being upgraded to doubtful is a good sign. The fact that he was straight up OUT yesterday made me think it was impossible he'd play in G6. I still think his return is unlikely but stars have a lot of power on this team. If he pushes to play, I wouldn't be surprised if he plays.

[HardenGoat]

Harden being upgraded is confusing.

If hes doubtful why not play him?

Seems to me like Harden will play Game 6 regardless.

In my view play him tonight and keep him out Game 6 if we win tonight.

Yeah, it definitely seems like he'll play Game 6.
"
Even though he was listed as out for Game 5, Nash kept saying that he was unsure of his status because the performance team basically decides if the guys are good to guy and he hadn't checked with them to see if/when Harden could be available.

Per Woj he is the one pushing to play tonight. And per Nash "it depends on how he feels". Barring a setback prior to the game it looks like he is going to play. YES!!!!!
I know it is going to feel like walking on thin ice tonight, but ... he knows this is his opportunity to go for a championship and this is the best team and honestly best chance he has ever had in regards to what teams are left.
I pray to God to heal him and protect him out there and keep him healthy going forward. We need this win, he knows it, we all know it. Lets do this!

[3pt_chucker]

Hoping we play more TJ instead of Mike James. Mike James got targeted on defense due to his lack of size and was a black hole on offense.

Also I'd give Shamet more mins. If he has it cooking, he's the kind of streaky shooter than can give us a lift.

[NyCeEvO]

Harden being upgraded to doubtful is a good sign. The fact that he was straight up OUT yesterday made me think it was impossible he'd play in G6. I still think his return is unlikely but stars have a lot of power on this team. If he pushes to play, I wouldn't be surprised if he plays.

I think Harden has been wanting to play since Game 2. IIRC, he said things after Game 1 that seemed to suggest he either would be ready for the next game or wanted to go back out there. The performance staff is keeping him back and understandably so.

I just hope he doesn't irresponsibly risk it tonight. I hope that the staff haven't left it up to him, because I'm sure that his desire to play would probably override and justify trying to play through even the slightest bit of pain he feels in shoot around.

If the performance staff has green lighted him, then I'm ok with it.

While I definitely would love him playing tonight, if he holds out tonight so he can be 100% for Game 6 alongside KD and possibly Kyrie, I think we have a strong chance of winning Game 6 and a potential Game 7.

[NyCeEvO]

Hoping we play more TJ instead of Mike James. Mike James got targeted on defense due to his lack of size and was a black hole on offense.

Also I'd give Shamet more mins. If he has it cooking, he's the kind of streaky shooter than can give us a lift.

If that medical report above is correct, TJ is out tonight.

Shamet is super streaky and turnover prone if given ball handling duties.

The only issue I have with Shamet is that his 3pt attempts are often difficult ones. He usually runs very hard, stops on a dime, and shoots his 3s. Those are very difficult to make, especially on a consistent basis. I feel like he'd make more of them if he just took a half-second more time to properly set his feet and get his shooting motion aligned before shooting. He's got the ability to shoot 40%+ from 3 if he just slows down a tad. I don't recall him getting run off the line constantly to warrant him being so quick to get his shot off.