PG: Bucks on the Brink

Naero · Post #401 » by **Naero** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 4:55 am

Some of you wondered why we were so negative at halftime despite the lead, and let-ups like this game and Games 5-6 of the 2019 ECF are why. The Bucks simply do not value their possessions well, and it's consistently come back to bite them. How can we ever feel comfortable with anything less than a 30-point lead after these experiences?

Giannis played much better overall than he'll get credit for, but he choked down the stretch; there's no sugarcoating that. He took Kobe-esque fadeaways despite having the leeway to drive on a gimpy Harden, and he fumbled a pass that would've all but guaranteed a game-tying dunk. Boards like these will be plastered with GIFs of that turnover soon enough.

He'll never be in the BITW conversation, and it's not because of his lack of jumpshooting; it's because he's just not a cerebral player. He takes too many ill-advised jumpshots, he doesn't self-actively set screens despite his Hulk-esque physique, and he spent the fourth quarter guarding whatever Net was in the corner rather than the hot-handed KD.

I think he can still lead us to a championship one day, but he'll need a better coach—one who'll actually inculcate the right habits—or at least some other expressive leader like CP3. Anyone to help rein in his faulty decision-making. It just goes to show how much more needs to fall into place to win it all when you don't have a BITW-level franchise player.

Budenholzer might as well just spend these next-two days selling his Wisconsin home. Every time they started flourishing under a more organized offense, they backslid to their predictable five-out motion scheme; whether it's because of his inability to restrategize or our stars' disruptive iso-play, it's fireable all the same. It doesn't take a defensive juggernaut to shut down them when there's minimal off-ball movement. The players have made their fair share of bone-headed plays as well, but they'd at least have a better sense of direction if they played in a structured offense more often.

It is what it is. It's just shaping up to my preseries prediction of Nets in six, and it would've ended even sooner if we didn't catch so many breaks; I just wish the basketball gods didn't tantalize us with a possible 3-2 lead in the process.

worthlessBucks · Post #402 » by **worthlessBucks** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 4:57 am

ClassicJack wrote:On that fadeaway "play", Harden literally waived off the double team because he knew Giannis would do some dumb sh*t.

Because Giannis is dumb as f*ck when it comes to basketball and he knows it.

Whether that’s right or wrong, this made me laugh.

Unrelated, but it’s 2021. This site needs to ditch the ads and render better for mobile devices. Christ.

aboveAverage · Post #403 » by **aboveAverage** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 4:57 am

Sad thing is that Giannis played really well until crunch time. But like clockwork, he runs into defenders, drops passes, misses free throws. It kills us. Middleton was visibly upset with him after one of his charges. That dropped pass at the end was such an incredible letdown. That was a Dan Gadzuric play. We might win if he catches and dunks that ball. Just really inexcusable at that point of the game.

I don’t know what we can do for him. But let’s start with a new coach. Bud was a disgrace tonight. He deserves all of the ridicule he’s getting from the national guys. One of the worst coaching performances of all time in the second half.

Middleton played like a man on a mission tonight. Give him the ball in game 6 and run the offense through him.

SIMMIES · Post #404 » by **SIMMIES** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 4:57 am

Reggie Miller is an idiot.

Post #405 » by **humanrefutation** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 4:59 am

th87 wrote:
MikeIsGood wrote:
humanrefutation wrote:This is what it is to be a Bucks fan.

This is probably, in part, why I've posted here for damn near 20 years (holy ****...). No one I know cares to the level I do, so I need to commiserate with your poor, lost souls like me.

It just happens a little bit later in the season the past few years.

This is emotionally 5000x worse than being an 8 seed and losing in the first round in 5.

Hope is a dangerous thing.

I will say, I'd never trade this for those hopeless times. But, there was always that aspect to mediocrity that made you dream about finally having that superstar and contender where everything would fall into place. Just one MVP quality player who wants to stay here. A team with a real shot at winning it all. Just give us that and we'll be happy.

Well, ****. This a different kind of pain, but it's still pain.

Wooderson · Post #406 » by **Wooderson** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:01 am

Soo the Harden take foul with 12 seconds left should have been clear path right? Can't believe they didn't even review it.

Thanos1985 · Post #407 » by **Thanos1985** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:04 am

Wooderson wrote:Soo the Harden take foul with 12 seconds left should have been clear path right? Can't believe they didn't even review it.

Did anybody ask ? Like Bud?

Wooderson · Post #408 » by **Wooderson** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:06 am

Thanos1985 wrote:
Wooderson wrote:Soo the Harden take foul with 12 seconds left should have been clear path right? Can't believe they didn't even review it.

Did anybody ask ? Like Bud?

There was actually a Net downcourt in the corner. Missed it in real time and first replay I saw cut it off. But wasn't clear path, I was mistaken.

CharityStripe34 · Post #409 » by **CharityStripe34** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:06 am

Gianni called KD the "best in the world" in his post-game presser? Wow.

Whatever doubt the Nets had after Games 3 & 4, that's all over with. They have the mental edge and I don't think they will surrender it #becauseFiserv, unfortunately.

LikeABosh · Post #410 » by **LikeABosh** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:07 am

lvckv wrote:Why is Giannis guarding the corner on every possession when they're all Durant jumpshots. **** me

Why is every offensive possession just a thoughtless mess

Why do we have to watch 1-2 more games of this garbage

I was thinking it was to protect him from fouling out, but he had 3 with like 8 minutes left in the 4th. Wtf

Thanos1985 · Post #411 » by **Thanos1985** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:08 am

nba players are laughing on Giannis no guarding Durant.
Giannis has no pride?
Kidd was a disaster but he wasnt that soft sh*** Bud is "we are focusing on ourselves"
And the mentalinty problem will stay even when Bud leave... they will think they are uncapable

CharityStripe34 · Post #412 » by **CharityStripe34** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:11 am

The next coaching hire will be, other than Gianni signing the supermax, the most important move for the franchise. Because this next coach will have to somehow convince Gianni to play more like a PF and less like a G. I truly did not think it would be so difficult, but with each playoff letdown the more I'm thinking Freak is at the biggest crossroads of his career.

Buck Dweller · Post #413 » by **Buck Dweller** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:11 am

giannis is too pure for nba superstardom. you have to be a bit of a psychopath to be a legit nba superstar

jakecronus8 · Post #414 » by **jakecronus8** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:13 am

It annoys me that Giannis has never played with a point guard

Siefer · Post #415 » by **Siefer** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:14 am

Folks are rightly hammering the offense, but Bud completely **** the bed on with the defense. How do you continue to let Durant go nuts on the same action over and over? They waited over a quarter to start trying to get the ball out of his hands, and it was way too late by then. I wouldn't have had Giannis guarding KD one on one, but I sure as hell wouldn't have just had him standing in the corner either.

KidA24 · Post #416 » by **KidA24** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:15 am

Wooderson wrote:
Thanos1985 wrote:
Wooderson wrote:Soo the Harden take foul with 12 seconds left should have been clear path right? Can't believe they didn't even review it.

Did anybody ask ? Like Bud?

There was actually a Net downcourt in the corner. Missed it in real time and first replay I saw cut it off. But wasn't clear path, I was mistaken.

That was a guy on the bench I think.

Sigra · Post #417 » by **Sigra** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:15 am

Just finished watching. We played good they played better. Refs again with home team.

Next

Post #418 » by **humanrefutation** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:16 am

TroyD92 wrote:I still think there's a chance the bucks pull the series out tbh. Lol

LOL, I was that guy in 2019 during the Raptors series.

I'm not anymore. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they win Game 6, tbh.

bucksfansince88 · Post #419 » by **bucksfansince88** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:18 am

Siefer wrote:Folks are rightly hammering the offense, but Bud completely **** the bed on with the defense. How do you continue to let Durant go nuts on the same action over and over? They waited over a quarter to start trying to get the ball out of his hands, and it was way too late by then. I wouldn't have had Giannis guarding KD one on one, but I sure as hell wouldn't have just had him standing in the corner either.

letting Jeff Green go 7/7 and for 27 was the mind **** for me, just let Brook continue to get cooked. get someone out there that could run him off the damn line

th87 · Post #420 » by **th87** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 5:20 am

aboveAverage wrote:Sad thing is that Giannis played really well until crunch time. But like clockwork, he runs into defenders, drops passes, misses free throws. It kills us. Middleton was visibly upset with him after one of his charges. That dropped pass at the end was such an incredible letdown. That was a Dan Gadzuric play. We might win if he catches and dunks that ball. Just really inexcusable at that point of the game.

I don’t know what we can do for him. But let’s start with a new coach. Bud was a disgrace tonight. He deserves all of the ridicule he’s getting from the national guys. One of the worst coaching performances of all time in the second half.

Middleton played like a man on a mission tonight. Give him the ball in game 6 and run the offense through him.

Don't forget the loose ball he gave up on a few minutes earlier.