2020-21 NBA Season Discussion

[Dr Positivity]

Ty Lue regression series? Not sure I love playing Zubac all game. Might be worth letting Ayton dominate and try to get it back on offense.

With locked in role players I feel like this was Clippers finals with Kawhi. Their best chance is to steal Game 5, win at home and then get Kawhi back for G7. I don't see them winning 2 Suns home games without Kawhi.

[kayess]

When Bud isn't a complete dumbass and they're not self sabotaging, this Bucks defense is insane when locked in. PJ Tucker has been a revelation this postseason.

Jrue-Khris-PJ-Giannis-Lopez: 89.0 DRTG, by far #1 defensive unit with 50+ minutes this postseason

The biggest frustration for me is that they don't have Donte, who IMHO would've taken them to all-time level defensively. Very small sample size, but

Jrue-Donte-Khris-Giannis-Lopez: 77.9 DRTG

Hopefully they can bring back PJ and he's not washed after this playoff run and we get the full defensive squad next year

How confident are you they can keep this up? Tbh, even in Game 1 the Hawks were struggling big time and were bailed out by some insane shotmaking from Trae.

But on paper it feels like it should be a double digits win every time (I certainly didn't expect Atlanta to be down by more than 20 at any point in this series; but steadily 10-15 felt like it's supposed to be the norm given the personnel)

I saw a tweet with shot quality stats showing that the Bucks’ shot quality both in games 1 & 2 were among the highest in the entire playoffs, they shot ridiculously poorly in game 1 and still were within a possession and started hitting those looks game 2 and were up by 40. The Hawks through two games have had iirc a bottom 3 shot quality for a series this year (only 2 games and skewed by game 2, but still).

I feel confident saying they are the better team and SHOULD win this series, but they’re also prone to dumbass stretches as they don’t have a Paul, LeBron, Draymond type genius on the roster to keep them playing to their strengths. That said, PJ and Jrue have been essentially bullying Bud behind the scenes into making defensively adjustments so they at least have that lol. Hawks are a legitimately tough team and can win this series, but IMO it would be a real choke job if the Bucks stay healthy and lose this series.

Against Phoenix, I think with Donte I’d pick the Bucks in 6 or so, but without him to guard one of the Phoenix backcourt guys you’re asking a lot of Middleton in guarding Booker full time and needing to average 20+ the other end. As of right now I’d say barring injuries, 7 games and either team could win.

Lol wait why do you say bullying Bud behind the scenes?

And that tweet lines up with what I felt watching the games. They just missed an absolute metric **** of open shots g1, and then started regressing game 2.

Game 3 is probably the series decider IMO. If both teams lpay to their level the Bucks will win and I think they won't look back.

[MartinToVaught]

It's been Lue's worst-coached series of the playoffs for sure. The Rondo/Cousins minutes in the first two games were extremely costly. Changing the starting lineup last night was a bad move too.

I'm honestly less impressed by the Suns with each passing game. Nothing I've seen from them this series makes me think they have any chance at all against Milwaukee. It would take a massive chokejob by Bud and/or Giannis to lose that series.

[Doctor MJ]

Ty Lue regression series? Not sure I love playing Zubac all game. Might be worth letting Ayton dominate and try to get it back on offense.

With locked in role players I feel like this was Clippers finals with Kawhi. Their best chance is to steal Game 5, win at home and then get Kawhi back for G7. I don't see them winning 2 Suns home games without Kawhi.

I'm real reluctant to knock Lue as if he should be doing much better, but it's fascinating seeing the Suns' defense handle the Clippers so much better than the Jazz did.

[Doctor MJ]

I'm honestly less impressed by the Suns with each passing game. Nothing I've seen from them this series makes me think they have any chance at all against Milwaukee. It would take a massive chokejob by Bud and/or Giannis to lose that series.

Interesting. Some things I see:

1. Suns had the better regular season and will have HCA.
2. Suns won both regular season meetings despite Giannis having unusually outstanding games.
3. Monty's been really impressive as a coach in the playoffs, while Bud's been more questionable.
4. Ayton's growing a lot in these playoffs.

Now, if Giannis can go off against the Suns like he did in the RS, that will bode well for the Bucks. But if he can be successfully limited by a team that was already beating the Bucks before they could do that, I'd tend to think the Suns will have a very good chance.

So what do you see in this matchup that pushes you hard in the Bucks direction?

[Outside]

It's hard to blame Lue for the players missing that many shots.

According to this site, based on shot quality, the Clippers were more likely to win the game, and both teams should've scored significantly more. The Suns missed a lot of quality shots, but the Clippers missed more.

[mikejames23]

According to this site, based on shot quality, the Clippers were more likely to win the game, and both teams should've scored significantly more. The Suns missed a lot of quality shots, but the Clippers missed more.

Found myself lost on this site for a good hour. Great link. Thanks!

[Doctor MJ]

It's hard to blame Lue for the players missing that many shots.

According to this site, based on shot quality, the Clippers were more likely to win the game, and both teams should've scored significantly more. The Suns missed a lot of quality shots, but the Clippers missed more.

Cool site, and yeah, this series could easily be 3-1 Clippers.

I will say that there's more I'd like to understand about entire 5-man units getting in rhythm. While I think to some degree there's luck involved in a 2nd half like the Clippers got in Game 6 against the Suns, I do think it's clear that once the team gets in rhythm, defense gets a hell of a lot tougher.

I don't think there's any doubt that the Suns have been able to do a much better job of disrupting the Clipper offense than the Jazz did, and so I think we should credit where credits due to the Suns, but I also have a hard time thinking the Suns can expect to repeat that 4th quarter scoreboard shut down as needed going forward.

[MartinToVaught]

I'm honestly less impressed by the Suns with each passing game. Nothing I've seen from them this series makes me think they have any chance at all against Milwaukee. It would take a massive chokejob by Bud and/or Giannis to lose that series.

Interesting. Some things I see:

1. Suns had the better regular season and will have HCA.
2. Suns won both regular season meetings despite Giannis having unusually outstanding games.
3. Monty's been really impressive as a coach in the playoffs, while Bud's been more questionable.
4. Ayton's growing a lot in these playoffs.

Now, if Giannis can go off against the Suns like he did in the RS, that will bode well for the Bucks. But if he can be successfully limited by a team that was already beating the Bucks before they could do that, I'd tend to think the Suns will have a very good chance.

So what do you see in this matchup that pushes you hard in the Bucks direction?

The Suns are struggling against an exhausted Clippers team that's down two starters with a third one limping. Their 3-1 lead in a vacuum doesn't fully reflect how the series has actually gone. On paper, they should have swept us already by blowout margins, in all honesty. We also can't ignore how fortunate they've been all playoffs in avoiding some of the other teams' most important players due to injuries.

The Bucks' defense has been excellent in the playoffs, so I think they're capable of grinding the Suns' offense to a halt like the Clippers have been doing. The difference is that the Bucks actually have all their best players available, so they also shouldn't be nearly as hopeless on offense as the Clippers have been at times.

The Suns have had a great season and plenty to be proud of, but it feels like the Bucks' title to lose at this point.

[Doctor MJ]

I'm honestly less impressed by the Suns with each passing game. Nothing I've seen from them this series makes me think they have any chance at all against Milwaukee. It would take a massive chokejob by Bud and/or Giannis to lose that series.

Interesting. Some things I see:

1. Suns had the better regular season and will have HCA.
2. Suns won both regular season meetings despite Giannis having unusually outstanding games.
3. Monty's been really impressive as a coach in the playoffs, while Bud's been more questionable.
4. Ayton's growing a lot in these playoffs.

Now, if Giannis can go off against the Suns like he did in the RS, that will bode well for the Bucks. But if he can be successfully limited by a team that was already beating the Bucks before they could do that, I'd tend to think the Suns will have a very good chance.

So what do you see in this matchup that pushes you hard in the Bucks direction?

The Suns are struggling against an exhausted Clippers team that's down two starters with a third one limping. Their 3-1 lead in a vacuum doesn't fully reflect how the series has actually gone. On paper, they should have swept us already by blowout margins, in all honesty. We also can't ignore how fortunate they've been all playoffs in avoiding some of the other teams' most important players due to injuries.

The Bucks' defense has been excellent in the playoffs, so I think they're capable of grinding the Suns' offense to a halt like the Clippers have been doing. The difference is that the Bucks actually have all their best players available, so they also shouldn't be nearly as hopeless on offense as the Clippers have been at times.

The Suns have had a great season and plenty to be proud of, but it feels like the Bucks' title to lose at this point.

Okay, but are we going to pretend the Bucks didn't benefit from opponent injury here too? And I mean, whoever plays the Bucks from hear on out is playing against a coach who only still has his job because a guy's toe was on the line. There's plenty of reason to be skeptical of the Bucks too.

[MartinToVaught]

Read on Twitter

This is really weak from Dame. He's tired of losing in the first round, but realizes that he built his whole brand on being loyal and looking down on players who change teams, so now he's trying to spin the narrative that Blazer fans are somehow forcing him to leave Portland by not liking the new coaching hire. He should just be honest about wanting to join a superteam instead of blaming the fans.

[PaulieWal]

Read on Twitter

This is really weak from Dame. He's tired of losing in the first round, but realizes that he built his whole brand on being loyal and looking down on players who change teams, so now he's trying to spin the narrative that Blazer fans are somehow forcing him to leave Portland by not liking the new coaching hire. He should just be honest.

Yeah, I am reading this as he wants out but doesnt want the heat that comes with trade requests and is now using the ongoing Billups drama as an excuse.

[MartinToVaught]

Okay, but are we going to pretend the Bucks didn't benefit from opponent injury here too?

Nowhere near on the same level as the Suns. We're really only talking about one series with the Bucks where opponents' injuries were a factor, and even then, Durant played the whole series, Kyrie played some of it and Harden played some of it. The Nets were stacked enough to withstand injuries more than any other team in the league, so the Bucks still had to work their asses off for that win. It's not comparable to the Suns facing MASH units literally every series.

[falcolombardi]

i blame fans as a whole tbh

we have made winning a ring no matter how the only thingh that matters

then we get surprised when players who were not lucky to be drafted into championship level teams (or have a front office able to build one) want out to rescue their "legacies" by ring chasing

i have said it before but obsession with winning amd winning alone ironically devalues winning. cause it focuses so much on the endresult and not on what was done to get there

[MartinToVaught]

i blame fans as a whole tbh

we have made winning a ring no matter how the only thingh that matters

then we get surprised when players who were not lucky to be drafted into championship level teams (or have a front office able to build one) want out to rescue their "legacies" by ring chasing

i have said it before but obsession with winning amd winning alone ironically devalues winning. cause it focuses so much on the endresult and not on what was done to get there

I blame the media and the Jordan marketing machine way more than fans for the ring obsession. I'm not sure that rings matter nearly as much with fans as they do with the media. Guys like Iverson, Rose, and CP3 have had huge fanbases without rings.

[Doctor MJ]

Okay, but are we going to pretend the Bucks didn't benefit from opponent injury here too?

Nowhere near on the same level as the Suns. We're really only talking about one series with the Bucks where opponents' injuries were a factor, and even then, Durant played the whole series, Kyrie played some of it and Harden played some of it. The Nets were stacked enough to withstand injuries more than any other team in the league, so the Bucks still had to work their asses off for that win. It's not comparable to the Suns facing MASH units literally every series.

Wow, really?

I feel like I've been pushing back all year against people saying that the Nets when healthy will be unbeatable, and I watched that Bucks-Nets series thinking, "Wow, even this crippled Nets team probably should have won over this dumb Bucks team. Clearly, this is probably the only chance the Bucks will have to win a title."

I think one of the key things is that Durant & Kyrie play pretty dumb basketball. It's with a healthy Harden that you actually get a super-high BBIQ guy, and we saw him make the shift to thinking more as a facilitator, he did it is super-adroitly. In some ways I might say that the Bucks won because the Nets had a damaged brain out there to match the damaged brains the Bucks' sport to a man.

I have to acknowledge though that the Bucks defense looks great, and that might be enough to get them this title.

[MartinToVaught]

Read on Twitter

So it's the fans' fault, the owners' fault and the front office's fault. No accountability for Dame.

When PG switches teams, he's "running from the grind." When Lillard himself does it, he wants different standards.

[PaulieWal]

i blame fans as a whole tbh

we have made winning a ring no matter how the only thingh that matters

then we get surprised when players who were not lucky to be drafted into championship level teams (or have a front office able to build one) want out to rescue their "legacies" by ring chasing

i have said it before but obsession with winning amd winning alone ironically devalues winning. cause it focuses so much on the endresult and not on what was done to get there

Agree with most of your post except it's not the fans. It's a toxic media culture that has been perpetrated over the last 20 years especially when it comes to the NBA and the fans have only picked up their cues from the media to dumb everything down to number of titles.

[PaulieWal]

Read on Twitter

So it's the fans' fault, the owners' fault and the front office's fault. No accountability for Dame.

When PG switches teams, he's "running from the grind." When Lillard himself does it, he wants different standards.

I honestly don't know if this is a schtick or you're just generally that quick to post a hot take but PG is on his 3rd team and has played on usually better rosters than Dame throughout his career.

Dame is silly for doing the whole loyalty song and dance but how do you even compare PG jumping **** multiple times to this situation with a straight face. Like come on man.

[therealbig3]

I think the Bucks get smashed by the Suns in all honesty, I haven't been impressed by them at all. They were getting destroyed by a Nets team without Harden. It took Kyrie Irving also getting hurt for them to have a chance.

The Bucks' issue is that they rely on an offensively limited superstar, and a bunch of good, but unspectacular supporting pieces. I think the Suns are simply the better team, and they actually have the pieces in place to limit Giannis.