Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘Miami was built to be an NBA bubble team’

ATLTimekeeper · Post #161 » by **ATLTimekeeper** » Tue Mar 1, 2022 3:48 pm

LeBron and Haslem shut down the movement to boycott games, and both those teams ended up in the Finals. That's a little curious. The bubble wasn't real NBA basketball, but good on both those teams for taking what was available. Giannis showing some poor sportsmanship with this quote. He's usually more iron-willed than this.

jc23 · Post #162 » by **jc23** » Tue Mar 1, 2022 4:01 pm

one team made the finals with the help of the bubble and another with the help of injuries, is what it is.

rate_ · Post #163 » by **rate_** » Tue Mar 1, 2022 4:19 pm

Harry Garris wrote:The problem with the "wall" defense is yes you can contain Giannis getting to the basket, but you're giving up a wide open catch and shoot 3 on basically every possession you do it which is the second most efficient shot in basketball after a lay-in/dunk. The main reason the "wall" worked so well in 2020 is because the Bucks role players couldn't hit a shot despite getting awesome looks every time down the floor.

The Bucks role players shot pretty poorly in 2021 as well but the key difference was Tyler Herro cooled off and Butler was beyond awful in that series and cost the Heat any chance of winning with his poor play.

The key difference to me was Miami replacing Crowder's production with Ariza, Milwaukee replacing Bledsoe's production with Jrue, and Miami having a banged up roster from not having an offseason more than anything. Schematically, Miami couldn't execute their defensive principles as crisp because they were trying to masquerade Ariza's weak frame at the 4.

theFireBlanket · Post #164 » by **theFireBlanket** » Tue Mar 1, 2022 5:42 pm

PhilBlackson wrote:
Pachinko_ wrote:
PhilBlackson wrote:
The only reason Bucks got through is KD ran out of steam (well besides being the lone healthy star player left for the Nets).

Look I love PJ as much as the next guy but you can't say his D was great but the other guy scored 50... you just can't. It's like saying the surgery was successful but the patient died (just a dumb example, you get my point)

KD did or did not run out of energy, yes or no?!?

Don't act like PJ didn't make KD work hard for everything he got on him. Not to mention how different the series might've/would've been if Jrue & Middleton had to be the ones wearing out their legs all game trying to guard KD the entire games. It's not really much speculation that it would effect how much physically they could exert themselves on both ends ie/ less offensive production and you guys needed every bit of it.

So one way or the other PJ absolutely made a difference how a 7 game series went, where say it again...KD just ran out of steam and PJ's the guy who's most to thank for it.

Love PJ. It was his mentality that carried over to his teammates, & allowed him to overrule Bud's bad defensive scheme decisions when needed. His one on one defense was here & there. By the time the Finals came Booker was cooking his a-- too.

They didn't get over that jump without his effort & vibe. But moving forward they just have to carry that same outlook with different guys on the floor.

Bucks will be looking to Connaughton, Matthews (revitalised), Bembry, Carter & George Hill to provide the defense spelling Jrue & Khris this time. But don't kid yourself, Jrue in the playoffs is playing D all game.

Post #165 » by **Harry Garris** » Tue Mar 1, 2022 5:52 pm

rate_ wrote:
Harry Garris wrote:The problem with the "wall" defense is yes you can contain Giannis getting to the basket, but you're giving up a wide open catch and shoot 3 on basically every possession you do it which is the second most efficient shot in basketball after a lay-in/dunk. The main reason the "wall" worked so well in 2020 is because the Bucks role players couldn't hit a shot despite getting awesome looks every time down the floor.

The Bucks role players shot pretty poorly in 2021 as well but the key difference was Tyler Herro cooled off and Butler was beyond awful in that series and cost the Heat any chance of winning with his poor play.

The key difference to me was Miami replacing Crowder's production with Ariza, Milwaukee replacing Bledsoe's production with Jrue, and Miami having a banged up roster from not having an offseason more than anything. Schematically, Miami couldn't execute their defensive principles as crisp because they were trying to masquerade Ariza's weak frame at the 4.

Yes Crowder is a better defensive player than Ariza but I think you're blowing that personnel change way out of proportion. Milwaukee upgrading from Bledsoe to Jrue Holiday had a much bigger impact. Bledsoe was so bad the Bucks were essentially playing with 4 guys on offense which is easy to scheme around and to defend. You can't really devote 3 guys to walling off the paint for Giannis if he has shooters backing him up. Bledsoe not being able to hit a shot with 10 feet of space in every direction was a big reason why the Heat were able to ignore him and sell out to defend Giannis.

old skool · Post #166 » by **old skool** » Wed Mar 2, 2022 9:39 am

I don't think Miami is going to make any noise in the playoffs if they need bulletin board quotes to be motivated to play hard against Milwaukee.

I don't think Milwaukee is going to make any noise on the playoffs if they can't beat a motivated Heat team.

This whole issue seems over blown to me. Miami drilled Milwaukee in 2020 and Milwaukee did the same to Miami last year. Both teams are different this year.

Sent from my SM-N960U using RealGM mobile app

LAL1947 · Post #167 » by **LAL1947** » Wed Mar 2, 2022 10:00 am

Welp... it's been a few days...

Has anyone managed to figure out what Giannis meant by, "built to be an NBA bubble team"?

AmIWrongDude · Post #168 » by **AmIWrongDude** » Wed Mar 2, 2022 10:38 am

Lakers we’re gonna win regardless. The bubble actually hurt them if anything as they lost their home court advantage.

It was a level playing field and some teams choked, which happens every year even without the bubble.

The bubble excuse is so lame. If u wanna talk about injuries that’s more valid but we can talk about that every year also. Injuries are the only reason Giannis even has a ring.

Blazingstorm · Post #169 » by **Blazingstorm** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 3:47 am

I guess Giannis proved his point tonight.

Tor_Raps · Post #170 » by **Tor_Raps** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 3:48 am

The Heat flat out choked the game away today lol

Blazingstorm · Post #171 » by **Blazingstorm** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 3:50 am

Tor_Raps wrote:The Heat flat out choked the game away today lol

Lol they certainly did. That one was a heartbreaker.

puppa bear · Post #172 » by **puppa bear** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 4:30 am

Blazingstorm wrote:
Tor_Raps wrote:The Heat flat out choked the game away today lol

Lol they certainly did. That one was a heartbreaker.

Not sure how this proves his point. They won by 1 at home, while we were missing Lowry

Tottery · Post #173 » by **Tottery** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 4:38 am

Lost by a point. All Butler had to do was shoot better than an abysmal 14%. Fully healthy, I'd still take them over the Bucks in a 7 game series though. Lowry helps them a lot.

Post #174 » by **ReasonablySober** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 4:46 am

Read on Twitter

mediocrityrules · Post #175 » by **mediocrityrules** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 5:13 am

Tottery wrote:Lost by a point. All Butler had to do was shoot better than an abysmal 14%. Fully healthy, I'd still take them over the Bucks in a 7 game series though. Lowry helps them a lot.

Lopez, Cannaughton and Hill help a lot too :dontknow:

Not sure if your 'fully healthy' statement makes them better than the Bucks at full health as well

bamheat · Post #176 » by **bamheat** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 5:15 am

Have fun with your only title G.A.

Tottery · Post #177 » by **Tottery** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 5:41 am

mediocrityrules wrote:
Tottery wrote:Lost by a point. All Butler had to do was shoot better than an abysmal 14%. Fully healthy, I'd still take them over the Bucks in a 7 game series though. Lowry helps them a lot.

Lopez, Cannaughton and Hill help a lot too

Not sure if your 'fully healthy' statement makes them better than the Bucks at full health as well

I'll be completely honest with you...I totally forgot about Lopez. He has been out that long lol. He will help them a ton defensively in the paint. I still may bet my money on Miami in a 7 game series though.

EDIT; He is out indefinitely and may not return this season I just read.

Post #178 » by **ReasonablySober** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 5:50 am

bamheat wrote:Have fun with your only title G.A.

You're right. It's probably eating Giannis up at night that he hasn't had the career of Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem.

puppa bear · Post #179 » by **puppa bear** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 10:25 am

ReasonablySober wrote:
bamheat wrote:Have fun with your only title G.A.

You're right. It's probably eating Giannis up at night that he hasn't had the career of Miami Heat legend Udonis Haslem.

Not true, he did finally pass UD for total career rebounds this year. Massive weight off! Now just three more rings to have the lead in all columns.

Post #180 » by **KingDavid** » Thu Mar 3, 2022 11:57 am

mediocrityrules wrote:
Tottery wrote:Lost by a point. All Butler had to do was shoot better than an abysmal 14%. Fully healthy, I'd still take them over the Bucks in a 7 game series though. Lowry helps them a lot.

Lopez, Cannaughton and Hill help a lot too

Not sure if your 'fully healthy' statement makes them better than the Bucks at full health as well

Lopez isn't returning this season so that's a nonstarter. Oladipo and Morris return between this week and next week to shore up our two MASSIVE weaknesses; backup pg and backup pf.

I don't think pat and hill are on Oladipo's level, but we'll see. If you don't think the floor generals in Lowry and Oladipo would have made a difference (starting and backup pg) vs a g-league scrub you've never heard of in Gabe Vincent and T-Rex arms Tyler Herro who can't dribble; playing pg, you've got a surprise waiting for you come playoff time.

Enjoy the win and my tears, I'm just salty af at my team lmao. PJ Tucker should have inbounded the ball there instead of that g-league scrub who's never played in that environment before. Never mind *immy Butler with no J. Y'all got his ass last night. Absolute clinic on D against him.