Bucks News, Trade Ideas, Transactions

[ShootingtheJ]

Only thing I care about is Midds being healthy and in form for the playoffs. I don't care if he plays 70 games or 7 during the regular season.

That's what we've been saying for the two seasons prior to this one. But the reality is you need him out there in the regular season so the team develops a chemistry and an identity going into the playoffs. Does he have to play 70 games? No. But his ability to play 70 games is a good sign he's over any issues.

For what it's worth, I agree with his take above that his injury stuff is not a result of him being out of shape. Think the issue is that he's got tendons/ligaments/cartilage that is just more prone to tears and strains. It is what it is. Maybe Jez can comment further on this.

This is 100... other teams got too good now and if they consistently have their top 3 guys (or 5) starting 65+ games together during the season then that chemistry will likely be the difference in a long series -- especially as you have to adjust to plan B and C since teams have days and days to scheme for you.

The Bucks haven't lost in the playoffs because of lack of chemistry, they've lost because of injury, and the inability to overcome injury because the remaining players couldn't handle their individual matchups. Brook, Hill and Beasley couldn't handle their man, Grayson, Jrue, and Crowder couldn't score.

[fansinceforever]

Yeah... And also because they can't guard anyone.

[-Jragon-]

That's what we've been saying for the two seasons prior to this one. But the reality is you need him out there in the regular season so the team develops a chemistry and an identity going into the playoffs. Does he have to play 70 games? No. But his ability to play 70 games is a good sign he's over any issues.

For what it's worth, I agree with his take above that his injury stuff is not a result of him being out of shape. Think the issue is that he's got tendons/ligaments/cartilage that is just more prone to tears and strains. It is what it is. Maybe Jez can comment further on this.

This is 100... other teams got too good now and if they consistently have their top 3 guys (or 5) starting 65+ games together during the season then that chemistry will likely be the difference in a long series -- especially as you have to adjust to plan B and C since teams have days and days to scheme for you.

The Bucks haven't lost in the playoffs because of lack of chemistry, they've lost because of injury, and the inability to overcome injury because the remaining players couldn't handle their individual matchups. Brook, Hill and Beasley couldn't handle their man, Grayson, Jrue, and Crowder couldn't score.

All NBA defense also has a secondary team zone/switching/recovering etc that has to be mastered by the players by playing in it for many games together until it's second nature. Then variations of it have to be practiced over many games too. It's not as simple as just chalkboard/video chats.. it's muscle memory and repetition.

They have to move as one unit in those situations, which is also why Doc has to rotate in any young guys that might play in the playoffs this year as well before they are thrown into the fire of the playoffs. Whoever our starters are, I hope they can start together for 60+ games. IDC if they play lower min averages to stay fresh for the year but we need that steadiness.

[msiris]

That's what we've been saying for the two seasons prior to this one. But the reality is you need him out there in the regular season so the team develops a chemistry and an identity going into the playoffs. Does he have to play 70 games? No. But his ability to play 70 games is a good sign he's over any issues.

For what it's worth, I agree with his take above that his injury stuff is not a result of him being out of shape. Think the issue is that he's got tendons/ligaments/cartilage that is just more prone to tears and strains. It is what it is. Maybe Jez can comment further on this.

This is 100... other teams got too good now and if they consistently have their top 3 guys (or 5) starting 65+ games together during the season then that chemistry will likely be the difference in a long series -- especially as you have to adjust to plan B and C since teams have days and days to scheme for you.

The Bucks haven't lost in the playoffs because of lack of chemistry, they've lost because of injury, and the inability to overcome injury because the remaining players couldn't handle their individual matchups. Brook, Hill and Beasley couldn't handle their man, Grayson, Jrue, and Crowder couldn't score.

And it will be the same this year. If Giannis gets hurt. There is no replacing that.

[msiris]

That's what we've been saying for the two seasons prior to this one. But the reality is you need him out there in the regular season so the team develops a chemistry and an identity going into the playoffs. Does he have to play 70 games? No. But his ability to play 70 games is a good sign he's over any issues.

For what it's worth, I agree with his take above that his injury stuff is not a result of him being out of shape. Think the issue is that he's got tendons/ligaments/cartilage that is just more prone to tears and strains. It is what it is. Maybe Jez can comment further on this.

This is 100... other teams got too good now and if they consistently have their top 3 guys (or 5) starting 65+ games together during the season then that chemistry will likely be the difference in a long series -- especially as you have to adjust to plan B and C since teams have days and days to scheme for you.

The Bucks haven't lost in the playoffs because of lack of chemistry, they've lost because of injury, and the inability to overcome injury because the remaining players couldn't handle their individual matchups. Brook, Hill and Beasley couldn't handle their man, Grayson, Jrue, and Crowder couldn't score.

And it will be the same this year. If Giannis gets hurt there is no replacing that.

[LUKE23]

https://nbaage.com/

Found this interesting - The Bucks weighted age (by minutes) was 30.5 last year, and by usage was 30.7. Given that our starters are a year older, and we are replacing:

Beasley with Trent
Beverly with Wright
Crowder with Prince

And then PC and Bobby are a year older, this will definitely be the oldest team by weighted age and weighted usage in the league.

Only two teams with a weighted age of 31+ have won a title:

2010-11 Mavericks: 8th O/8th D
1997-98 Bulls: 9th O/3rd D

https://lgeneslaw.github.io/profile/nba/findings.html

While tough, Bucks have enough talent to do it. And it is also encouraging both of those teams were able to finish inside the top 10 in D despite the age. Overall, 7 teams in the past 26 years have won a title with weighted age of 30+. Time to get this done.

[Matches Malone]

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[MikeIsGood]

https://nbaage.com/

Found this interesting - The Bucks weighted age (by minutes) was 30.5 last year, and by usage was 30.7. Given that our starters are a year older, and we are replacing:

Beasley with Trent
Beverly with Wright
Crowder with Prince

And then PC and Bobby are a year older, this will definitely be the oldest team by weighted age and weighted usage in the league.

Only two teams with a weighted age of 31+ have won a title:

2010-11 Mavericks: 8th O/8th D
1997-98 Bulls: 9th O/3rd D

https://lgeneslaw.github.io/profile/nba/findings.html

While tough, Bucks have enough talent to do it. And it is also encouraging both of those teams were able to finish inside the top 10 in D despite the age. Overall, 7 teams in the past 26 years have won a title with weighted age of 30+. Time to get this done.

This is interesting, and you may be right. But these replacements aren't just like a year younger or a wash - Wright is 4 years younger than Beverly, Prince 4 years younger than Crowder, and Trent is 2 years younger than Beas. That's quite a few minutes replaced by pretty dramatically younger guys (in 2/3 cases) that could help bring the number back down.

[blazza18]

Some interesting notes here - https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/how-to-bet-the-milwaukee-bucks-2024-25-nba-win-total-can-bucks-bounce-back

I found this the most fascinating

Here's a quirky stat: Damian Lillard shot 37% — from the field, not from 3 — off Giannis Antetokounmpo passes, 30% from the outside. Giannis –who again shot 64.5% from 2-point range and 75% at the rim for the season — only shot 54% off Lillard passes.

Glad they were too busy in the offseason.

[Matches Malone]

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[LUKE23]

To me, and this is just going off the Bulls game, this team is going nowhere if Giannis insists on playing bully ball against double and triple teams in the halfcourt. We are at our best when he is moving the ball and moving his body off ball, and finding people. We are not winning a title with him just willing himself into the paint over and over. Lillard should be initiating the offense in the halfcourt with GA working off screens to start. GA can take the ball in transition.

By far the biggest thing I’m watching this season.

[emunney]

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Girth Nowitzki?

[Matches Malone]

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Girth Nowitzki?

Wonder if this move is a precursor to getting the Herd another big for when/if they bump Robbins to a two-way deal.

[Ron Swanson]

I'm less concerned about the individual efficiency of Dame/Giannis and more about the eye test with how they play off each other. Again, Dame/Giannis 2-man lineups were 121.5 points per-100 with a +10.2 net-rating. Outside of a bunch of "pick Jokic and one other Denver starter" pairings, they were offensively the best 2-man pairing in basketball despite all the hand-wringing over them not looking fully optimized. If there's "significant room for improvement" there, then we're talking like, Curry/Durant juggernaut level offense and we're basically gonna mow down the whole league lol.

[drdrG]

Some details that frustrate me about each of our top 4:

1) Giannis sealing in the post, no pass comes in and he stands under the basket the rest of the possession. Almost never gets an offensive rebound, he's late getting back on transition D. He has to repost, set a screen. We need Giannis to be more active off-ball on offense to get the ball and our offense moving again.
2) Dame dribbling out of great shots into contested ones. He needs to look up from his phone and see the green light for wide open C&S threes.
3) Middleton turnovers in transition.
4) Brook successfully tipping the ball to the other team when he could just grab the ball.

[Bernman]

Some interesting notes here - https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/how-to-bet-the-milwaukee-bucks-2024-25-nba-win-total-can-bucks-bounce-back

I found this the most fascinating

Here's a quirky stat: Damian Lillard shot 37% — from the field, not from 3 — off Giannis Antetokounmpo passes, 30% from the outside. Giannis –who again shot 64.5% from 2-point range and 75% at the rim for the season — only shot 54% off Lillard passes.

Glad they were too busy in the offseason.

Is there any site w/ the layout of a court where you can place players for a visual?

Anyway:

Left Above the Break - Khris
Left Block - Giannis
Top of the key - Dame
Right block - Brook
Right corner - Trent

- Brook comes up to set screens for Dame on one side + exploit matches down low. They have great chemistry/timing
- Giannis/Midds does the same on the other side for the same reasons.
- Trent waits for kickouts.

That should basically be our offense. Stop trying to make Giannis & Dame have a synergistic effect. Additive is enough. Up until now they've had an antagonistic effect.

[-Jragon-]

To me, and this is just going off the Bulls game, this team is going nowhere if Giannis insists on playing bully ball against double and triple teams in the halfcourt. We are at our best when he is moving the ball and moving his body off ball, and finding people. We are not winning a title with him just willing himself into the paint over and over. Lillard should be initiating the offense in the halfcourt with GA working off screens to start. GA can take the ball in transition.

By far the biggest thing I’m watching this season.

100%

[Turk Nowitzki]

Read on Twitter

Girth Nowitzki?

I approve this as a username

[-Jragon-]

Some interesting notes here - https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/how-to-bet-the-milwaukee-bucks-2024-25-nba-win-total-can-bucks-bounce-back

I found this the most fascinating

Here's a quirky stat: Damian Lillard shot 37% — from the field, not from 3 — off Giannis Antetokounmpo passes, 30% from the outside. Giannis –who again shot 64.5% from 2-point range and 75% at the rim for the season — only shot 54% off Lillard passes.

Glad they were too busy in the offseason.

Is there any site w/ the layout of a court where you can place players for a visual?

Anyway:

Left Above the Break - Khris
Left Block - Giannis
Top of the key - Dame
Right block - Brook
Right corner - Trent

- Brook comes up to set screens for Dame on one side + exploit matches down low. They have great chemistry/timing
- Giannis/Midds does the same on the other side for the same reasons.
- Trent waits for kickouts.

That should basically be our offense. Stop trying to make Giannis & Dame have a synergistic effect. Additive is enough. Up until now they've had an antagonistic effect.

The part you miss is that Dame and Giannis each demand 2 - 3 guys watching and reacting to them. Noone else on the team has near that so when KM, Trent or Brook have the ball everyone can stay home. The plays will all work better when Dame or Giannis end up with the ball and guys are back cutting off that gravity -- I'm talking wide open 3s and layups/dunks. A Dame/GA lineup doesn't require someone in the high post shooting long 2s when we can get wide open 3s and layups at will. So we need screen/roll guys and spot up 3 shooters with them. Hence the idea of 6th manning KM and creating a whole package of offense centered around him when he's in.

[MickeyDavis]

Ellenson is an interest addition