2023-24 Bucks Season Thread

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

And they follow it up with another flop. I don't get why Jackson Jr and Beauchamp aren't playing. 

They need to give these young guys some run. ESPECIALLY on the 2nd night of a back-to-back in which Middleton isn't playing? It's just ridiculous to see both not on the floor at all. 

If you say Jackson isn't playing due to the wrist...fine. He came in the final ~40 seconds, but that'd make sense. And Marjon? You're ruining his confidence. 

I get it, no Brook, no Middleton and Utah got hot. But unless you've actually got this miracle trade for Smart lined up...which I won't buy, no matter how many reports there are the Bucks have "called about him," then you need to get the most out of the guys you have. 

Well, AJax is just coming back from an injury and I'm unsure of how available he actually is at present. There may be more going on here. AJ Green was first man off the bench last night - he has been very good the last two games. Marjon has just been extremely inconsistent - honestly, it seems like he struggles with confidence? I've been intrigued, actually, by what I've seen from Livingston in the limited action he'a gotten. They're going to need the young guns to step up in some capacity that is for certain.

As to last night's game, they were at altitude in the second game of a back-to-back. They are 2-20 at Utah since 2002. They were up 12 headed to the 4th. Anddddd, they ran out of gas. Pretty much as simple as that. 

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Well, AJax is just coming back from an injury and I'm unsure of how available he actually is at present. There may be more going on here. AJ Green was first man off the bench last night - he has been very good the last two games. Marjon has just been extremely inconsistent - honestly, it seems like he struggles with confidence? I've been intrigued, actually, by what I've seen from Livingston in the limited action he'a gotten. They're going to need the young guns to step up in some capacity that is for certain.

As to last night's game, they were at altitude in the second game of a back-to-back. They are 2-20 at Utah since 2002. They were up 12 headed to the 4th. Anddddd, they ran out of gas. Pretty much as simple as that. 

Ok, if Jackson is hurt or can't play, why put him in for garbage time?

Green is shooting the ball well. I'm not worried about our scoring. I think having either player on the floor over Green is going to be more important. 

-I don't like the back-to-back cop-out. These aren't guys in an over-40 league, they're athletes in their 20s and 30s. 

But my issue also isn't with ONE loss. 

[Joseph Zarr]

32 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

Ok, if Jackson is hurt or can't play, why put him in for garbage time?

Green is shooting the ball well. I'm not worried about our scoring. I think having either player on the floor over Green is going to be more important. 

-I don't like the back-to-back cop-out. These aren't guys in an over-40 league, they're athletes in their 20s and 30s. 

But my issue also isn't with ONE loss. 

Fair enough.

I'm pretty much just unworried but I also don't have expectations. This season has been a train wreck, perhaps, but if all train wrecks come with a top 3 record in Conference I guess I'm OK with waiting to see where it goes. We have a trade deadline fast approaching. We have a star PG clearly enduring some off the court personal issues. Middleton still isn't playing back-to-backs (I mean he played 1 but he isn't playing them). I've seen, essentially, this same Bucks team annihilate teams in the regular season and then lose early in the playoffs. If we eliminate last night's 4th quarter, the Bucks are top 8 defensively since the coaching change. I think more growth will come in time and I obviously could be very wrong. I'll wait and see where this goes.

I just don't stress about the nuance anymore. I have absolutely no idea what goes on behind closed doors. What I can say is I suddenly find myself enjoying Bucks basketball again. I hope that continues.

[BrewerFan]

25 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

 

I just don't stress about the nuance anymore. I have absolutely no idea what goes on behind closed doors. What I can say is I suddenly find myself enjoying Bucks basketball again. I hope that continues.

I mean...if you read back here, I think I've been with you, but...it is amazing how bad such a talented team can look. And since we have so royally screwed our future(which I do not blame them for at ALL)...it's now or never. You either win another title or you don't.

We'll see though. 

[nate82]

This team is a paper tiger.

[sveumrules]

25 minutes ago, nate82 said:

This team is a paper tiger.

That will very likely end up being the case as the Celtics appear to be in a tier of their own, but the Bucks are playing with no Dame, no Brook and likely no Khris the rest of the game after he left early with a rolled ankle…and they still lead a fully healthy Durant, Booker and Beal at half.

[young guns]

The only thing giving me hope is that they still have time to figure it out and the regular season is meaningless anyway.

[Joseph Zarr]

Their bench is a mess. They lack any meaningful depth of assets. Their new HC has a half a season to familiarize himself with the young guys (and, hopefully get them PT). Two of their former key role players are pretty much showing signs of aging; slowing down; and regressing. Their back-up Big literally is better suited making balloon animals at children's birthday parties - I seriously can't grok how utterly done Robin Lopez is. My goodness. I digress.

They still have Dame and Giannis. They still have the trade deadline and Horst has proven to be a magician of sorts at this time of year.

There is till hope they can pull it together but, realistically, it likely isn't this season. Too many cards stacked against them. Really screwed up the Bud fire/hire. That was a pretty colossal mistake. And, it's a shame: what Giannis is doing on a nightly basis is patently absurd. His efficiency is just historic. He's a true unicorn in every sense.

[patrickgpe]

Remember  the clippers started 0-6 with Harden and are now the top seed in the West. I'm not going to give the East to the Celtics just yet because of a bad west coast trip with a new coach that has yet to have a practice with his team. 

[owbc]

Any key injuries and they are toast, but if they can make it to the postseason healthy they have as good of a chance as anyone. 

Like @patrickgpe says, there are worse places to acclimate to a new coach than a west coast trip where they would have lost most of the games anyway. 

[nate82]

It really looks like Doc does not like Beauchamp.  I think Beauchamp is gone by the deadline just not sure who will be included with him.

[Samurai Bucky]

2 hours ago, nate82 said:

It really looks like Doc does not like Beauchamp.  I think Beauchamp is gone by the deadline just not sure who will be included with him.

A Jax hasn't gotten much time either.

[BrewerFan]

16 minutes ago, Samurai Bucky said:

A Jax hasn't gotten much time either.

Yeah, he's been hurt, but...it's still hard for me to justify long-term playing Green over Beauchamp and Jackson Jr.

You think the extra shooter is more likely to make the difference or the 3 and D guys? And Beauchamp has been EXACTLY what you want him to be with the potential for more. He's hit 42% from 3 in the corner, he can play on the ball. I think Jackson has shot really well from the corner. That's where that player is going to camp out.

 

I agree it'd be silly to write this team off...but I'm not encouraged right now. Conversely, I was impressed many times during the regular season only to lose to Miami(or Toronto, Boston)...so we'll see. 

[Samurai Bucky]

 

[nate82]

Just now, Samurai Bucky said:

 

Hopefully this isn't the only trade they do.  I am 99% certain Beauchamp will be traded. 

[patrickgpe]

Rolo to the kings for $. Bucks now have an open roster spot if they wish to play in the buyout market. 

[CheezWizHed]

2 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

Rolo to the kings for $. Bucks now have an open roster spot if they wish to play in the buyout market. 

Surprise trade of the year.  Is Sacramento so bad that they are going the minor league baseball route and providing as much sideline entertainment as possible?

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

Rolo to the kings for $. Bucks now have an open roster spot if they wish to play in the buyout market. 

I thought it was kinda a given the Bucks were gonna sign Shake Milton. Having played with Doc, a position of need...the limitations in the buyout market.

I'd just prefer we see Beauchamp get playing time, but something is up there.

 

I see all the people giving up on the Bucks, but, this may just be a team built for the post-season. I remember how bad Boston was the first half two years ago, Miami wasn't lighting the world on fire last year. 

This particular team has been working Middleton back in and the ability to have PatBev and Milton defend for stretches, if I squint, I can see it. 

[nate82]

So Beauchamp stays but will he even play?

[patrickgpe]

This trade is very easy. Bucks wanted another Tucker,to follow the rules of this forum, a jerk. They tried with Ibaka the year at the title but he was washed up. I’m good with what they did today and will be interested to see how they handle the buy out market 

[patrickgpe]

2 hours ago, nate82 said:

So Beauchamp stays but will he even play?

It doesn’t really matter if he does. I doubt his 4th option gets picked up. He is looking like a bust. Not sure what anyone thought the bucks would get for him 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'd rather the Bucks show up as a 3rd or 4th than #1 and get worked again. They'll be in the playoffs.  All that matters is they figure out some defense between now and May. 

[BrewerFan]

11 minutes ago, patrickgpe said:

This trade is very easy. Bucks wanted another Tucker,to follow the rules of this forum, a jerk. They tried with Ibaka the year at the title but he was washed up. I’m good with what they did today and will be interested to see how they handle the buy out market 

It's gonna be a little tough to get much on the buyout. Anyone who signed for more than the MLE is not eligible to sign with teams above the 2nd apron. 

The only trade that really sounded good to me, was Portis, Connaughton+ whatever for Wiggins. But I also think we'd be missing Portis' energy and Connaughton, he is quickly disregarded and he's played poorly, but he is an underrated facilitator in my opinion. He can get guys good looks. You're not in a good spot if you're relying on him for that, but in a pinch(like Dame being out, Payne being traded). 

[adambr2]

This team is just so discombobulated. On paper, we weren't supposed to get worse. 

[sveumrules]

10 hours ago, adambr2 said:

This team is just so discombobulated. On paper, we weren't supposed to get worse. 

Lillard hurt, Middleton hurt, Lopez missed the last few games before last night for the birth of his child.

Integral players shuffling in and out of the lineup (and literally having zero healthy point guards last night after Payne was dealt) will have a discombobulating effect.

Rivers took over on a five game road trip out West that was always going to be one of the tougher stretches of the season, even if they hired Nurse in the offseason like everybody but Giannis knew they should have.

My expectation was always that it would take time to undo Griffin’s idiocy and they would get worse in the short term, especially considering they had one of the easier first half schedules and one of the more difficult second half slates.