2023-24 Bucks Season Thread

[RedStickBrew]

Just now, worm81 said:

What a half without Giannis!

How about an NBA record for made 3s in a half with 18. 82 first half points!  Who needs a defense?

[Joseph Zarr]

Just so we are on the Level. We know the Bucks have been a relative 10 seed train wreck on the road this season. BUT, at Home? 

They have absolutely smashed the East #1, the West #1, and the former NBA Champs. They can play with anybody on any night. When the vets are motivated and balling out on D, they are an extremely tough out. 3.0 G lead opened up on the Cavs for the #2 seed after tonight's throttling of the Thunder. Still looking like they will have a pesky first round match-up with either Miami (ugh - lol), Philly (possibly with a healthy Embiid), and/or Indy. 

[jay87shot]

The Bucks look like they are coming together. Middleton especially has looked much better since returning from injury.

On a seperate note, I really think the front office needs to look into getting younger this offseason. This team is getting old fast. I really like the idea of drafting Ighodara from Marquette or Clingan from UConn as a heir to Brook. Then make a couple trades to get younger.

1) Bobby Portis for Tari Eason and Jock Landale.

The Rockets have to much 3/4 youth (Brooks, Smith Jr., Eason, Thompson, Whitmore). Portis gives them a solid vet to give them toughness with Sengun. We take back Landale to make it happen.

2) Pat C and #35 for Tre Jones and a future 2nd

I am pretty sure San Antonio signs and/or drafts a point guard for Wemby. Jones is an good defender and super efficient player. He might be a bit small to play beside Lillard but he might be able to.

Re-sign Beasley

1) Lillard/Jones 2) Beasley/A Jax/Green 3) Middleton/Eason/Marjon 4) Giannis/Oso 5)Brook/Landale

Our starting line is still old/experienced but we would have youth all over the bench. 

[homer]

 

 

[RedStickBrew]

This game is madness tonight

[young guns]

Same exact play as earlier that got blocked.  Maybe should have tried something else.  Still pissed they didn't call a foul when giannis was mugged on the inbounds at the end of regulation. 

[RedStickBrew]

Not looking great now. I’m going to the game in NOLA Thursday, I hope they can play a bit better and pull out the W against a pretty solid Pels team

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, young guns said:

Same exact play as earlier that got blocked.  Maybe should have tried something else.  Still pissed they didn't call a foul when giannis was mugged on the inbounds at the end of regulation. 

Yup. Ugly half. Got a text from the old Man saying they were gonna blow it up ~11 with 4 minutes or so left. I was casually watching. Came back and...it's 2X OT and things did not go well.

Brush it off and move on. 

 

As a general point though, I like how Crowder is playing. Seems like the last month or so, he's really gotten back to where he was. I like Portis...but Doc just isn't gonna give Beauchamp or Jackson much run, will he?

[Samurai Bucky]

I know that we want to get Middleton to get more opportunities, but here is what I saw --

In the fourth, there were five straight possessions where they gave him the ball, and he pulled a Tyler Wahl -- try to back his man down, turn, and miss.  Five...... straight...... possessions......

[Joseph Zarr]

Boy, the possible impending loss of Pat Bev looms pretty large for this up-and-down Bucks team. If he has to go under the knife and miss the remainder of the season that's a big hit to the defensive rotation; the leadership; and the fire department. It just always feels like the Bucks are snakebitten and this season absolutely feels no different. I hope I'm wrong!

[HarryDoyle]

9 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Boy, the possible impending loss of Pat Bev looms pretty large for this up-and-down Bucks team. If he has to go under the knife and miss the remainder of the season that's a big hit to the defensive rotation; the leadership; and the fire department. It just always feels like the Bucks are snakebitten and this season absolutely feels no different. I hope I'm wrong!

I don't know how they're snakebitten. This is just a very old team and most likely won't make it past the second round. It's time for a youth movement and if that means trading Lillard this offseason, I'm all for it. His addition has not worked out. Middleton is washed up.

[Joseph Zarr]

11 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

I don't know how they're snakebitten. This is just a very old team and most likely won't make it past the second round. It's time for a youth movement and if that means trading Lillard this offseason, I'm all for it. His addition has not worked out. Middleton is washed up.

I can't argue with the fact they absolutely look old and tired. A regular season grind is obviously not ideal for such a scene. Could they get hot in the post-season? Sure. That's possible. I can absolutely see a first or second round exit just as much as I could see an improbable run to the ECF or Championship round. I think the most amazing part of this season, outside the obvious blown coaching hire, was at every corner the Bucks personnel staff willingly chose to get older. At every turn. Thankfully, they have something in the youth cupboard. But, man, when Giannis' first FG attempt in a final quarter is with 28 seconds left...I don't even know. 😅

[sveumrules]

Last time Giannis played as many as his current 2,394 regular season minutes was 2016-17, his age 23 season.

Last time Lillard played as many as his current 2,402 regular season minutes was 2019-20, his age 29 season and I believe he got a four months off in the middle of that season.

Brook is still a couple hundred minutes short of last year’s total, but by the time the season is over he’ll likely end up with his most minutes since 2015-16, his age 27 season.

Good news if everyone can make it to the playoffs healthy is even with all the struggles BBREF has the Dame Beas Midds Giannis Brook lineup at +15.4 pts/100 over 593 minutes on the floor together which stacks up pretty well with the most played lineups for the two title favorites…

BOS: White Holiday Brown Tatum Kristaps (+12.9 pts/100 | 580 mins)

DEN: Murray KCP MPJ Gordon Jokic (+14.0 pts/100 | 883 mins)

[RedStickBrew]

On 3/27/2024 at 1:39 PM, Samurai Bucky said:

I know that we want to get Middleton to get more opportunities, but here is what I saw --

In the fourth, there were five straight possessions where they gave him the ball, and he pulled a Tyler Wahl -- try to back his man down, turn, and miss.  Five...... straight...... possessions......

Unfortunately PBev and Bobby didn’t play much on Thursday against the Pelicans and Kris got 30+ minutes of action. I think he had almost more turnovers that points, 1-7 from 3, just not good. 

[sveumrules]

Bucks hold on for the first win of the season sans-Lillard after losing the first five games he didn’t play this season.

Another mark in the “as Dame goes, the Bucks go” column along with…

28-6 when scoring 25+
26-4 when shooting 45%+
21-5 when making 4+ threes
21-5 with 8+ assists
16-4 with 1 or zero turnovers
team best +12.7 on/off

Maybe moreso than any other league the NBA is a story driven league.

If somehow Giannis manages to lead the Bucks over the Celtics (who have been the most dominant RS team since peak Golden State) in the ECF, then tops Jokic & Nuggets in the Finals, all while securing Dame his first ring and Doc his second with a decade and a half in between…well, that would definitely be some kind of story.

[adambr2]

Doc Rivers has been coach of the Bucks for nearly half a season and does not even have a winning record as coach. 

That is unfathomable. 

[sveumrules]

3 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Doc Rivers has been coach of the Bucks for nearly half a season and does not even have a winning record as coach. 

That is unfathomable. 

He’s had the starting five together for seven of those 31 games.

Four of Doc’s 16 losses Dame didn’t play, Giannis didn’t play in two more. 

Dame Beasley Khris Giannis Brook (+15.4 pts/100 in 593 minutes) have actually been better than White Holiday Brown Tatum Porzingis (+12.3 pts/100 in 607 minutes) for BOS and Murray KCP MPJ Gordon Jokic (+14.0 pts/100 in 883 minutes) for DEN this year.

Just get everyone to the playoffs healthy and the Bucks have as good a shot as anyone at knocking off either of the presumptive favorites.

[homer]

this doesn't sound pleasant 

 

 

 

[worm81]

16 hours ago, homer said:

this doesn't sound pleasant 

 

 

 

Sounds like he lost a tooth. Guy can't catch a break.

[adambr2]

On 4/6/2024 at 5:39 PM, sveumrules said:

He’s had the starting five together for seven of those 31 games.

Four of Doc’s 16 losses Dame didn’t play, Giannis didn’t play in two more. 

Dame Beasley Khris Giannis Brook (+15.4 pts/100 in 593 minutes) have actually been better than White Holiday Brown Tatum Porzingis (+12.3 pts/100 in 607 minutes) for BOS and Murray KCP MPJ Gordon Jokic (+14.0 pts/100 in 883 minutes) for DEN this year.

Just get everyone to the playoffs healthy and the Bucks have as good a shot as anyone at knocking off either of the presumptive favorites.

I don't buy this. They're a mess. I don't think they're going to be able to flip some magical switch when the playoffs start, healthy or not. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

8 hours ago, adambr2 said:

I don't buy this. They're a mess. I don't think they're going to be able to flip some magical switch when the playoffs start, healthy or not. 

Yeah I think they are primed to lose in the first round. I think every fan outside of Milwaukee (and some inside of it) can see that this is a team with a superstar and a washed up cast. 

[adambr2]

8 hours ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Yeah I think they are primed to lose in the first round. I think every fan outside of Milwaukee (and some inside of it) can see that this is a team with a superstar and a washed up cast. 

For this year they've got no choice but to try to prepare for the playoffs as best they can, but if it's an early exit, they have to face the uncomfortable reality that trading Giannis and whatever else you still can and getting younger might be in the cards. I'm guessing they'd probably prefer to try running it back more year, but I can't justify in my mind how they're going to get any better. They've hitched their wagon to this core and they don't have the assets to really do much more that's going to move the needle. And if Giannis isn't happy, he might force their hand anyway. 

It's unfortunate, because you always felt like this group was capable of more over the last 5-6 season. Fortunately, they do at least have 2021 to hang their hat on and always will. 

There's still enough really high end trade value in the stars of this team to accumulate good young value and try to be back to contending sooner rather than later. Unfortunately in the NBA, unless you find "the guy", there are no certainties going forward. 

[SeaBass]

The thought of trading Giannis hurts but we're entering the period in his career where his body is already starting to break down, so much wear and tear with his style of play. Getting value now might not be the worst idea.

However, I'm not sure I trade him unless he wants out. He's an icon, he made the Bucks relevant and brought Milwaukee a championship. Maybe the front office decides to call his bluff and make moves he may not love and see if he asks for a trade. I just can't fathom running it back unless they really get good pieces from Middleton and Dame trades.

[young guns]

Speaking of breaking down, he left today's win(finally!) Over the Celtics with a non contact injury.  He was jogging up the court after inbounding the ball and then fell to the court clutching his calf.  Happened in the third and he was ruled out with a calf "strain".  Not great right before the playoffs.

[nate82]