2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks thread

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, Matt Breen said:

Well, Dame's injury sure is harsh. The average NBA player takes 10 months to recover from an ACL injury. Could it be earlier? Sure, but no promises. And it could be a full year or more. 

Yeah, it'd be better if it was an ACL. An Achilles is longer and the recovery rate is lower.

I think Dame CAN come back, but if he does, he's going to be limited and he's going to be more of a spot up shooter. That explosiveness that the has taking the ball to the rim or just getting free, that's going to be compromised, especially at his age...

I would think it's a near certainty he's done for the 2025-26 season and I don't know where that leaves you.

I hate saying this, but...it's probably smart to start to look to trade Giannis now. I would think you could still get a young star player for him(Scottie Barnes is probably close to the ceiling) and picks.

Houston would be a pretty obvious choice.

Jalen Green and ...I don't know who else to make the salaries work, but Giannis and AJ Green and then lots of 1sts?

Golden State would be a pretty appealing option. You target their firsts in 3-4 years?

Phoenix? 3 team trades...you may be building a dynasty for the Pelicans and Portland, but you can't do much about that.

 

And if Giannis wants to stay I guess you just enjoy watching a HOF compete and finish his career here.

[BrewerFan]

5 hours ago, owbc said:

Yeah it’s hard to disagree with any of this. At the end of the day they got the ‘ship and then made a bunch of failed desperation moves to get another and got nowhere close. Blow it up and start over. 

I really don't blame Horst and think he's mostly been fine...bad time to extend him though. The job description should have just changed.

I think hiring Doc was terrible. Billy Donovan was the guy I wanted hired. But maybe I just don't understand. It seems like irrespective of the coach, there's always that one guy...who is a really great fit and the Bucks just abandon him.

One series it was George Hill in favor of Jevon Carter. I don't recall who it was last year, but this year it's AJJ. He's a guy who can guard Haliburton or Siakam. He's solid in the corner from 3, not a ringing endorsement of his offensive game but he can shoot well enough that his defensive game still makes him an overall plus IMO.

 

For all the "The Packers need to trade for Hendrickson or they're not serious," or the Brewers need to...sign Adames, trade for Crochet, or...whatever. Not that there aren't times to go for it or that the NBA is the same, but sometimes you make a trade and you just end up worse.

[sveumrules]

First and foremost, I feel terrible for Dame. To go from dealing with some scary real life medical stuff, to probably rushing back too soon in an effort to help his team in what was a longshot to begin with, to now blowing out the Achilles and looking at missing all of next year before coming back in likely diminished form at age 36. 

As for Giannis, my gut feeling is that he cares more about being a One Team Guy like Kobe or Duncan or Dirk than he does about maximizing his Ring Odds, so he won't ask to be traded this offseason. I think he would view demanding a trade (especially now after Dame's injury) as taking the easy way out, which would seem to go against his character.

[CheezWizHed]

14 hours ago, sveumrules said:

As for Giannis, my gut feeling is that he cares more about being a One Team Guy like Kobe or Duncan or Dirk than he does about maximizing his Ring Odds, so he won't ask to be traded this offseason. I think he would view demanding a trade (especially now after Dame's injury) as taking the easy way out, which would seem to go against his character.

Fixed that for you. Shaq remembers... 

I still love Giannis and love watching Giannis make plays... but I don't love watching Giannis play.  He makes some really amazing plays and a lot of fun... but he can be very stagnant also and doesn't play well with the team; he and Dame especially looked awkward out there.  More of two individuals playing BB.  In Jordan's era, they probably win multiple championships.

Ironically, I think Giannis and Porter played better together.  I hope we keep Porter.  Wait and see on Giannis I guess. I hear Thansis is available...

[nate82]

Dame to be successful needs someone who can do a pick and roll.  Giannis gets absolutely lost in a pick and roll go back to early last season before Doc became the HC and you will see what I am talking about.

Giannis is just so limited in his offensive sets that a player like Dame just doesn’t fit with him.  It is probably best for him to go to the Spurs and play there.  That team has a compliment players for Giannis to play and thrive with.  The Bucks don’t have the pieces and I think Giannis knows this.  The Bucks are going to have a hard time convincing him to stay for more than one season.  I still believe this is it for Giannis in Milwaukee.

[Brian]

I hope the Bucks win by 20 tonight. 

[adambr2]

1 hour ago, Brian said:

I hope the Bucks win by 20 tonight. 

Looks like they’ll lose, but they WERE up by 20 at one point. Does that count?

[Brian]

1 minute ago, adambr2 said:

Looks like they’ll lose, but they WERE up by 20 at one point. Does that count?

Down by 5 in the NBA with 9 min left is a loss? Now way Jose. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

When I need a game-winning shot, I definitely want Giannis shooting a fadeaway from the baseline into two defenders...

 

[young guns]

I don't understand that being the best shot we can get.  Like seriously, are not able to draw up any good look at all?  We will probably regret to winning in regulation.

[young guns]

Or maybe Trent Jr will just put the team on his back like in game 3.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

2 minutes ago, young guns said:

I don't understand that being the best shot we can get.  Like seriously, are not able to draw up any good look at all?  We will probably regret to winning in regulation.

There was absolutely nothing drawn up there. That was Doc being Doc and saying something like "big time players win big time games, go shoot it Giannis!"

[HarryDoyle]

A seven point lead with 40 seconds left and they lose. Fitting end to the season.

[Yaz19]

3 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

A seven point lead with 40 seconds left and they lose. Fitting end to the season.

Couldn't have put it better than that.   

[young guns]

That was dumb.  Just no words.

[HarryDoyle]

Couldn’t have been anything else but totally stupid and self-inflicted for it to be Wisconsin sports.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

1 minute ago, HarryDoyle said:

A seven point lead with 40 seconds left and they lose. Fitting end to the season.

1 pt lead and the ball with less than the shot clock left. Did not even shoot the ball, somehow. 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

These last few years have really been a shame. Giannis has put together some crazy statistical seasons, and they can't escape the first round. Just as a basketball fan it sucks, because he's too iconic of a player to not have any iconic playoff games the last few years and likely not again until he's somewhere else. 

[adambr2]

The only positive I can say about Doc is that the players apparently respect him enough to not just phone it in tonight.

But man alive, as a X’s and O’s basketball guy, he is absolute dogwater.

[Jimbo]

I don't post on this thread as I'm a casual Bucks follower, but watched as my wife is a fan and the possibility of Giannis's last game.  As stated above:

• A half-competent high school coach would have drawn up a better play at the end of regulation.  Underwhelming.
• 7 point lead = 3 possessions = game over.  At least I thought it was.

 

[Matt Breen]

It will be interesting to see who ends up with the top pick in the draft (aka Cooper Flagg). 

A team with that pick might be interested in a Giannis trade - but it really depends on the team. Flagg would give the Bucks someone to build around going forward. 

[jay87shot]

I agree Doc stinks, he has like 40 years nba experience and like 8 assistant coaches and you don't have a decent last shot play to run.

I know the media is all for trying to convince Giannis to leave and hopefully he doesn't listen. However I wouldn't blame him this team is so poorly put together at this point there is nothing for next year. Once Bobby and Porter decline their player options (Pat C will pick his up) our lineup team is Giannis, Kuz, Green, Rollins, AJax, Pat C, and Tyler Smith with only 30-35 million in cap space and a 7 million trade exception and basically no picks for 5 years to trade. Yikes.

 

 

[jay87shot]

I think I would go after Russell Westbrook, I am not a huge fan of his and in a half court set he won't help spread the floor but from a talent and upside perspective he is probably the best we can do. If Brook would take a discount I would bring him back or Bobby but I wouldn't pay him much more than what he made this year.

1) Russ 1/10

2)Precious Achiuwa 2/18

3)Jake LaRavia 2/14

4)Talen Horton-Tucker 1/4

Buy a 2nd 2nd round pick draft SF Matthew Cleveland and PG Mark Sears

1)Russ/Rollins/Sears

2)AJ Green/AJax

3)Kuzma/THT/Cleveland

4)Giannis/LaRavia/Tyler Smith

5)Achiuwa/Giannis

That is rough at best

[Samurai Bucky]

You need to see the part where Haliburton's dad initiated the altercation...

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Again, there was NO PLAY drawn up at the end of regulation. It was pass to Giannis and let him do whatever. It was idiotic as a) he was double teamed b) if he gets fouled, he can't shoot c) someone was open by means of said double team.