2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks / NBA Thread

[CheezWizHed]

12 hours ago, adambr2 said:

He can’t play high level defense, but he’s a high end scorer and at only 24 it’s quite possible that his defensive deficiencies can be improved.

I’m not saying he makes them into some contender. But they needed a scorer. They’re one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. 

He’s better than what they’ve been throwing out there. I’d much rather them throw someone like him at a wall than some aging vet on a buyout.

It's absolutely nothing lost no matter what happens.

You wondered why a player "like him" is available... I think the reason is that he is a good BB player, but doesn't fit on a good BB team.  Scores points, but low efficiency.  Poor defense.  Considered a selfish player.  The stats look good, but there is a reason he was cut.  

No harm at this point in the season, but we already have one player that needs the ball in his hands a lot (at least he plays good defense).  

[Samurai Bucky]

I was entertained watching the Bucks tonight.  Thomas and Dieng played well.  How about "Jumpin'" Jericho Sims!  KPJ coughs the ball up a little too often, but they still came out on top.

Let's see how things go tomorrow on the back end of a back-to-back... against OKC no less.

[adambr2]

Didn’t have this one as a blowout W on the schedule.

Can't put much stock into it for who the Thunder were missing but it was encouraging seeing Dieng have a huge game.

[Joseph Zarr]

How the heck has Dieng just been molding on the OKC bench? How did we turn Coffey/Anthony into this 22-yo long smart basketball player who apparently a might just be a much better shooter (and player) than advertised? Horts proving once again he and his staff can work the margins. I do wonder if the margins is where the basketball ops have actual licensure to control the decision-making process? Either way:

I mean. Sheesh. And, again, Nance is just a very smart playable basketball player. Watch how quickly he moves these balls. Thing of beauty.

 

[jay87shot]

Don't look now the bucks are 5-1 and with Nance, Thomas, and Dieng playing well look rejuvenated and dare I say, deep. With the Hawks, Hornets, and Bulls ahead of us (Hawks 1.5 ahead for 10th spot) I do at least temporarily have a better outlook on this team.

We are still around a month from Giannis coming back. However if the team can keep it up and mesh when Giannis is back we could give Detriot or a Tatem-less Celtics a run for there money.

[Outlander]

I pretty much thought I was done with this team and they would be playing out the string with a bunch of guys I don't care about. Now they have a few younger players (Porter/Rollins/Thomas/Dieng) keeping me interested with Giannis looking to come back.

[Yaz19]

Out of curiosity, why is ESPN putting Motor City Cruise (Detroit Pistons) news on their Bucks page?  Am I missing something?  

[CheezWizHed]

42 minutes ago, Yaz19 said:

Out of curiosity, why is ESPN putting Motor City Cruise (Detroit Pistons) news on their Bucks page?  Am I missing something?  

People in the midwest still read ESPN? 

[LouisEly]

15 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Didn’t have this one as a blowout W on the schedule.

Can't put much stock into it for who the Thunder were missing but it was encouraging seeing Dieng have a huge game.

I wonder what people who bought tickets a long time ago for a matchup of Giannis vs SG-A thought when they ended up getting no Giannis/Turner/SG-A/Williams/Hartenstein?

 

[Samurai Bucky]

9 hours ago, jay87shot said:

We are still around a month from Giannis coming back. However if the team can keep it up and mesh when Giannis is back we could give Detriot or a Tatem-less Celtics a run for there money.

I have thought about this, too.  The ball is moving around a lot today.  When Giannis is out there, the ball always seems to go through him.  He might simply try to run someone over or back somebody down.

Didn't he try to take more of a traditional role at the beginning of last year, but then decided to take charge when the team wasn't doing well?  There seems to be good chemistry and if Giannis can plug into it, look out!

[jay87shot]

What team would be most motivated and have pieces to trade for Giannis in the offseason? I am kind of hoping the Thunder fall apart in the playoffs and a young team like the Spurs win the Championship. That way there is a better likihood that Thunder would panic and give us like 6 picks for Giannis if we are still thinking of trading him.

[adambr2]

Thomas has been a nice addition.

[Joseph Zarr]

19 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Thomas has been a nice addition.

The degree of difficulty on some of those shots last night was pretty severe. You can certainly see how he is prone to off nights, but man alive, watching Rollins, KPJ, and Thomas was legit fun last night.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

On the heels of being blown out by Toronto a really nice win at Home vs Miami. KPJ has so so so much talent. Unbelievable game from him. When he plays like that you forgive all his spaz moments of games long gone by.  Dieng once again showing there's a player in there. Sims, dare I say, is figuring things out?! Move the ball, stay active, roll to the basket and rebound. He continues to be a revelation of late which, frankly, is awesome. Heck, Doc even coached a game (!!!). Pulled Koooooz after a rushed early three in a pivotal part of the game - honestly, I thought he'd ride with him and allow him to negatively impact the outcome. Nice to be surprised. 7-3 overall in February.

[jay87shot]

KPJ and Rollins seem to be really gelling, how much would it take to extend Porter, 20???

I do think with those 2 playing at a high level Doc needs to sit AJ Green more, especially when Giannis is back. I would just rotated those 2 and Thomas through the 2 guard spots with Giannis, Kuz, Dieng, Bobby, Turner, and Sims/Nance at the 3-5. Green is fine but doesn't really provide anything that the other guys cant do. Yes he is our best shooter but right now offense isn't a concern. 

Big stretch with home tonight vs. Cleveland, home vs. Knicks. @chicago and home vs. Boston. I would guess Giannis is out at least this week but if we can take 2 or 3 of those games I will be over the moon. The schedule gets easy for a couple weeks after that when Giannis is hopefully back. Still 2 behind ATL and 1.5 behind Charlotte.

[Joseph Zarr]

10 hours ago, jay87shot said:

KPJ and Rollins seem to be really gelling, how much would it take to extend Porter, 20???

I do think with those 2 playing at a high level Doc needs to sit AJ Green more, especially when Giannis is back. I would just rotated those 2 and Thomas through the 2 guard spots with Giannis, Kuz, Dieng, Bobby, Turner, and Sims/Nance at the 3-5. Green is fine but doesn't really provide anything that the other guys cant do. Yes he is our best shooter but right now offense isn't a concern. 

Big stretch with home tonight vs. Cleveland, home vs. Knicks. @chicago and home vs. Boston. I would guess Giannis is out at least this week but if we can take 2 or 3 of those games I will be over the moon. The schedule gets easy for a couple weeks after that when Giannis is hopefully back. Still 2 behind ATL and 1.5 behind Charlotte.

I 'think' (I am no NBA salary cap guru whatsoever - shocking I know 😅) what I understand is we have Early Bird Rights and can offer the Full MLE. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Atlanta is 9-6 over their past 15. Just gor a healthy inspired Kuminga back with 27 off the bench last night. Can he keep up that type of impact? Hard to say but he looked quite good doing it.

Charlotte is 12-3 over their past 15 and had an incredible win streak within. They've been playing a very fun brand of basketball of late.

Buckaroos are 8-7 over their last 15 and are still without Giannis. Yes, they've played much better of late but that Play-In is not an easy get given how the teams in front of them have been playing.

[adambr2]

Turning a 16 point 3rd quarter lead into a 23 point blowout loss is quite the accomplishment.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Turning a 16 point 3rd quarter lead into a 23 point blowout loss is quite the accomplishment.

Honestly, that may be the most impressively pathetic loss in my history as a Bucks fan. Just an incredible display of inept basketballing. Allowing a 27-0 run to a team actively trying to Tank and who has essentially not won a game in a month is incredible. The Doctor, as per usual, was cooking. The players showing near zero meaningful effort.

A thing of indescribable putrid beauty.

[adambr2]

Those couple weeks in February thinking that maybe we were good again were fun.

[Samurai Bucky]

To think... I kept FanDuel to watch the Bucks.  Shame on me...

[Joseph Zarr]

Indeed. I am daily in a state of disbelief this organization is paying Doc Rivers top 10 HC money. To have the amount of money these owners have to simply throw it in the trash is a certain type of elite privilege, I guess. Whatevs. Directionless rudderless ship.

Bucks led the Hawks by 6 at the half. Bucks led the Bulls by 16 in the 3rd quarter. The Doctor is cooking. Top 5 NBA victories proving once again if you do anything long enough some form of recognition comes your way.

 

[Samurai Bucky]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Hawks by 6 at the half. Bucks led the Bulls by 16 in the 3rd quarter. The Doctor is cooking. Top 5 NBA victories proving once again if you do anything long enough some form of recognition comes your way.

I don't know how you get outscored 33-8 in the fourth quarter against the Bulls.  100% trash panda.  Doc has to go.  The number in the rafters is not helping him out.

[Outlander]

I don't get to many games anymore living in Madison but went last night as Giannis was playing and always the chance he might not be a Buck much longer. Great start to the game, they were lights out. The second quarter was one of the worst I ever sat through, losing a 16 point lead in about 3 minutes. Were able to get a lead at the half but the defense was atrocious so wasn't much hope the lead would last. They also had like 5 points in the first six minutes of the second half so that was fun. Got good seats for real cheap but not worth it, Giannis played well in limited minutes but he was super frustrated and I don't blame him if he finally leaves this summer. Not a great end of an era as it felt like last night was the final nail.

[ErnieRilesBrianGiles]

I went to the game last night for the same reason (cheap ticket, last chance to see Giannis), and I feel the same way. The first quarter was fun, and the rest was just sad. Poor switches on defense leading to mismatches, easy lay ups and open threes again and again. A lot of finger pointing on offense like no one knew what to do. The Cam Thomas, 4 bigs lineup made no sense to me. A far cry from the Bud days where there was a definite system in place and players knew their roles. There is talent and athleticism on this team, I think just as much as Atlanta, Charlotte, and Boston. A better coach could get more out of this group. Sadly, I don't think GIannis stays around for that.

The stadium was less than half full, and with 6 minutes left only down 12, it pretty much emptied out. It wasn't just the late start time that people aren't showing up or staying.