I guess when you have Dame you are never out of it. I'll have to remember that every game.
Been that kind of a game. Missed layups, bad shooting, and yet Milwaukee actually had a chance to steal one. If I’m Boston great they got the win but they shot it well and Milwaukee did not and it was basically a one possession game less than a minute to go.
The other thing is the Bucks did play pretty good defense on Tatum. Beauchamp and Jackson Jr. may get some minutes if these guys play in the postseason.
119-116. Made a run and came up just short. If Giannis and Khris do anything (11 for 34) they probably win.
Holiday was also terrible tonight (1 for 8).
I think facing each other really bothered them all.
Lillard single-handedly got them in position to win in a game they had no business of even staying close.
Had the Bucks got gotten down big in the 1Q they likely win this game.
@MichiganPacker posted:I think facing each other really bothered them all.
Yeah....it seemed like it, right?!? Interesting 🤔
They did....Dame missed that dunk 🤦♂️ lol 🤷♂️oh well.....hopefully they learned and will be better next time. It's November.
Again, I’d be more concerned if I’m Boston than Milwaukee. The Bucks dominated them with boards and second chance points, Tatum actually had to work to get low 20s, and Middleton and Giannis did nothing and it’s a 3 point game.
Holiday hasn’t been great this year offensively but he was bad tonight.
@Tschmack posted:Again, I’d be more concerned if I’m Boston than Milwaukee. The Bucks dominated them with boards and second chance points, Tatum actually had to work to get low 20s, and Middleton and Giannis did nothing and it’s a 3 point game.
Holiday hasn’t been great this year offensively but he was bad tonight.
Holiday is one of my favorite Bucks and always will be, but he showed tonight why they had to upgrade to Dame. If you flip Dame and Jrue tonight the Celtics probably win by 30.
The question that will probably determine the Bucks ceiling is whether this is as good as Middleton's lateral movement gets or is he still going to recover some of it. Pre-2022 knee injury, he could match up on guys like Tatum one on one and make him work. Not right now. If he can't do that, it changes the whole Bucks' defensive ceiling.
I hate to say it, but it’s possible we’ve seen the best of Middleton. You see it in his lateral movement that he’s not as twitchy and explosive and doesn’t seem to have as much rise in his jump shot.
Still, as a spot up shooter, he could be deadly. He even gets a little space and he’ll knock it down.
I know it’s a small sample size but the energy and athleticism last night from Beauchamp and Jackson Jr was noticeable. Both guys actually did a semi decent job harassing Tatum. You hold that guy to around 25 points with a lot of attempts and you stand a good chance of beating the Celtics. Had the Bucks kept it a little closer earlier in the game, that’s very well what should have happened (a Bucks win).
The Celtics are who they are. A team almost completely reliant on the 3pt shot. They’ve gutted their frontcourt defense and if Giannis can just play a little more disciplined and aggressive I’m not sure Boston can beat them in a 7 game series. Without Dame, I’d feel differently but with him you are never truly out of a game or a playoff series for that matter.
@Tschmack posted:I hate to say it, but it’s possible we’ve seen the best of Middleton. You see it in his lateral movement that he’s not as twitchy and explosive and doesn’t seem to have as much rise in his jump shot.
Still, as a spot up shooter, he could be deadly. He even gets a little space and he’ll knock it down.
I know it’s a small sample size but the energy and athleticism last night from Beauchamp and Jackson Jr was noticeable. Both guys actually did a semi decent job harassing Tatum. You hold that guy to around 25 points with a lot of attempts and you stand a good chance of beating the Celtics. Had the Bucks kept it a little closer earlier in the game, that’s very well what should have happened (a Bucks win).
The Celtics are who they are. A team almost completely reliant on the 3pt shot. They’ve gutted their frontcourt defense and if Giannis can just play a little more disciplined and aggressive I’m not sure Boston can beat them in a 7 game series. Without Dame, I’d feel differently but with him you are never truly out of a game or a playoff series for that matter.
Al Horford sat out their previous game to rest up for Giannis. He played 31 minutes last night. He played 22 and 23 minutes the two previous games he played.
He won't get the luxury of resting up for Giannis in a playoff series.
I know the Bucks are the better team. Now they just need to go prove it!
The other thing I thought of watching the game is you have to know Boston and their fans were scared shitless when the Bucks roared back and nearly got the win despite being outplayed 85% of the game. That’s the Dame factor, and he wasn’t even at his best.
The Celtics also have to wonder how a frontcourt that features a 90 year old Al Horford will hold up physically during the year and into the playoffs. The game last night showed just what a mismatch inside the Bucks have with Lopez and Giannis.
Celtics manage to get blown out by the Magic after beating the Bucks two nights ago.