Bucks at mostly former Bucks (Pistons)

And now Brandon Knight is in. 

The Pistons are literally composed of Bucks castoffs, D. Rose, and a bunch of guys who would have trouble beating the Herd G league team. 

My god this is just amazing to watch. Just the sheer level of complete and utter dominance in a game where the Bucks don't even look like they are sweating in yet. 

I mean, the Pistons really suck, but 49-23 17 minutes in is still impressive. 

Total annihilation... 

70-41 at the half and it didn't seem that close. 

Getting ugly in the Palace

Giannis clearly does not appreciate Christian Wood. 

In other news, Kyrie Irving out for the year. Shocking... 

Man O Man....I fell asleep just before halftime & woke up in middle of 4th quarter. Did I miss anything?? I saw Giannis "nudge" Wood  

I know the Pistons suck but the Bucks are as good as advertised.....even with the MVP on the bench. Middleton was on fire early

Kyrie Irving is a gutless turd and a quitter and it makes me want to puke that he’s won a title because he doesn’t deserve it. 

78 points from their big 3... 

30 years ago they called the Pistons "The Bad Boys" because of how tough they were on the way to winning 2 titles in a row in '89 and '90.

They could call this current group by the same name but only because man they are BAD!!!  Christian Wood is the only ex-Buck I wouldn't mind still being on the Bucks, it was unfortunate they had to part ways with him to get enough healthy guards on the roster last year.  Sad what's happened to all those ex-Bucks as they are good guys, but none are worthy of big minutes on a championship level team at this point.

Bad Boys to Sad Boys... 

MichiganPacker2 posted:

Giannis clearly does not appreciate Christian Wood. 

Things looked pretty heated during the game.  To both guys credit, it looked like they laughed about it together after the game.  

fightphoe93 posted:

30 years ago they called the Pistons "The Bad Boys" because of how tough they were on the way to winning 2 titles in a row in '89 and '90.

They could call this current group by the same name but only because man they are BAD!!!  Christian Wood is the only ex-Buck I wouldn't mind still being on the Bucks, it was unfortunate they had to part ways with him to get enough healthy guards on the roster last year.  Sad what's happened to all those ex-Bucks as they are good guys, but none are worthy of big minutes on a championship level team at this point.

Career earnings:

John Henson, 8 years, 51 million. 

Tony Snell, 8 years, 51 million (including next year)

Thon Maker, 4 years, 11.6 million

Brandon Knight, 9 years, 81 million

Christian Wood hasn't gotten paid yet, but has still made 4 million over 4 years. Playing big minutes for an awful team will likely lead him to getting at least a MLE-type contract from someone. 

You're right. They all seem like decent guys. It's just circumstances that lead to all of them ending up elsewhere. Wood was gone because they picked up Mirotic and they liked DJ Wilson better when they had to choose. 

But there is very little difference between Henson/Snell/Maker/C. Wood and S. Brown/Wilson/Thanasis/Connaughton. It's just that Henson and Snell got paid. 

Tagging onto the previous post (I'm having a particular awful week at work and need a break), here's the 10 guys that played opening night of the 2017-18 season.  Parker started the season in IR so I'm counting him as the 11th guy. This isn't that long ago.  

https://www.basketball-referen...es/201710180BOS.html

Starters: Giannis, Middleton, Brogdon, Snell, Maker

Bench guys who played: Dellavadova, Henson, Monroe, Teletovic, Vaughn

Parker on IR

Over the past two years, they've traded or released 9 of those 11. They turned over the entire roster around Giannis and Middleton in two years without signing a single big-money free agent. The only one of those 9 guys that you'd still want on the roster  over anyone they have is Brogdon. 

What have they given up to do it (besides cap space)? 

Teletovic, Vaughn, and Parker were  not resigned. 

Brogdon was traded for a 1st round pick and two 2nd round picks. 

Dellavadova, Henson, and a 1st round pick were traded for George Hill and Jason Smith and a second round pick. Jason Smith, Thon Maker, and 4 second round picks were then moved for Mirotic.

They traded Monroe, a first round pick, and a second round pick for Bledsoe. 

They traded Snell for Leuer (and then waived Leuer). 

B. Lopez, R. Lopez, Korver, M. Williams, W. Matthews, Ilyasova, and Connaughton were all street free agents signed for not much over the minimum originally (B. Lopez got more money a year in). They drafted DiVincenzo. 

To turn those 9 guys from the opening roster two seasons ago and the salary cap mess associated with that into what for the following net cost is unbelievable. 

Malcolm Brogdon, one first round pick, and 2 second round picks. The remaining first round pick is next year's. If Giannis stays that's not going be better than the late 20s. 

Shedding the Delladova and Snell and Henson contracts alone were practically miracles.  

They were going to lose Brogdon anyway and turned it into picks in their favor.  I also think they intentionally (or unintentionally) drove up the price for Indy to sign him. 

Sure, they swung and missed on Teletovic but at the time it was lauded as a brilliant move. 

Horst has done a magnificent job as GM and perhaps the only guy that’s done better over the same period is Masai Ujiri in Toronto. 

Bucks  magic Number for guaranteed playoffs is down to 2

http://www.playoffstatus.com/n...winmagicnumbers.html

I also heard the Piston announcers say Bucks have 16 straight games scoring over 110.

The key to the title hopes rest on two players- Middleton and Bledsoe. If they get going forward what they got last night, they can run this roster back for the length of Bledsoe’s contract and expect greatness.

Next year, two teams are going to be back in the ring- Golden State and Brooklyn. The Bucks must get their title pedigree this year. It’s theirs to take.