Why does Eric Bledsoe always seem to suck so bad shooting against good teams? He’s 4 for 13 tonight.
Another dirty play by Lowry. Surprised that's not a flagrant one.
The Bucks survived an early flurry in the 4th, but they’re defense has gone into boa constrictor mode. Slowly squeezing the life out of them...
Serious question. His box score numbers aren't great tonight, but is there that much difference between DDV and Brogdon in terms of effects on the game?
Jesus Christ. Give up a 7-0 run to let the Raptors make it a game again. The offensive possession was just as bad.
Need to execute a couple times in the half court. Another 4 points should do it.
Not a good sequence on either end. The Bucks need 2 baskets to win this game.
Solid win against a very fine team. Plus, it guarantees a split at minimum for the season series.
One of the best wins of the season... ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED???
Answering the bell every time. NEXT!!!
Giannis was swarmed all game. 19-19-8 with 3 blocks.
Middleton goes 20-8-3 after gutting out an OT win for the Bucks last night.
Bucks go 14 for 42 from 3 - not a great percentage.
Raptors hit 18 for 52 from 3.
Double digit win on their third game in 4 nights. Raptors were rested and still couldn't handle the Buck D.
Best win of the year.
Boris posted:If the Bucks win this game -- they will have done something very special.
MichiganPacker2 posted:Double digit win on their third game in 4 nights. Raptors were rested and still couldn't handle the Buck D.
Best win of the year.
Ding ding
They are an incredible basketball team.
Middleton was the only Bucks player to shoot over 43% from the floor tonight.
Donte is a HUGE difference maker. He pushed back the Toronto rally with energy and hustle. That’s a HUGE difference this year...
What a win. I was very impressed with DDV, Matthews and Williams. Our defense is better this year, specifically because of DDV, Matthews and Rolo.
Matthews, Hill and DDV worked over VanVleet and Lowry. Siakam doesn't match up well against as at all.
Brogdon played strong D but DDV and Matthews are stronger and more athletic. Again, can't say how impressed I am with this statement win tonight
Lastly, Marvin Williams athleticism and defense is going to give him Ersan's minutes. He can slash to the hoop and defend better. What a pick up!
Music City posted:Donte is a HUGE difference maker. He pushed back the Toronto rally with energy and hustle. That’s a HUGE difference this year...
That's why I nick-named him "44 DD's"
He's big & beautiful like a great set of Tata's.
I really like where his game is headed this year.
Marvin is going to make a difference too
50 wins....in February !!??? Used to dream of the Bucks winning 50 games. And they have 24 regular season games to go. Damn fine.
Enjoy the ride !!
I think people forget this was a very good defensive team last year but fell victim to unconscious Toronto shooting and Kahwi’s postseason magic.
The Bucks are significantly better this year and a lot it has to do with their depth. They can go 8-9 deep easy without much dropoff at at all.
The addition of Marvin Williams gives them another really good wing defender and at guard they just come at you in waves- Bledsoe, Hill, Matthews and DDV. As a player on the opposition you don’t get a break.
Plus you still have to deal with Giannis and Middleton. Not an easy proposition.
It’s just so hard to beat these guys and you have to play 4 quarters and if you let your guard down they will rip your heart out.
One of the most impressive things about this team is their 8-0 record on the back to back games. That’s an incredible feat.
What's amazing to me is their consistency. Last year when Golden State was healthy they still had games when they lost by 10+ points at home. The Bucks bring it every night and that effort starts with their best player.
I think that’s fairly common with a team chasing a first Championship. When GS arrived on the scene and won their first, they were all locked in and brought their game every night. That’s clearly where the Bucks are right now. In the last week, they kicked Philly’s ass at home, beat the Wizards on an off night without their star down the stretch, and then took down the top EC contender on their floor on the second night of a BTB.
They are starting a stretch run where they’re playing all of their rivals for the ring in the next 6 weeks- they have the Heat twice, Lakers, Celtics twice, Raptors again, at Denver and Dallas, another game against the Sixers... and if they can continue to play like they are, they will be battle tested and ready to make a run for the LOB.
Coach posted:Tschmack posted:And yes I wish someone would punch Drake in the face he is such a punkass
He left before the game was over. Puss boy couldn't handle Giannis stealing his belts.
😢
The one thing Bud will have to consider how to handle is Brook Lopez posting up. Brook is a great post player and it's not an issue that that isn't a high percentage offensive strategy (especially when teams go small). The issue is that when you post him and up and he does miss (or even makes) the other team can push tempo and get into the lane before he (or Robin) can set up. When he's out at the 3 point line he's got a 10 yard head start to get back on defense.
So, when Brook does miss not only do the Bucks have an empty offensive possession, but it also leads to a much more defensive possession following it.
Robin Lopez is playing great basketball right now. In his last 10 games he’s shouting 43% from 3 and has made a lot of heady plays on defense including block against Washington to save the game.
Brook Lopez hasn’t been knocking down as many 3s but his defense (protecting the rim) has been stellar. He had 5 blocks against the Raptors and can still come up with the big shot.
Similar to Giannis and Middleton last year Robin Lopez logged a lot of minutes in the postseason and now with Rolo they can divvy up the time so much better at the center position without much drop off.
MichiganPacker2 posted:I saw someone post this type of comment on Twitter after last night's game and had to laugh.
Bucks on the second night of back to back road games
Bucks went to OT last night
Raptors had the night off last night and haven't had to travel since before the All-Star break.
Brook Lopez and Kyle Korver are likely questionable.
Here are the two scenarios and national media
1. Bucks Lose - National Media cues up their "Giannis is going to leave stories" that drop within 30 seconds of the buzzer.
2. Bucks Win - National Media comments that "this was just a game during the dog days of the season when teams are just grinding. Not a big deal."
Seriously, though, a win tonight would be a great statement about having almost all the odds stacked against you and still being able to beat a great team.
So speaking of the national media I was curious and I looked at ESPN's homepage and their NBA page and you nailed it. Not a mention of the Bucks outside of Drake trolling the Bucks wearing a championship belt on the sidelines and a Raptors player dunking over a Bucks player.
And of course the 12 stories with LeBron vs. Zion.
Was there any mention of Paul's George's 5 step traveling non call?
Yahoo sports recap had all sorts of Raptor highlights, showed Giannis here and there especially the 3 to ice it.
I get the hype around Zion but the Raptors v the Bucks may have been one of the 3-4 best matchups of teams so far this season and it barely got a mention on Sportscenter. It’s all Lakers all the time and it makes me want to puke.
Tschmack posted:I get the hype around Zion but the Raptors v the Bucks may have been one of the 3-4 best matchups of teams so far this season and it barely got a mention on Sportscenter. It’s all Lakers all the time and it makes me want to puke.
It's not so much that it's the Lakers - it just that it's all LeBron all the time. They show his high school son's games on ESPN's networks. He's 15 years old. Even Kobe Bryant did not get the 24/7 press coverage LeBron gets, so it's really "LeBron's Lakers"
ESPN has determined that the personalities, not the teams, sell. Brett Favre was a golden boy of theirs for an 8-10 year period. Zion will be next - and the media will want him in New York at some point.
In fairness to Zion he seems like a good kid that plays hard and isn’t an egotistical jerk like some other superstars.
I admire Lebron and what he’s accomplished but he’s just so “look at me” it drives me nuts. Him going to Miami and the Lakers was such a King James type move.
That’s what I love about Giannis. No drama. No grandstanding. He just works his ass off and is all about basketball. I would love it if they beat the Lakers for the title. Make their front running fanboys and the sack washers at ESPN take notice.
Tschmack posted:In fairness to Zion he seems like a good kid that plays hard and isn’t an egotistical jerk like some other superstars.
I admire Lebron and what he’s accomplished but he’s just so “look at me” it drives me nuts. Him going to Miami and the Lakers was such a King James type move.
That’s what I love about Giannis. No drama. No grandstanding. He just works his ass off and is all about basketball. I would love it if they beat the Lakers for the title. Make their front running fanboys and the sack washers at ESPN take notice.
You would think someone at ESPN (or more so the NBA) would take the long view and market the international personalities more. The growth is going to be worldwide - Giannis, Siakam, Embiid, Doncic, etc. are what's going to drive more revenue.
In the last 82 regular season games that Giannis has played, the Bucks are 70-12.
Aren't they undefeated without him this year?
Trade his ass.