This is just proof positive how difficult it is to win a championship. It's about so much more than simply ultra talented dudes on a team.
All aspects of life have to come together perfectly.
Let's see what happens this season. Hopefully we can look back on this thread and have a good laugh 🤭
Wonder if Doc will start Cracking the whip on this team or just let them exit the first round meekly?
We don’t bring the necessary seriousness, professionalism on the road-
— Lori Nickel (@LoriNickel) April 3, 2024
Coach Doc Rivers
Bucks post-game press conference
After L at 14th place Washington
Video: Bally Sports
Question: @eric_nehm pic.twitter.com/ZNmc2jnW9b
Well, when one of your star players puts himself above the team this is the kind of stuff you can expect.
For a good portion of this season Damian Lillard has not always looked interested and engaged to play for the Bucks. It’s not coincidence his numbers aren’t as good as they’ve been.
They can or will file this under “not having enough time to work together” excuse (including Doc) but I sense it’s something more than that. I think it’s a chemistry issue and MP2 has it right in that Dame really didn’t want to be in Milwaukee.
He’s smart enough not to pull a James Harden and act insubordinate but clearly something is off and I think the divorce and family situation is only part of the problem.
They just don’t seem to have a lot of positive mojo right now and I think you’ve heard some of that previously from Doc. They had better right the ship and do it fast otherwise it’s going to be another early playoff exit and if that happens I expect some significant changes before next season. Who knows maybe that’s what Dame wants anyway.
@Tschmack posted:Well, when one of your star players puts himself above the team this is the kind of stuff you can expect.
For a good portion of this season Damian Lillard has not always looked interested and engaged to play for the Bucks. It’s not coincidence his numbers aren’t as good as they’ve been.
They can or will file this under “not having enough time to work together” excuse (including Doc) but I sense it’s something more than that. I think it’s a chemistry issue and MP2 has it right in that Dame really didn’t want to be in Milwaukee.
He’s smart enough not to pull a James Harden and act insubordinate but clearly something is off and I think the divorce and family situation is only part of the problem.
They just don’t seem to have a lot of positive mojo right now and I think you’ve heard some of that previously from Doc. They had better right the ship and do it fast otherwise it’s going to be another early playoff exit and if that happens I expect some significant changes before next season. Who knows maybe that’s what Dame wants anyway.
Dame has more on the line in terms of his legacy as an NBA player than anyone else on this team. And he seems to play with the least amount of urgency of any of their players. Maybe he'll flip the switch for the playoffs, but he's a guy that seems to be going through the motions right now. He's so good on offense, he still can play at an all-star level, but the vibe isn't good.
He needs to up his game to match Giannis' focus. That's not happening right now.
Giannis has fallen out of the MVP conversation in the last 2 weeks. These are his performances in that period.
30-19-4 on 13 of 18 from the floor
29-21-11 on 14 for 25 FGA
35-14-4 on 15 for 22
36-16-8 on 12 for 22
35-15-10 on 15 for 21
He's locked in on offense. He's quit jacking up lazy 3 pointers. He's averaged 33-17-7 on 64% shooting while constantly being doubled. His flaw is the he's shot around 60% from the line in that time, so he's not perfect, but those numbers are still insane.
Middleton has worked his way back from an injury and has played really well the last two games.
Portis and Beverly give them an edge they needed. Connaughton is back to being a decent 7th guy. Crowder is the PJ Tucker of this team. He has his limits but he knows his role.
Granted, Beasley has sucked recently, but he's had to take shots that Dame should be taking the last few games and Beasley's ass should be planted to the bench in crunch time (Giannis, Dame, Middleton, Crowder, and Connaughton/Portis). Lopez isn't going to be on the floor in 4th quarters anyways in crunch time in the playoffs.
All of this is saying that Dame has no excuses. He's playing with a top 20 player all-time at the top of his game. Middleton may not be the 2021 version, but if he's healthy he's a borderline all-star, and his legs and lateral movement have looked good as they have in the last couple of years recently). The Bucks have all the savvy role players a playoff team needs (Portis, Connaughton, Crowder, Beverly).
Dame has complained about not getting these chances for years in Portland and instead of focusing on building momentum for the playoffs, he's going to birthday parties and Easter egg hunts while missing games and practices. This is finally his chance and he looks disinterested. It would be one thing if the Blazers traded him against his wishes, but he forced his way out. This is supposedly what he wanted (to play for a team that has a chance to win it all) and he either looks like he misses his family in Portland (which I get and symphatize with) or that he really wanted to be in South Beach to party, do podcasts, be a celebrity, and make rap records (which is also possible).
Independent of the last week, the other thing that really concerned me was Dame complaining about being subbed out for defensive purposes at the end of a recent game saying he felt disrespected and should never come out of game. If the Bucks were up 2 point with 5 seconds left and took Giannis out to prevent him being fouled for FT attempts, I'm sure Giannis would be disappointed but wouldn't throw a fit. Doc subbing him out for defense clearly was the best move to help the Bucks win.
