Bucks versus Nets - Eastern Conference Semifinals

Brooklyn will go into Sunday thinking they have everything still going for them. And why not? They played horribly and lost in the final 30 seconds. And the Bucks equally played horribly and still won.

So who has it going for them on Sunday? The Bucks have not played anything that resembles a competent offense since the start of the series. Does anyone really think that’s going to change?

After playing Holiday 45 min, Middleton 43 min, and Giannis 42 min, the extra day of rest should help. Irving and Durant are also playing over 40 min/game.

Is this the double overtime game that the Bucks pissed away against Toronto in game three that catapulted Toronto to 4 straight wins?

Perhaps they need to start Portis at the 5 and have Lopez come off the bench.  You have to honor Portis and his ability to score.  Lopez has been solid on D but he’s out of sorts offensively right now.

I also understand why Tucker is in there but he’s not really a scoring threat and is so much more valuable coming off the bench.  

Giannis should be defending Durant to start the game and then have Tucker come off the bench and D him up.

Why not have Teague start at the 2 guard spot?  He’s a reliable, steady player but most importantly he’s smart with the basketball and makes good passes and decisions.  

Middleton has shot 6 for 19 from 3 in the series. 31.6% from him is not a recipe to win games. The bigger problem is that almost everyone has been even worse from 3. Middleton's shots are almost always tightly contested. The Nets try not to let them beat them. Almost every other player (save Forbes) gets wide open looks.

Look at these stats.

Giannis 3-16

Forbes 3-13

Lopez 3-9

Tucker 1-8

Holiday 4-13

Connaughton 0-3

Portis 0-6

I think the "break glass in case of emergency" guy they may have to play more is Thanasis. If the rest of their bench is going to go 3 for 22 from 3 (and at least one of Forbes' makes was in deep garbage time in Game 2), at least play the guy that will get you the extra possessions with hustle and is at least an average defender. The Nets go after Forbes, Connaughton, and Portis like sharks sensing blood every time they are in the game.

The Bucks played a great defensive game last night, but it required playing Giannis, MIddleton, and Holiday almost 45 minutes each. Lopez has to stay on the court because they've determined they can't trust Portis. Tucker is a great defender, but his offensive repertoire makes Thanasis look good in comparison.

Losing DDV had a bigger effect than I thought it would. He's underachieved, but he's a competent two-way NBA rotation player. Forbes and Portis were cheap free agents because neither can play defense. Tucker was available in a trade for relative peanuts because he has no offensive skills other than shooting awkward three pointers. Connaughton shouldn't be getting minutes after you shorten your rotation for the playoffs. He's fine at 4 million a year to be your 10th guy, but he really doesn't do anything well enough to make a difference against good teams.

You know who would be really nice to have right now? An athletic wing with long arms to bother guys like Irving and Durant that could provide some energy plays and be at least adequate from 3. He doesn't have to be a star, just another guy like Tucker that can steal some minutes for you. That guy was Torrey Craig.

Clearly the Nets do not want to let Middleton beat them.   He’s really getting pressured when he has the ball.  

I don’t know the same can be said for the rest of the team.  

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Even the Bucks security staff sucks in the playoffs.

I'm reupping this with the new information that the first security guard that ran on the court to break up the Durant/Tucker jawing match by bumping Tucker was Kevin Durant's personal security guard. My apologies to the  Fiserv security staff.

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2...vs-nets-nba-playoffs

So personal security guards are allowed on the court? Durant should be issued a flagrant 1 for that. Better yet, the Bucks should hire Brock Lesner as Giannis "personal security guard", and he can rough up any Net that gets in Giannis' face.

Much ado about nothing...2 players jawing.

Wait… what? That big dude who ran into Tucker works for Kevin Durant??? That’s completely fucked… how can that guy be allowed to do that? He has no fucking business being allowed on the court during a game, are you kidding? That’s at minimum a fine, and I’ll be honest- a suspension should be considered. That dude came barreling in and ran right into the opponents player- could have hurt him, a lot of things could have gone sideways in that moment- and that was between two players on the court. He has no fucking business at all being on the floor during a game. No way…

Bucks start 1 for 6 from the floor in Game 4. Down 9-2. The Bud doomsday clock is starting to tick louder. Hard to fault Bud though during this opening sequence. Holiday missed 3 wide-open shots and goes 1 for 4 and Giannis missed what should be an easy layup for him.

Bench getting some shots to go…

Officials are making sure that the Nets advance. Two charge on Giannis. The second one was probably the right call, but the first that Griffin "drew" was a BS call. That completely changes the game.

Even though Kryie broke Thanasis' ankles on that move, Thanasis jumped back up and contested the 3. No one will probably mention that, but that was an amazing play by Thanasis to get back up and contest that. The guy never gives up on anything.

It's also interesting that Bryant got the end-of-quarter defensive minutes.

Giannis 2 fouls… not a good development

@Music City posted:

Giannis 2 fouls… not a good development

Griffin got a 50/50 call.

The Nets have only been called for 2 fouls. Despite aggressively taking the ball to the hoop, the Bucks have no FT attempts.

THe fouls are 7 to 2 and the big thing is having to sit Giannis with 2.

Down 11 and in danger of losing contact.

Of course, if Jrue Holiday doesn't completely shit the bed to start (to continue his embarrassing series), the Bucks are still Ok. He's 1 for 6 to start and I think 4 of his shots haven't even hit the rim (2 blocks and 2 airballs). He's 18 for 49 from the floor and 4 for 14 from the 3 in the series.

For the life of me I’ll never understand how a superstar like Giannis gets so few calls.  He gets hacked or shoved every time he makes it to the rack.  Complete bullshit.

If they aren’t careful this one could get away from them quickly

The officiating has all of sudden gone the Bucks way.

@Tschmack posted:

For the life of me I’ll never understand how a superstar like Giannis gets so few calls.  He gets hacked or shoved every time he makes it to the rack.  Complete bullshit.

He's not in one of the media markets the league likes?

@Tschmack posted:

If they aren’t careful this one could get away from them quickly

Giannis coming back in completely changes the entire game. Those 2 first-quarter charges were the biggest contributor to falling behind by 11 (along with Jrue Holiday making Bledsoe look good on offense).

@Tschmack posted:

For the life of me I’ll never understand how a superstar like Giannis gets so few calls.  He gets hacked or shoved every time he makes it to the rack.  Complete bullshit.

The lack of calls on the drives happen to a lot of dominant inside players (Shaq was probably fouled 20 times a game). It's the calls like the Griffin charge today that are infuriating.

A couple of days ago, son and I were talking about how good Giannis would be in the post and how little the Bucks play him there. That surge was caused by the disruption Giannis caused in the paint

This game might come down to whether Giannis can make it through this half without another foul.

Should have been a foul on Giannis? It's not a jump shooter.

The announcing crew asking for a Giannis foul on that. Screw that. Every Giannis drive ends with a play like that.

Jrue Holiday picks up his 3rd. Almost looked like a directive from the home office to call that off the ball.

PJ Tucker is Thanasis with a corner jumper and even better defense.

Giannis gets called for ANOTHER charge? What complete bullshit.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Giannis gets called for ANOTHER charge? What complete bullshit.

Successful challenge. Now we get to see some more FTs.

Now get Giannis out at the end of the half here.

Durant's whining pays off.

With both Harden and Irving out, the Nets have to get rough to stay in this. Blake Griffin with a little extra shot to the ribs on that Tucker screen.

Griffin is a bitch.  Nice cheap shot you punkass.

Why Giannis? A 3 pointer up 8 on the break with 20 seconds left on the shot clock?

Holliday should be the only player to be allowed to bring the ball over the half court line. Too much rebound, drive the length of the court, shoot going on.

Bryant getting real minutes. A surprising development.

Giannis takes another 3. Enough. Unless it's at the end of the shot clock, there should never be another Giannis 3 this series.

That's on Giannis? How? Giannis can't get a call against Claxton? WTF?

Good to see Connaughton back.

So, the officials have now decided they will not allow Durant to be guarded by anybody. Giannis would have 20 calls a game if they called that consistently.

A really bad end of the quarter there, but Middleton bails them out with a circus 3 to get up by 12 after Durant decided to take over.

That Middleton 3 at the end of the 3rd is fucking gigantic

@MNPackman posted:

Good to see Connaughton back.

via GIPHY

Down to 10.

Every Giannis FT is a clear violation. Why continue with a routine that isn't even working that will bring a violation into play every  time?

Giannis FTs may be the thing that keeps the Nets in this.

Bucks getting sloppy here. Nets within 13 just when Nash was going to give up. Holiday and Middleton both with misses off of isolations.

Why???????

Middleton has been great today.  Tucker as well.  

Depending in health of Harden and Irving the Bucks should find themselves really wanting to get game 5.