Bucks vs. Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals

@Tschmack posted:

But McCollum doesn’t play defense either. Or rebound.  Or pass the ball.  

I’m no Ben Simmons apologist, but he’s got a lot more value than a 20PPG scorer that can’t or won’t do anything else.  He can be an elite defender and is an exceptional passer.  He can finish and is a decent rebounder.  He just can’t shoot and is awful at free throws.  But I’m of the belief you can improve in those areas (look at Giannis).

I think an emerging theme about Simmons is that he hasn't shown the willingness to put in the work to improve in those areas. He comes across as somewhat indifferent and soft.

However, if I'm the Blazers and I can package McCollum and some draft picks, I'd do it in an instant. Maybe Philly will be so desperate to move him you'll get him for pennies on the dollar. It's pretty clear he can't go back to Philly.

Simmons has a lot of value everywhere, but especially for a team like the Blazers that may have to get through a gauntlet of elite wings/guards like Doncic, LeBron, Kawhi, Booker, Murray, Mitchell, Curry. Simmons is as good a defender as there is in the league.

Brooklyn would be the perfect landing spot for him.   You have high volume shooters already with Harden and Durant and Joe Harris he can just facilitate and be a defensive stopper.

It would have to involve trading Kyrie and while the Nets may not have an issue I’m not sure if the Sixers want him in return.  When healthy and motivated he might be one of the best pure scoring guards out there.  But he’s a complete flake.  I wouldn’t trust he plays even 2/3 of the games.

Harden is a piece of work in his own right but he typically doesn’t try to get out of playing.  

I hate being a petty asshole.... no, wait... I'm lying. Sorry.

I despise Atlanta's sports "fans". They're all the same no matter if it's NFL, NBA, or whatever. When a team is winning, EVERYBODY is/has been a "lifelong" fan, but when they lose, they're nowhere to be found. Or heard from.
It even permeates the local newscasts, and the talking bubble heads who haven't made a comment on a team or player all year, are suddenly all rah-rah.
That came to a screeching halt after Game 2.

That's the main reason I root for whoever plays against them, and if it's a WI team, that's icing on the cookie. So, yeah, I hope the Bucks stomp the shit out of them.

And while I have a good rant built up, I can't stand guys like Trae Young.
Players that are me-first, I'm-so-great arrogant assholes piss me off to no end.

It's a given in today's sports media that talking heads will immediately crown a player that suddenly starts shining, declaring them to be HOF locks, and lick their nuts to a healthy sheen, so that doesn't help me trying to give a guy a break.

The worst of it is when media jumps on something cheesy as hell like Young's 'shimmy' or whatever it is (Dirty Bird, anyone?). That's just rank, amateur BS at a Pro level. It's a shame when showing out is more important than leading by example, and letting your play do your talking.

Trae Young officially ruled out

Trae Young out tonight per ESPN

Trae Young has had a decent series and without him they wouldn’t be here.  He seems like an OK guy, antics non withstanding.  I wish nothing on the guy.  

I also don’t mind the fickle ATL “fans” that usually are a bunch of front runners.  Everyone knows the SE cares only about college football.  Nothing to see there.

Between all of us I’d take Nate McMillan in a second over Bud.  

But it’s not about any of that shit now.  The Bucks are 6 wins from a title.  Figure out how to get to the finish line.  We were there in 2019.  You have to seal the deal.

With Young out the Bucks need to come out and assert their dominance from the first quarter on. No half-assing it and letting Lou Williams go off (which he is capable of doing). Get up by double digits in the first quarter and extend it from there so the starters can sit the 4th.

This is the game where the Bucks need to put the boot on the throat and send a message to the hawks that they will not win this series. No excuses.

@Tschmack posted:

Everyone knows the SE cares only about college football.

You act as if there are other sports.

Need to settle down

And almost on cue, the Bucks let the Hawks get some open looks to start. An open 3 on a break, and then generate four open looks against Lopez in the drop. 10-2 Hawks.

Way to go guys. You let them think they can hang with you.

Get Lopez the hell out of the game. Why do you allow them to attack him over and over and over?

Between the first 3 minutes of tonight and the 24 minutes Lopez played two nights ago, the Bucks are -25 in his last 27 minutes.

Get Crazy Eyes in there

So much for a quick start by the Bucks. Looking lethargic and being out hustled by the Hawks.

They're going after Middleton- they, like Brooklyn, have realized that if you stop Middleton and just overplay him the fuck out early on, the rest of the team starts to press and they struggle. Good timeout... settle in... they've come out hard because they know this is the series right here. Just like game 3- they're throwing haymakers. Just play steady and you'll outlast it...

No movement on offense at all.

Middleton never starts good early. He takes time to get in the flow.

Bucks start 1 for 6 with 2 turnovers.

Holiday Holiday Holiday…  

Down 10.

Attack Williams…

Get down 10 - Hoiday fires up a 3 with 20 seconds left on the shot clock.

Giannis getting the air ball 3 out of the way.

No worries..Bud will fix this

Port is in thank god

@YATittle posted:

Port is in thank god

But in with Lopez. That doesn't make a lot of sense.

This Bucks team has a lazy streak in them. Thank goodness for Tucker.

Pat C too not that he’s lazy

Well, the Bucks can't play much worse on offense if they tried and they are only down 3. Giannis, Middleton, and Holiday are a combined 2 for 11.

The Hawks have found something with Reddish on Middleton. He's bothering him on his shots.

Also, why is Giannis backing off of Gallinari. He's not going to drive by you, so why give him wide open 3s (even at 26 feet)?

What the fark is this? The Hawks have one great player. He’s out injured. And we’re sleepwalking?

Rebounds… come on fellas!

Williams is their only threat

Yiannis is lost it twice on drives

Giannis needs to wakeup. Airball 3. Airball FT was at least 3 feet short. He's just been awful on offense.

πνιγομαι

Someone help me. How the hell does anyone  watch this Hawks team out hustling and out battling a far more talented Bucks team and call them soft?

@lambeausouth posted:

What the fark is this? The Hawks have one great player. He’s out injured. And we’re sleepwalking?

It's the same thing everybody's been complaining about from the Bucks all playoffs.  That's what the fark it is.

This might be their most embarrassing quarter and a half of the playoffs. They are down 9 points to a team that is playing about 3 guys that are G league level players. Giannis looks like a deer in the headlights. Middleton has been locked up. Holiday not much better.

They looked like this for a few minutes after Young got hurt in Game 3 and then Middleton got hot. The fact they are shutting down Giannis right now is puzzling. He looks like he has no idea what to do on offense.

Get Giannis in the post. Okongwu thinks he can hang… the longer you try to drive at him the better it is for him. He can defend that. Get him in the weight room and show him he’s not there.

It’s a goddamn embarrassment is what it is

Bud can’t motivate or coach out of a fucking brown bag.  You are being worked over by a team with half the talent.  Wake the fuck up.