Game 5 - Last game of the year thread

Connaughton, Portis, Green, Gallinari, and Jackson in a must win playoff game playing key minutes as a lineup.

Just what we would have predicted at the beginning of the season.

Bucks down 8 at the end of the first. Gallinari pulls up for a wide open 28 footer at the gun -

Air Ball.

Eject the SOB

Bucks now up 7. It's the Pat Bev 2nd quarter. He has 9 points in the quarter and that doesn't even capture his impact. Would love to see a healthy Bucks team with him as the first guard off the bench.

@ilcuqui posted:

Eject the SOB

I guess it was just "one act" while Portis' last game was considered two.

Bucks up 5 at the half. Mainly doing it on grit or smoke and mirrors.

Bucks go 7-0 to start the second half. Up 12.

It would be better if Beasley didn't suck.

How can you not love Pat Bev

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

It would be better if Beasley didn't suck.

Obviously Beasley must read this thread, because he just hit two 3s in a row. Bucks up 19 in the third.

Bucks up 20 going the 4th.

Connaughton has pretty much lost his stroke but he hasn’t lost his hustle. His best game in a long time

Up 25 with 10:30 left. What could go wrong?

Lead back down to 18 as Gallinari gives up a turnover after missing a wide open 3 the previous possession. Pacers pressing full court and the Bucks having trouble handling the ball.

Bobby channeling Elvin Hayes with those sweet turnarounds

Bucks win big. Pacers played with their food tonight.

If Giannis would come back for Game 6, it could really bite them, but I don't think that's likely.

At least they won't have to watch Haliburton celebrate the clinching win in Wisconsin with his Oshkosh bros.

@ilcuqui posted:

Connaughton has pretty much lost his stroke but he hasn’t lost his hustle. His best game in a long time

You are in really good shape if Connaughton is your 8th or 9th guy. If he's in your top 6 rotation guys at this point in his career you are in trouble over time.

Middleton's last 3 games with him being the only option to initiate the offense:

42-10-5 in 41 minutes

25-10-5 in 40 minutes

29-12-5 in 40 minutes

It really sucks we didn't get to see Giannis, Dame, and Khris all healthy for a playoff run. Middleton is as good a third guy as there is in the league.

Portis with 29-10. Pat Bev with 13 points and 12 assists.

Those 3 guys played 116 minutes.

A win?!?! WTAF?!?😃👍🏼

Per https://t.co/WDPQQtVlyY, Khris Middleton had the best midrange FG% (58.5%) of ANY PLAYER—min 150 FGA—in the database (since ‘96-‘97)

All-time midrange season getting even better in the playoffs. Magical stuff…

— NBA University (@NBA_University) May 1, 2024

Bucks figuring out a way to extend the series and get a good win against Indiana.  Is it possible they can rally and get one more to take it to a game 7?  

The fat lady was warming up, but has yet begun to sing.

Wild, but true:

With Giannis and Damian Lillard out, the Bucks become the first team EVER to win a playoff game without their top-2 scorers from the regular season. H/t @StatsWilliams

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) May 1, 2024

The Bucks have a +5 point differential in the series without one of the two best players in the world.

— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) May 1, 2024

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Bucks win big. Pacers played with their food tonight.

If Giannis would come back for Game 6, it could really bite them, but I don't think that's likely.

At least they won't have to watch Haliburton celebrate the clinching win in Wisconsin with his Oshkosh bros.

The announcer said both Giannis and Dame could be ready to play this Thursday. I think he was getting the fans hopes up, but maybe???

I know it's bleak looking ahead, but I'd just like to eliminate the Pacers.

They're definitely not winning a championship unless all of a sudden Dame & Giannis become 100% healthy in the Next day.

@ilcuqui posted:

How can you not love Pat Bev

Easy, put him on the Pacers or any other team playing the Bucks.

I was so tired at halftime but I stayed up thinking it might be the last game of the year. Now if they get Dame and Giannis back tomorrow night...

@PackerHawk posted:

Now if they get Dame and Giannis back tomorrow night...

And if they do they will be rested…just saying

The East is much more wide open now with the Butler injury for Miami, Bogey and Julius Randle injuries for New York, and Porzingis injury for Boston.

IF, and that’s a big IF, they win this series and Dame and Giannis come back why not Milwaukee?  Middleton is playing close to 2021 form.  Bobby is really solid.  Pat Bev is playing like a maniac.  

Be a great story

And don't forget UNI legend AJ Green! Or Dairy Bird, if you will...

The Porzingis injury sounds close to the injury that Giannis had.  If that’s true, the Celtics could be vulnerable.  Yes they are deep but he’s been a difference maker in creating space for guys like Tatum and Brown.   If you don’t have to account for him that means more shots for guys like Jrue Holiday which isn’t good for Boston.