Bucks playing one of the worst teams in the NBA. Holiday back, so, of course, they get blitzed 14-6 to start the game and now trail after an 11-0 Hornet run.
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Now down 22-8. Hornets scored 20 points in the first 4 minutes
Absolutely embarrassing start for the Bucks.
They are down 38-17 with 4 minutes left in the 1st quarter. Hornets have barely missed and when they have, Plumless has 4 offensive rebounds.
Given they were outscored something like 27-8, the last 4 minutes of the Raptors game in regulation, they are working on a non-OT streak of being outscored 66-24 in about 12 minutes of game time.
Bucks give up 51 points in the first quarter.
FIFTY ONE against the worst team in the league.
The Bucks are shooting 7 for 12 from three and trail by 23 points.
Charlotte 65% from the field? Thought that was a typo
@Tschmack posted:Charlotte 65% from the field? Thought that was a typo
Nope. THey are hitting some ridiculous shots. Step back one-footed 30 foot threes by L. Ball.
The only saving grace is that the Hornets are one of the worst defensvie teams in the league, so even a 26 point deficit is managable.
Bucks have been playing like shit lately. They better get their heads out of their asses.
Would sure be nice if Middleton ever decided to get off his rear end.
This team is throwing away too many winnable games against really bad teams. And at some point, you can’t keep placing the blame on injuries.
Giannis was in the lineup tonight.
Jrue was in the lineup tonight.
We lost by 29 points, giving up an NBA record-tying 51 first quarter points to a 10-29 team that had absolutely no business being in the game, let alone blowing us out.
Now I’m sure Giannis will be out for another game with knee soreness.
Where is this team’s toughness?
It’s been a theme though with this team this season.
They’ve lost to Houston and a couple of bad losses to a mediocre Chicago Bulls team and now you get blown out at home by Charlotte?
I also think it’s fair to ask WTF is going on with Middleton. Yes, he’s logged a lot of minutes the previous 5 seasons but are they just being overprotective of the guy or is he just breaking down physically? He’s missed 11 straight games now with “knee soreness.” In the half dozen or so games he has played he’s looked like shit.
Honestly, if they knew Charlotte was going to shoot 64% for the game I would have sat Giannis.
I watched the first quarter and a half. A few comments.
1. While the Bucks just generally played terrible defense, some of the credit for the Hornets win should go to Tony Brothers' officiating crew from the Raptors game. This was the 3rd game in 4 nights after an (unnecessary) OT game on the road on Wednesday where Giannis, Lopez, etc. had to play major minutes.
2. On several possessions in the first quarter, the Hornets would stick two 7 footers at the top of the key and run at Giannis as soon as he crossed the halfcourt line to force him to give the ball up. That forced them to initiate with Allen and he is terrible in that role. As soon as he does anything other than catch and shoot, his offensive value plummets. If you play that defense with a healthy Middleton in place of Allen, Khris would go for 40.
3. Bud needs to start Jevon Carter instead of Allen. The problem is that Carter is very limited on offense. He's like having a poor-man's Bledsoe. But he can't afford to keep starting Allen and allow opposing guards to get into a rhythm. Rozier just roasted him - just like other teams have done before that. With Carter starting, they'll struggle to score, but I'd rather trail something like 28-18 after one than 51-28 after one.
4. Holiday was clearly not 100%.
5. Joe Ingles is a nice offensive player. But he was a limited athlete before his knee injury and he's worse now. He can't guard anybody and is unplayable on the defensive end. It was worth the 1 year gamble, but he's not going to be in the playoff rotation. Opposing players just start salivating when he checks in.
6. The possilibility of a successful season is going to come down to what Middleton looks like. If he comes back healthy, they'll have a shot to beat anyone. They can then also try to package combinations of Allen, Ingles, Nwora, Hill, Ibaka, and Matthews for anyone resembling a 3 AND D guy. Right now, they have a bunch of guys that either play D (Carter, Hill, Matthews) or hit 3s (Allen, Ingles, Nwora) or are just washed (Ibaka). Carter is so cheap it's not even worth it to move him. The other guys are just guys that you can package for up to 24 million in salary cap.
7. If Middleton is not going to be healthy, they are cooked. They aren't going to get anything resembling back in a trade even if they could move his salary. I guess you try to move some of the expiring contracts for other assets to build for next year.