Orlando at Bucks, December 28th

Wow. No one watched the game tonight?

The Bucks go 2-0 on a back to back set with the second game playing a decent Magic team. And this is without 2 of their 3 best players (not just Giannis but also Bledsoe). 

If they end up playing a game 7 at home against the Sixers, Celtics, or Heat in the playoffs - remember these last 2 games. 

Games like this one are why I’d hate to lose Ilyasova.  I thought he was the main reason they won tonight.  It’s a grind without Giannis and Bledsoe.  They did not play well overall without them but still won.

I was at the game so didn’t post 

To beat the Bucks you either need to hit a ton of outside shots (see Philly and Dallas) or outplay them for 48 minutes (see Miami and Boston). 

It really speaks volumes when they are missing multiple starters yet still find ways to win.  It wasn’t pretty at times, but they came through and closed them out in the 4Q. 

fightphoe93 posted:

Games like this one are why I’d hate to lose Ilyasova.  I thought he was the main reason they won tonight.  It’s a grind without Giannis and Bledsoe.  They did not play well overall without them but still won.

I think Ilyasova would be a significant asset for any team.  They let him go once and I hope they don't again.

I was watching college football but toward the end I kept following the Bucks & also see the Sixers lose in OT. 

Bucks are just so impressive to me. Night after night they are the best team I've seen in the NBA so far. Their record proves it. 

Sorry- was traveling. No Giannis no problem- Ilyasova really accentuating his value. But understand this- he’s not the same player against good players. In playoff level basketball, he’s a liability. Great regular season player but come June he’s on the bench... 

It wasn’t just Ersan but George Hill had another big night.   Middleton was Middleton - nothing spectacular but did everything pretty well.  Once again Robin Lopez make some key baskets. 

DD and Brook Lopez were up and down but the great thing is next man up. 

Music City posted:

Sorry- was traveling. No Giannis no problem- Ilyasova really accentuating his value. But understand this- he’s not the same player against good players. In playoff level basketball, he’s a liability. Great regular season player but come June he’s on the bench... 

It depends on matchups. I think he probably plays against the Sixers, but has to sit against the Heat and Celtics (and maybe the Raptors). 

The East playoffs are going to be interesting because of the dramatic differences in how teams match up against each other. 

The Celtics really don't have much of an inside presence and might get worn down by the size of the Sixers or Bucks in a 7 game series, but they are loaded with All-star wing players (Tatum, Brown, and Hayward) and have a heat check guy in Kemba Walker. The Heat are loaded with shooting wings as well, but let's see how Adebayo holds up in a playoff series. There isn't much inside beyond him. 

If the Sixers shoot their normal percentage from 3, their playoff games are going to look like Knicks-Heat in the 1990s. Defensive slugfests. 

The Raptors are a wild card because of the two small guards that can go off (Lowrie and FVV) and Siakam/Gasol/Ibaka still there to make things tough in the lane.

The Bucks have the personnel to match up against any of these styles. They have much more flexibility. They can go ultra-big (Giannis, R. Lopez, B. Lopez, Ilyasova, Middleton) or put Giannis at the 5 and go small ball (Giannis, Middleton, Bledsoe, Hill, DD). Wes Matthews fits in either lineup. Korver gets some minutes either way as well.