Edit: Schedule to the Playoffs

Music City posted:

The Bucks will finish a 6 game home stand on MON with 3 games in 4 nights at Fiserv- Hawks, Raptors, and Jazz. Not an easy stretch, with the Toronto game on a BTB. Jazz are starting to come around as well. 

Then they’re a road team for 5 of the next 6. Rockets-Wizards-Hawks, home versus Miami, then Grizzlies-Magic. 

Then they get Hornets-Mavs before going back on the road for 5 games against Thunder-Pistons-Raptors-Wizards-Nets. After coming back home against the Wizards, 3 of the final 4 are back on the road- Mavs, then home against the Magic, then at Bulls-Pacers to finish to the All Star Break. 

That’s 13 of 18 on the road between this coming MON and FEB 13th. These are not all tough games, but they do have Toronto and Dallas twice, plus Thunder and Rockets on the road. Dallas is no slouch these days as Doncic is emerging as a force. 

Need to keep playing D. 

Well, the results are in! Since the post on January 3rd: 

- 16-4 record

- 11-2 on the road with both losses on back to backs. 

Giannis solidifying his claim on the MVP. 

Music City posted:

Music City posted:

The Bucks will finish a 6 game home stand on MON with 3 games in 4 nights at Fiserv- Hawks, Raptors, and Jazz. Not an easy stretch, with the Toronto game on a BTB. Jazz are starting to come around as well. 

Then they’re a road team for 5 of the next 6. Rockets-Wizards-Hawks, home versus Miami, then Grizzlies-Magic. 

Then they get Hornets-Mavs before going back on the road for 5 games against Thunder-Pistons-Raptors-Wizards-Nets. After coming back home against the Wizards, 3 of the final 4 are back on the road- Mavs, then home against the Magic, then at Bulls-Pacers to finish to the All Star Break. 

That’s 13 of 18 on the road between this coming MON and FEB 13th. These are not all tough games, but they do have Toronto and Dallas twice, plus Thunder and Rockets on the road. Dallas is no slouch these days as Doncic is emerging as a force. 

Need to keep playing D. 

Well, the results are in! Since the post on January 3rd: 

- 16-4 record

- 11-2 on the road with both losses on back to backs. 

Giannis solidifying his claim on the MVP. 

16-2 in games that Giannis plays. One of the losses was when Paul George went off and it was still a one possession game with under a minute at OKC (Giannis 27-18-4 in a poor game for him). The other loss was to Toronto (Giannis went for 43-18-4). 

Truth be told, a few things are of concern and worth watching: 

- Brogdon’s dip in production 

- DJW’s fade 

- the amount of made threes they’re giving up to good teams and even some bad. 

The break should of course help the guys fading some, but it’ll only be a couple weeks and they’ll be fatigued again. 13 home and 12 road games, including a west coast trip. They’ll have 2 games each against the Lakers and Sixers, and key games against the Celtics, Jazz, Kings, Rockets, Clippers, Spurs, and Thunder. 3 games at home to finish should help going into the playoffs. 

Can this team to get 60 wins for the first time since the 80-81 season? At this point that season, the Bucks were 42-15... 

Music City posted:

Truth be told, a few things are of concern and worth watching: 

- Brogdon’s dip in production 

- DJW’s fade 

- the amount of made threes they’re giving up to good teams and even some bad. 

The break should of course help the guys fading some, but it’ll only be a couple weeks and they’ll be fatigued again. 13 home and 12 road games, including a west coast trip. They’ll have 2 games each against the Lakers and Sixers, and key games against the Celtics, Jazz, Kings, Rockets, Clippers, Spurs, and Thunder. 3 games at home to finish should help going into the playoffs. 

Can this team to get 60 wins for the first time since the 80-81 season? At this point that season, the Bucks were 42-15... 

I think Brogdon will be fine come playoff time.

With Mirotic, when they shorten the rotation come playoff time, it's unlikely DJ Wilson gets on the floor. His limitations on offense will make him unplayable when teams can take more time to scheme matchups in a 7 game series. It will be Giannis, Middleton, Bledsoe, Brogdon, Lopez, Ilyasova, Mirotic, George Hill, Sterling Brown, and Snell that will get the minutes (and probably not much for Sterling Brown or Snell). 6 of those guys (other than Giannis, Hill, and Bledsoe shoot over 35% from 3). Bledsoe works as slasher off the floor spacing. Hill has been poor this year (29%), but he's at 38 percent for his career.

DJ Wilson is at 37% from 3, but he doesn't pass the eye test on his shooting form - he had a hot streak, but teams will leave him wide open and make them beat them and his shot shape with how flat it is likely makes him a lower percentage shooter under higher pressure situations. He's a tremendous defender and rebounder, but would you want him taking a key shot in the 4th quarter? I'd take any of those other 9 guys over him to take a wide open 3.

I'd give DJW a shot or 2 in a key situation. It's the type of gamble that pays off sometimes by building confidence.  

The shot will be a wide open look unless Budd thinks he can get a better shooter a wide open look. 

I've seen it work for other teams in the playoffs. Nick Young for the Warriors. George Hill for the Cavs. Sometimes you have to take a chance on your bench. 

Orlando just finished off Toronto. 113-98

Thx Orlando

Boris posted:

Orlando just finished off Toronto. 113-98

Thx Orlando

No Kawhi. 

Bucks will have to win a couple when they rest Giannis to keep the first seed. 

So far, they are 2-2 this season. 

Raptors 13-4 without Kawhi

Breaking: Eric Bledsoe has agreed to a four-year, $70M extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/8cmN2S4L5T

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 1, 2019

Interesting.

Orlando has some interesting wins this year and against some of the better teams in the East.   

As for the Bucks, JFC give the skepticism a rest and enjoy the ride!  It’s been almost 20 years since they’ve had a season like this.  

The bottom line is with all of the “concerns” and “flaws” they have a legitimate chance to not only win the East but give Golden State a run for their money.   If somehow Milwaukee ends up with homecourt advantage throughout look out. 

The only thing that could derail this special season is a long term injury to Giannis.   **** the jinx shit too this team is due. 

That’s great news... I think the BLedshow finally has a home...

Biggest overachievers

This twert is not entirely accurate. 

like a puma on Rawhide.

el greco.

Raptors just got beat by Cleveland 126-101... not a typo. Tough those BTBs on the road... 

Music City posted:

Raptors just got beat by Cleveland 126-101... not a typo. Tough those BTBs on the road... 

In a game that Kawhi played 31 minutes. 

So the Bucks are at Miami Friday, and from that point they’ll be at Fiserv 9 of the last 13 games from there. They’re at Cavs Tuesday, and then their final road swing is 3 out east against Atlanta, Brooklyn, and Philly. They’re last 3 are home games. 

As far as BTBs, they’re Home/Away BTB this weekend against the Lakers (home) Sunday and at Cleveland Monday. That’s it. They won’t have another the rest of the season. {EDIT} Bucks at home against Philly Sunday, then Lakers TUES at home and then to CLE Wednesday. 

So they’re really set up nicely to finish. One against the surging Rockets and home and homes versus Philly and Brooklyn represent probably the toughest games, though Miami with Dragic back on Friday might be tougher than people think. 

Theyre on pace to get 62. Best possible is 65. Never dreamed they have this kind of season... 

Just a slight correction, the Bucks play the 76ers on Sunday this weekend, and I think the Lakers game at FISERV is not until Tuesday and then they play at the Cavs on Wednesday. 

I didn’t realize it but the Bucks have the best road record in the league.  Good to know come playoff time. 

fightphoe93 posted:

Just a slight correction, the Bucks play the 76ers on Sunday this weekend, and I think the Lakers game at FISERV is not until Tuesday and then they play at the Cavs on Wednesday. 

Yes- sorry about that! Sunday’s game against Philly is on ABC. Should be fun! 

The Sixer game will tell us a lot. The Embiid/Lopez matchup will be a key. Lopez doesn't have to outplay Embiid, he just has to show he's playable against him for big minutes. 

Wondering if Coach Bud will hold his cards close to the vest vs. 76'ers.

76'ers need to win that game WAYY more than Milwaukee does for confidence. If the Bucks win, and I expect they will, 76'ers will be gripping big time.

I think it's a 3 team race for the finals between Boston, Toronto & Milwaukee & TBH, I think it's between Milwaukee & Boston. 

I want them to play 2 of the 3. I don’t want any excuses if they get to the Finals. Preferably, Boston in round 2 and Toronto in the ECF. 

Honestly, anything less than a Finals appearance would be a disappointment, unless they get hit by a juggernaut in the EC Finals. 

Boris posted:

Wondering if Coach Bud will hold his cards close to the vest vs. 76'ers.

76'ers need to win that game WAYY more than Milwaukee does for confidence. If the Bucks win, and I expect they will, 76'ers will be gripping big time.

I think it's a 3 team race for the finals between Boston, Toronto & Milwaukee & TBH, I think it's between Milwaukee & Boston. 

A lot depends on how hard Kawhi Leonard plays. If he's actually all out to win another title, Toronto will be a very tough out for anyone. A completely invested Kawhi with Lowry, Ibaka, and the MIP in the league, Siakim, is formidable. Siakim is the real surprise. He was playing in the G league 2 years ago and now's he a threat to put up 30 on anyone. 

Right now Philly and Boston are 4/5. Indiana 0.5 game ahead of Philly, 2 ahead of Boston. Philly schedule is so-so... a few tough games (Bucks and Celtics twice, Brooklyn), but plenty of tankeroos. 9 road games for a team just .500 on the road. 

Boston is a little tougher- Nuggets, Spurs, Sixers twice, 7 road games. 

But Indiana has a murderous west coast trip coming. Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Blazers, Thunder... all on the road. Plus the Celtics twice. They might drop to 5 if they start stumbling. 

Raptors have a bit of a cakewalk- home/home with the Thunder next week, and the rest is two each against the Pistons, Bulls, Heat, Hornets... even split home and road. They could easily go 11-2 to finish and get to 60 wins. 

I’m not concerned with the Sixers at all.  Even with Butler that team will fold quickly as soon as they get punched in the mouth. Paper tigers.  

Boston is the team I worry about and if Kahwi can stay motivated and focused they will be a tough out.  

3 games up with 13 to play...