Round 1: Bucks versus Celtics

When they are focused and motivated they can beat just about anyone.  The problem is consistency.  This team doesn’t handle success very well and it seems to me that a few of their guys (namely Bledsoe and Middleton) are more concerned about their stats than doing what they need to do to win.  

I desperately want to see them advance but I’ll admit part of me is wondering if they would be better off not advancing which would certainly force the front office to make changes that I think will benefit them more in the long run.  Tough to say at this point. 

All I know is I realize the Celts are depleted but if the Bucks don’t play well they will not beat those guys. 

If the Bucks play like they did last night, they'd struggle to beat Villanova. You let NBA-level guys shoot wide open 3s and that's what happens. There were numerous situations where Philly had two guys wide open for threes on the same side of the floor.

Giannis is 6'11", Middleton is 6'8", Parker is 6'8", Brogdon is 6'5", Bledsoe is 6'1" but has a 7'0" wingspan. That's the crunch time 5 guys. 

Giannis should be an NBA All-defensive team candidate. Middleton, Brogdon, and Bledsoe are all good individual defenders. Parker is a defensive optional guy (as in like an D-/F level grade), but with those other 4 guys they should be able to hide him and he's a good enough athlete to at least be a D+ defender. 

The sum is much worse than the parts. That's either effort or scheme. In either case, it's coaching. 

The team sucks.

MichiganPacker2 posted:

 

The sum is much worse than the parts. That's either effort or scheme. In either case, it's coaching. 

I think you mean the whole is less than the sum of its parts.

No Neck picked the Bucks. Tracy McGrady picked the Celtics. Who the f knows with this team. 

I remain hopeful that they will play the way they’re capable. 

If they play the way they're capable....they'll win in 4 or 5

Brainwashed Boris posted:

If they play the way they're capable....they'll win in 4 or 5

If they play the way they did in Philly, the Celtics will be resting their starters at halftime. Maybe they can turn it on like the Warriors. 

I'd like to see Giannis decide he wants to dominate this series and put it on his shoulders. 

We have also seen them woodshed a team for three quarters and they blow the lead in the fourth. 

Everything is possible. 

Bledsoe with already 2 one on one possessions, two bad misses. 

Gotta stop turning the ball over

Bledsoe struggling out there right now. Prunty needs to sit him and let him calm down. He’s pushing too hard...

Bledsoe needs to get his head out of his ass 

Middleton playing well to start...

Jalen Brown walked...

Wow... coming apart early

Pathetic. Up 17-16, take out Giannis. Haven't scored since even after Giannis comes back. 12-0 run to a team that is going to get blitzed in Round 2. 

8 turnovers and Boston goes 15-0 to finish the first q. 

Just. Pathetic 

Better effort now since settling down and not throwing it away on every other possession

Need to sit Bledsoe... he’s pushing too hard! 

Parker pretty useless right now...

Really good stretch of defense for the Bucks, though. Need to get Bledsoe and Brogdon going. 

Bledsoe needs to sit 

Well, an overall sloppy first half but they have a lead. They’re getting little from anyone except Middleton, as Giannis, Bledsoe, Brogdon, and Parker are all struggling offensively. But the D picked up big time once Brogdon was on the floor. Henson also a good first half, disruptive and getting interior baskets. 

Limit turnovers and start making the open looks and they can pull away. 8 turnovers first q, 15 points. Second q, 0 turnovers, they outscore Boston 30-15.

Music City posted:

They’re getting little from anyone except Middleton, as Giannis, Bledsoe, Brogdon, and Parker are all struggling offensively. 

Funny... I didn’t even notice Giannis has 16... seemed like he was struggling. Lol! 

Bledsoe's performance has prevented the Bucks from having a double digit lead. He's been awful.

2-9, 3 turnovers to start the second half. Really out of sort offensively right now... 

*sigh*... 10-0 run built on turnovers and missed shots. 

Hiannis has nothing from outside. Dysfunctional offense gives Boston all they need to get things going their way. 

Game of runs...

And Boston did this without Parker on the floor (-11 +/- in the first half). Parker's defense is too much of a liability to justify his offense at this point.

I know he hit a 3 in the first half, but why is Jason Terry getting these minutes? 

How does Horford not have a single foul? 

The Bucks look clueless closing out quarters. 

Celtics 12-0 run to end the first quarter. 

Celtics 7-0 run to end the second quarter. 

Bucks down by 4 entering the 4Q

They should be up by 10+

If they can get Brogdon going, it’ll be big. Giannis forcing things is not what they need. I like the Horford/Parker matchup offensively- Horford can’t guard laterally. But he has great hands, so you gotta keep it away from him. 

Brogdon makes such a huge difference out there defensively. I hope he’ll get the Snell 4th quarter minutes...

Bledsoe looks like post-1997 playoff Favre. 

Watching the Bucks, they just have the vibe of a team that does just enough little things wrong to lose. They have the best two players on the floor today (Giannis and Middleton), but you just get the vibe they are going to lose from about the beginning of the second half. 

Why don't they go with Giannis at the top and flanking him on both sides with two shooters on the wings? McHale says you can't stop it, so why don't they keep doing it?