phaedrus posted:So was it OK for Siakem to land on Lopez's head after his block?
Yes. Just like Giannis landed on Gasol on the block in game 2. That's consistent
MichiganPacker2 posted:phaedrus posted:So was it OK for Siakem to land on Lopez's head after his block?
Yes. Just like Giannis landed on Gasol on the block in game 2. That's consistent
ok
ChilliJon posted:Siakam getting minutes is a great thing. He is a team killer.
Guy is a good player. Nice game for him.
Blair Kiel posted:Toronto gassed.
Bucks by 7.
Why I don't bet on sports.
The Giannis block call was the difference. That was ridiculous. Absolute bullshit call.
Blair Kiel posted:Blair Kiel posted:Toronto gassed.
Bucks by 7.
Why I don't bet on sports.
You couldn't know that Adam Silver made a call down to the officials to make sure Giannis fouls out.
Again, to me, it mainly comes down to Bledsoe and Middleton. They have the largest spread about their mean game, meaning their clunkers are horrid.
They were both horrid tonight. Include Giannis scoring lack and TO's and what do you have?
Obviously some favorable calls going Toronto’s way but they are at home so whatever
The Bucks played like shit and they still nearly won. I still feel pretty good about their chances except I think Giannis should back out of the MVP race lol
Well.....now we get to see what the Bucks are made of. The Bucks going to get blown out in game 4? Or are they going to show up & play Bucks basketball?
Btw, what’s this “We the north” shit? Can’t Toronto buy a verb? That’s almost as lame as some clueless tool starting a “be best” campaign.
Toronto tried everything to give this game to the Bucks. EVERYTHING. Milwaukee wasn’t having any of it.
We the North is as bad as Denver Broncos fans chanting "INNNN----COMMMM----PLEEEEETE"
They got to the 2nd OT and I think the first 3 possessions were 2 missed Bledsoe shots and a Bledsoe turnover. The last 2 minutes Middleton basically did the same thing.
Those two guys played horrific basketball tonight. They’ve both had a shit series so far. That must change.
Combining trash performances from Middleton and Bledsoe, along with Giannis clanking free throws and throwing th ball away 8 times....not going to win too many of those
If Toronto does win they are just holding serve as they say. I have faith in the Bucks.
Their two playoff losses have more to do with them playing like crap than what their opponent did. It took a historically bad performance from Bledsoe and Middleton for Toronto to earn a close victory. Congrats.
MichiganPacker2 posted:Blair Kiel posted:Blair Kiel posted:Toronto gassed.
Bucks by 7.
Why I don't bet on sports.
You couldn't know that Adam Silver made a call down to the officials to make sure Giannis fouls out.
Grow the **** up
Pikes Peak posted:MichiganPacker2 posted:Blair Kiel posted:Blair Kiel posted:Toronto gassed.
Bucks by 7.
Why I don't bet on sports.
You couldn't know that Adam Silver made a call down to the officials to make sure Giannis fouls out.
Grow the **** up
I was joking. It was a terrible call and everyone on the post-game agreed with it. If Giannis doesn't foul, it's probably a different outcome. I said earlier in the thread that Middleton and Bledsoe played like shit and that they left a lot of points at the FT line. You take care of those things and you don't let it come down to a terrible call.
Settle down.
Not sure anything has changed. Toronto needed to pull out all the stops to get a close win. If the Bucks can win Tuesday we will all forget about this one. They are still in control of this thing.
I do think though that Middleton and Bledsoe need to start playing better. Tough to win games when your 2nd and 3rd best players didn’t show up. They haven’t played well all series.
Milwaukee is going to win this series. But they were really terrible tonight.
Bledsoe is going to be an ongoing problem.
In the 3 games,
Bledsoe is 9 for 38 from the floor and 2 for 17 from 3.
Middleton is 12 for 36 from the floor and 4 for 15 from 3
Mirotic is 11 for 30 and 4 for 20 from 3.
MichiganPacker2 posted:In the 3 games,
Bledsoe is 9 for 38 from the floor and 2 for 17 from 3.
Middleton is 12 for 36 from the floor and 4 for 15 from 3
Mirotic is 11 for 30 and 4 for 20 from 3.
10 for 52 from 3 from your high volume shooters
Now go ahead and post how Malcolm Brogdon and George Hill have played?
Mirotic wasn’t much of a factor today but he played a lot of minutes due to Ersan foul trouble.
Surprised we didn’t see Pat Connaughton more down the stretch.
Tschmack posted:Now go ahead and post how Malcolm Brogdon and George Hill have played?
Mirotic wasn’t much of a factor today but he played a lot of minutes due to Ersan foul trouble.
Surprised we didn’t see Pat Connaughton more down the stretch.
Good point. They've obviously been outstanding, but your 2nd and 3rd best players have to come through - especially when the entire defensive game plan is to prevent Giannis from going off.
ChilliJon posted:Milwaukee is going to win this series. But they were really terrible tonight.
Bledsoe is going to be an ongoing problem.
Let's see what happens in Game 4 before we assume Bucks win the series. I think they will too but we have to see how they respond on Tuesday.
The Bucks depth may be key after the big minutes tonight from Kawhi, Siakam, and others.
Thank goodness for George Hill and Brogdon.
Disappointed that Bud stayed with Bledsoe at crunch time.
MichiganPacker2 posted:In the 3 games,
Bledsoe is 9 for 38 from the floor and 2 for 17 from 3.
Middleton is 12 for 36 from the floor and 4 for 15 from 3
Mirotic is 11 for 30 and 4 for 20 from 3.
The Bucks missed 64 shots tonight. There was a time when that would be the total shots in a game for a team. The Bucks missed layups, open 3s, all sorts of shots they make normally. If they shoot their season average it’s a blowout.
But let’s not over analyze- it’s well know what Barkley said: role players play better at home. The Bucks were getting a lot out of the roles players, but the NBA truism held serve tonight.
My issue tonight was Giannis. He was forcing the issue and not playing smart. If he were to simply slow down and let things happen, it’s a completely different game. Where’s the footwork? The beatings he’s taking are now starting to effect him- and that’s not good. He tossed an air all on the FT for ****’s sake. He just needs to be smarter. Stop plowing in like a bull every possession... try some midrange stuff, hooks, use some footwork. Make them think they they need to do more than just build a damned wall and bang the hell out of him.
MichiganPacker2 posted:Pikes Peak posted:MichiganPacker2 posted:Blair Kiel posted:Blair Kiel posted:Toronto gassed.
Bucks by 7.
Why I don't bet on sports.
You couldn't know that Adam Silver made a call down to the officials to make sure Giannis fouls out.
Grow the **** up
I was joking. It was a terrible call and everyone on the post-game agreed with it. If Giannis doesn't foul, it's probably a different outcome. I said earlier in the thread that Middleton and Bledsoe played like shit and that they left a lot of points at the FT line. You take care of those things and you don't let it come down to a terrible call.
Settle down.
Charles on TNT said, That was a charge. That was a charge.
MC:
My issue tonight was Giannis. He was forcing the issue and not playing smart. If he were to simply slow down and let things happen, it’s a completely different game. Where’s the footwork? The beatings he’s taking are now starting to effect him- and that’s not good. He tossed an air all on the FT for ****’s sake. He just needs to be smarter. Stop plowing in like a bull every possession... try some midrange stuff, hooks, use some footwork. Make them think they they need to do more than just build a damned wall and bang the hell out of him.
MichiganPacker2 posted:In the 3 games,
Bledsoe is 9 for 38 from the floor and 2 for 17 from 3.
Middleton is 12 for 36 from the floor and 4 for 15 from 3
Mirotic is 11 for 30 and 4 for 20 from 3.
This is the concern I've had. The Bucks inability to hit on the perimeter of late is starting to bear fruit for the Raptors. It's allowing them to cheat and clog up the middle, pretty much stifling Giannis. He looked totally frustrated in this game. Hitting 3's when you have a big cushion is one thing. But when you need a money shot in a tight game who's going to step up? And please Giannis, forget about the 3 pointers for now. I think the Bucks will be happy to get back home, but if this continues, they're going to have a tough time with GS.
RoyalWulff posted:Btw, what’s this “We the north” shit? Can’t Toronto buy a verb? That’s almost as lame as some clueless tool starting a “be best” campaign.
fear the deer? same shit different ass.
i will say, i still don't understand how calls are made, seems like bs no calls made/not made on both sides - this is why i don't watch this sport regularly, while the nfl has some questionable officiating, the nba is comical. anyways, the bucks will not go away, every time raptors get up, bucks come back, i am a raptors fan, bandwagon it is, but bucks will win this thing, raptors starters are gassed, there is also never anyone under the rim, always trying perimeter stuff, no big body willing to give it up underneath...need shaq...
pkr_north posted:RoyalWulff posted:Btw, what’s this “We the north” shit? Can’t Toronto buy a verb? That’s almost as lame as some clueless tool starting a “be best” campaign.
fear the deer? same shit different ass.
No.
Fear is a verb.
Had a chance to watch some of the replays and man did the Bucks miss an opportunity to steal one. They make a couple of more 3s or hit a few more FTs and they win this game.
I just can’t get over how horrific Middleton and Bledsoe played. For Middleton, I think he spent a lot of energy on defense and it impacted him offensively as he missed a lot of good looks. Coach Bud did rotate in Brogdon to defend Kahwi but the guy that should really draw that assignment backing up Middleton is Ersan. Due to fouls he only played 13 minutes. Ilyasova’s physical presence was missed.
In addition, it meant Mirotic had to play more and he didn’t look sharp either. Mirotic is at his best playing 20-25 minutes a game. He played almost 30 last night.
Then there is Bledsoe. I know I should be more patient with the guy, but he’s a career 23% shooter from 3 in the playoffs. I do not want to see him taking a half a dozen 3s. Even though Middleton and Mirotic were struggling they are much better outside shooters than Bledsoe. Yes he plays tough defense, but his decision making against Toronto has not been very good. Of the Bucks 20 turnovers Eric Bledsoe had 5 of them in only 34 minutes.
I’ve said this before but Bledsoe has to set the tone and he did it poorly both to start the game and in the overtimes. Not sure if he’s anxious or lacks focus or what but he has to play better. Otherwise I start Hill and rotate in Brogdon.
What seemed odd to me is Connaughton played really well but only got 12 minutes? He’s a spark and the other thing he does well is make key shots and hit his free throws.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Bucks adjust as it’s clear the strategy is to play physical with Giannis and let the others try to beat you. Defensively, they need to spell Middleton more often on Kahwi and maybe get Sterling Brown or Ersan some more minutes. If they can slow down Kahwi the Raptors will not beat them. I also really doubt that Gasol and Lowry and Siakam will shoot a combined 50% from 3pt range again. Make those guys keep shooting.
They need to figure out what to do with Bledsoe. He's now 5 for his last 32 from the 3 point line. If he doesn't at least hit 30% it really clogs up the spacing, since the Raptors can sag off of both Giannis and him.
The funny thing is that as awful as Bledsoe was on offense, he was actually +2 in his 32 minutes. That suggests his defensive effort is strong.
I'm guilty of overreaction during the game (we all are), but the overreactions by the talking heads this morning are completely over the top. I know they are trying to get clicks and ears, but comments like "the Bucks are in trouble now" are ridiculous. The Bucks lost a game last night when their top 3 players shot poorly, their superstar fouled out of a time game in double OT on a terrible call, and the Raptors were gifted a layup to go up 4 in double OT when the referees missed an obvious double dribble on Kawhi. Not to mention that Marc Gasol and Powell were on fire from outside. Almost every break had to go the Raptors way to win a game at home in double OT.
A big piece on ESPN about how Giannis' free throw woes are a huge concern. He was terrible last night - 2 for 7, but the one air ball is being played up like he's become Shaq at the line.
Before last night, he was 58 for his last 79. That's 73 percent and it's not a small sample size. Would we like him to shoot 80%? Sure, but he's a 74 percent shooter for his career. It's not like we are going to get hack-a-Giannis any time soon.
The takes on Kawhi Leonard being unstoppable are over the top too. He was good last night, but he was 11 for 25 (and should have been 10 for 24 if they call the double dribble in 2OT). It's not like he was Durant level dominant and if they officiate the game correctly, he commits a terrible double dribble with no ball pressure on a fast break that should have cost the Raptors an easy bucket when they were only up 2 in double OT. That was as bad a choke as Giannis or Siakam missing FTs in that situation.
Some here talk about how the poor outside shooting, last night, was the Bucks demise. If they would have made half the FTs they missed, they would have won in regulation. Doinking the ball off the front of the rim or just missing the rim completely from the charity stripe killed their chances as much as anything else they did in the court in last night's game. Giannis looked like Ethan Happ at the line. Both Chris Webber and Reggie Miller talked about how the Raptors should feel free to foul Giannis late in the game due to his poor FT shooting percentages. Here's hoping the Bucks prepare for the Raptors' game plan of making Giannis a non factor and that they get the ball to players with better FT/shooting percentages late in the game. Giannis is the heart and soul of this team. He had a tough night. Here's to game 4!
It sounds simple to hack Giannis and force him to hit FTs but it’s not like Toronto has a deep bench and Giannis draws a lot of contact and fouls as it is. They were damn lucky when Lowry fouled out because Van Vleet is awful and the Bucks kept making bad decisions after bad decisions late in regulation.
Bledsoe was only a 32% shooter from 3 during the regular season. His shooting % in the playoffs is in the low 20%. It’s simple math folks. He needs to drive and penetrate and if the layup isn’t there you find the shooter. He’s been forcing way too much. The other issue with Bledsoe is as bad as Giannis has been with FTs Eric Bledsoe is just as unreliable. So in crunch time or late in the game I’m not sure I want Bledsoe in there.
We are all a bit guilty of overreacting I guess but I don’t hear the Bucks players or coaches throwing in the towel. Nor should we. The one thing about this team is they have proven they can bounce back quickly. I expect to see a much better game by Milwaukee tomorrow. Not to say I’m guaranteeing a win but I would be shocked if they had a repeat (bad) performance. Just correct the mistakes and good things will happen.
If they get that far, Bledsoe will be a real key against the Warriors because he can punish Curry physically on drives. However, he struggles against teams that have elite rim protectors because his game is really predicated on driving and finishing in traffic. His three point shooting percentage goes up when he gets in a rhythm driving to the rim first. In the regular season against teams that don't have a Gasol, Ibaka, Siakam, Horford type he looks great. He can just bully most guards to get down low and finish. Against the elite teams with defensive stoppers, he gets inside and leaves his feet and is out of control. That forces him to be passive and he reverts to jacking up 3s that aren't good shots for him.
I think they will have to let Middleton walk if he is offered over 25 million. I would much rather push the money to Brogdon and Lopez. This is the time to step up and these guys need to shoot better. All these guys benefit from the attention to Giannis but the Bucks need to make sure that they have reliable shooters surrounding him. Bledsoe was extended but his poor shooting scares me. I don't think he's clutch. I would like Bud to consider starting Hill or Brogdon.