The 2021-22 Milwaukee Bucks

Nice breakdown here: https://behindthebuckpass.com/...stats-cause-concern/

The Bucks are seemingly coming around, but their passing is something I want to see improve more than anything. Too many “step into the first shot available” possessions and that’s really becoming an issue. Holidays shooting struggles isn’t helping, but that’s also starting to come around. And the sooner Robinson, Thanasis, and Ojele are relegated to human victory cigars the better.

And they need Lopez ASAP. Defensively tge Bucks have been pretty good- offensively they’ve been un-Bucks like.

I think I really overlooked the importance of Lopez to this team.  

While he doesn’t fill up the stat sheet, his presence allows them to do so many things on both sides of the court.   We know his value as a rim protector, but teams have to honor his outside shooting and that opens up the lane for Giannis and others to operate.  

Without him, you see how much harder guys like Giannis have to work to get their points.  

I will continue to give Middleton and Holiday a pass simply because they haven’t had much of a break from basketball.  Middleton getting C19 didn’t help matters either, but the key thing is not trying to wear them out while balancing the importance of the regular season.

Portis, Allen, and Pat C have been fantastic but I’d rather see Lopez and DDV back so those guys can get back to coming off the bench where they can be a lot more dangerous.  

The NBA does not deserve this man…

@Music City posted:

The NBA does not deserve this man…

Well, they’ll get him anyway and he will be lifting up their championship trophy many more times.

Bucks adding some size to the roster:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story...deal-milwaukee-bucks

That doesn’t bode well for a Lopez return. No word yet on that, but they do need some size. And Cousins can still back a guy down. Not a great defender, though…

@Music City posted:

Bucks adding some size to the roster:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story...deal-milwaukee-bucks

That doesn’t bode well for a Lopez return. No word yet on that, but they do need some size. And Cousins can still back a guy down. Not a great defender, though…

After the leg injuries, he's even more of a liability on switches at the perimeter. However, in the drop defense, he could give them 10-12 minutes a night without being a complete liability. Even after the injuries he remains a very good rebounder and is a big enough guy to box out guys to make it easier for Giannis to clean up defensive rebounds (like Lopez does). In drop, all he needs to do is prevent a guy from getting to the rim. He can still do that at 6'10", 270.

@JimOwczarski:  The Milwaukee #Bucks have announced that center Brook Lopez underwent back surgery in Los Angeles today.

@ilcuqui posted:

@JimOwczarski:  The Milwaukee #Bucks have announced that center Brook Lopez underwent back surgery in Los Angeles today.

I mean, a bunch of us thought that the Cousins signing probably signaled something.

The puzzling part is why he didn't just have the surgery right away so he could be back sooner? Maybe they thought they could manage it to allow him to push the surgery off until after the season? Or maybe the surgery means he's going to miss the rest of the year and they were trying to let him give it a shot?

Cousins is not going to be a 25-30 a night guy, so do they look for another big body to soak up some of these minutes (and eventually match up against Embiid)? A package of Nwora with a 2nd round pick down the line for Robin Lopez?

The odds of a title repeat just went down significantly with that news.  I wonder if Lopez will ever come close to what he once was if he even ever plays again.

@fightphoe93 posted:

The odds of a title repeat just went down significantly with that news.  I wonder if Lopez will ever come close to what he once was if he even ever plays again.

I think their title odds went down, but not as significantly as if they'd have lost even a guy like Connaughton or G. Allen (assuming DDV is not back at full strength all season which is looking more and more likely). Obviously, I think if they lost Giannis, Middleton, or Holiday they are probably toast against the elite teams (Nets, Suns, Warriors, Heat, Clippers with Kawhi, etc.).

Lopez was a vital piece of the puzzle last year. However, if they get that far, teams like the Nets, Suns, and Warriors are going to play him off the floor. He only averaged 24 minutes a game in the Finals. Lopez's biggest value was being a regular-season guy that kept Giannis fresh instead of having Giannis get worn down guarding opposing big guys. Lopez being gone is the difference between being a 55-60 win team and a 48-50 win team. Drop defense works well over the course of a regular season, but come playoff time they have to go switch-heavy.

Lopez's next biggest value was specifically in a playoff matchup against Philly. He's a perfect guy to match up against Embiid.

The Bucks haven’t lost a game this year when the Big 3 are playing.

Yes, it’s not good news about Lopez.  But not all is lost.  Against certain teams he isn’t really playable.  

I do think this may signal a trade for another big body

Giannis sitting out tonight against the Raptors. It's likely the second game they are almost conceding that the would likely win by double digits with Giannis.

Back to backs without Giannis aren't conducive to winning.

Jrue Holiday is 7 for 9 from the floor so far and Mamu is 2 for 3, the rest of the team is 7 for 36 at the half (19%). Lucky to only be down 6. Middleton and Portis look like they have dead legs (4 for 17). Bucks only 3 for 17 from three.

Bucks with 52 points over the first 2 and half quarters. They might as well have rested Middleton tonight as well.

With only Portis at the 4/5, Mamu has to play and as soon as he checks in the Raptors target him.

Holiday looking for a big night…

What a shot by Middleton… wow

Bucks not playing well but closed the 3Q within 6

Sloppy- a bunch of missed chances to get closer because of sloppy play.

Got it to within 2, but then lost FVV on a switch and gave up a wide open 3. That sparked a run at the Raptors have it back to 9.

I get the bigger picture, but just hate sitting Giannis in games like this. This is a Bucks blowout if he plays.

Got a chance…

One of the disappointments over the last month is Jordan Nwora. I think many of us thought that he'd be a rotation player, but he's just been awful. A turnover machine, poor defensive rotations, and failures to block out and rebound.

Big turnover there on the double on Jrue.

Get it to 4 with the ball and Holiday turns it over… that’s been going on all night.

Empty possessions killing them.

Just not enough tonight to get over the hump. Down 6 again.

Mamu has been pretty good tonight, but when you have to play him 25 minutes in an actual game that counts it's probably not going to be a win.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

One of the disappointments over the last month is Jordan Nwora. I think many of us thought that he'd be a rotation player, but he's just been awful. A turnover machine, poor defensive rotations, and failures to block out and rebound.

It’s a progression. He needs to get better at more than just his shot. It’ll be a couple years, but he’s going to be good if he learns.

That's probably it as Holiday misses both FTs.

@MichiganPacker2 posted:

Just not enough tonight to get over the hump. Down 6 again.

Mamu has been pretty good tonight, but when you have to play him 25 minutes in an actual game that counts it's probably not going to be a win.

Yup- he’s a lot like Nwora. There’s some game there. Need some seasons to get there…

Holiday clanks 2 FTs, and that might do it if thet score. Way too many offensive rebounds in this game…

Dagger. Down 8.

Big difference for Barnes to post up Connaughton instead of Giannis.

Holiday has not gotten the calls he usually gets on defense.

Dumb by Holiday. You are down 6 with 45 seconds left and you challenge a guy 5 inches taller than you at the rim. KIck it out for a three.

Weak ass call…

FVV gets another borderline call on a Holiday defensive play.

Man…. If that would have went in…

Man, Pat's been awesome all year and he misses a WIDE open shot, but you take that timeout and get it to Middleton.

That’s the difference between Portis and other bigs. Just not big enough…

Can't rebound the ball by squating. You have to jump Bobby.

Maybe it won't matter, but you hate just giving away easy wins by sitting Giannis. It's just frustrating as a fan. If he plays the Boston and Toronto games, it's two guaranteed wins and they are sitting at 16-7 instead of 14-9.

Heck, if Bougie Cousins plays 10 minutes tonight, they win.

@ShamsCharania: Free agent Wesley Matthews plans to sign a deal with the Bucks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The 12-year veteran, who spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, is set to return to Milwaukee.