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DanH wrote:
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Yes, I recall the game. With 6:30 left in the 2nd Q, the Raps were down by 5 (with the team having given up a 22-7 run while JV sat between the end of the 1st and middle of the 2nd) and JV subbed in. The Bucks' possessions went like this over the next few minutes:
Middleton 2 point jumper made
Delly jumper missed
Hawes 10 foot jumper made
Giannis missed dunk
Hawes 3 point jumper made
Brogdon turnover
Antetokounmpo layup made
Hawes 3 point jumper made
So, the Bucks scored 12 points to the Raptors' 10 points in that time frame in 8 possessions each, expanding the lead from 5 to 7 (disaster!). Hawes made two open threes and short jumper.
Valanciunas was pulled with a couple minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Hawes, thank goodness, was slightly less effective for the final two minutes (with an assist, an old-fashioned three point play and 2 rebounds in the final 2:30 of the half), and the Bucks scored only 11 points in those final 2 and a half minutes on 5 possessions (a 211 point pace!), pushing their lead to 11 at the half (again, at this point JV was a +11 on the night). Whew, fixed that defensive issue caused by Valanciunas.
Valanciunas played a few minutes to start the 3rd Q, then sat for the rest of the game. He had by far the best on-court defensive rating on the team that game. Heck, in the 2nd Q, when Hawes was such a big issue, the team had a far worse defensive rating with JV on the bench than when he was in the game (nevermind the offence completely tanking without him).
I know the reason JV sat was because Casey saw him get abused on a handful of possessions. I know that was the reason. I'm saying it was a stupid reason and reacting that way cost the Raptors the game in all likelihood. That game was lost as soon as Casey did EXACTLY what the Bucks wanted him to do - match up small with them so they aren't punished for their weaknesses, and can play exactly the way they want to. You think the Bucks want to live and die with Spencer Hawes jump shots? Hell no.
What I'm saying is if the Raptors make the same cowardly reactive choices, they are going to give the Bucks a chance in this series. If the Raptors play their game and play to ther strengths and find ways to use their best players (Greg Monroe played 14 minutes in the 2nd half, how the heck does JV only play 6?), this series should be simple to close out early.
Middleton 2 point jumper made
Delly jumper missed
Hawes 10 foot jumper made
Giannis missed dunk
Hawes 3 point jumper made
Brogdon turnover
Antetokounmpo layup made
Hawes 3 point jumper made
So, the Bucks scored 12 points to the Raptors' 10 points in that time frame in 8 possessions each, expanding the lead from 5 to 7 (disaster!). Hawes made two open threes and short jumper.
Valanciunas was pulled with a couple minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Hawes, thank goodness, was slightly less effective for the final two minutes (with an assist, an old-fashioned three point play and 2 rebounds in the final 2:30 of the half), and the Bucks scored only 11 points in those final 2 and a half minutes on 5 possessions (a 211 point pace!), pushing their lead to 11 at the half (again, at this point JV was a +11 on the night). Whew, fixed that defensive issue caused by Valanciunas.
Valanciunas played a few minutes to start the 3rd Q, then sat for the rest of the game. He had by far the best on-court defensive rating on the team that game. Heck, in the 2nd Q, when Hawes was such a big issue, the team had a far worse defensive rating with JV on the bench than when he was in the game (nevermind the offence completely tanking without him).
I know the reason JV sat was because Casey saw him get abused on a handful of possessions. I know that was the reason. I'm saying it was a stupid reason and reacting that way cost the Raptors the game in all likelihood. That game was lost as soon as Casey did EXACTLY what the Bucks wanted him to do - match up small with them so they aren't punished for their weaknesses, and can play exactly the way they want to. You think the Bucks want to live and die with Spencer Hawes jump shots? Hell no.
What I'm saying is if the Raptors make the same cowardly reactive choices, they are going to give the Bucks a chance in this series. If the Raptors play their game and play to ther strengths and find ways to use their best players (Greg Monroe played 14 minutes in the 2nd half, how the heck does JV only play 6?), this series should be simple to close out early.
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