Everything Playoffs

[Zainab]

"There are only three players this postseason averaging at least 20 points and seven rebounds per game, while shooting over 50% from the floor.

One is Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The other two are both on the same team: Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam."

[MixxAOR]

[Demographic Shift]

The Bucks are facing an almost insurmountable 0-1 deficit in a seven game series. Such are the hot takes after any series opener. Just like Philly isn't going away easily neither are the Bucks.

After having played pretty lame competition for close to a month (the series against the injured and undermanned Pistons combined with closing out the season against the likes of New York and Atlanta) the Bucks took a big step up in class on Sunday. It didn't go well. Bostons coaching genius outgeniused Milwaukee's coaching genius on Sunday. The Alphabet saw three guys wide defending him at the top of the key for most of the game led by Al Horford . It didn't go well for the leagues MVP. The Bucks other scorer's didn't pick up the slack.The Bucks after a very slow start did get close in the 2nd quarter but close is all they got as Boston just shifted from 3rd gear to overdrive as the 2nd quarter closed and they left the bucks in their rear views.

I want this one to go seven and have the Chowders and Bucks beat the stuffing out of each other....
So Boston gets the first service break.... Lets see how BudBucks do in game two.

[LJ2]

Bucks still have the best player in the series, but unfortunately for them after Giannis, Boston has by far the higher level of talent, depth and as most thought the coaching edge. Bud has to find a way to capitalize on the one advantage he has. Instead of iso's maybe Middleton becomes the screener so he can pop out for the open shot when Boston doubles Giannis? Can't afford to go down 0-2.

[octothorp]

How soon Bucks get Brogdon back, and how effective he is when he comes back, looks huge now. If they're able to win game 2, and Brogdon comes back for Game 3 and he's back to regular-season form, they're in pretty good shape. If he's out until Game 5, and/or comes back at 90%, that may not be enough.

[slaw]

The Bucks are facing an almost insurmountable 0-1 deficit in a seven game series. Such are the hot takes after any series opener. Just like Philly isn't going away easily neither are the Bucks.

After having played pretty lame competition for close to a month (the series against the injured and undermanned Pistons combined with closing out the season against the likes of New York and Atlanta) the Bucks took a big step up in class on Sunday. It didn't go well. Bostons coaching genius outgeniused Milwaukee's coaching genius on Sunday. The Alphabet saw three guys wide defending him at the top of the key for most of the game led by Al Horford . It didn't go well for the leagues MVP. The Bucks other scorer's didn't pick up the slack.The Bucks after a very slow start did get close in the 2nd quarter but close is all they got as Boston just shifted from 3rd gear to overdrive as the 2nd quarter closed and they left the bucks in their rear views.

I want this one to go seven and have the Chowders and Bucks beat the stuffing out of each other....
So Boston gets the first service break.... Lets see how BudBucks do in game two.

I don't think it's any coincidence that the two most experienced teams won in game 1 out East and both wins were driven by how teams started the games....

[Demographic Shift]

I don't think it's any coincidence that the two most experienced teams won in game 1 out East and both wins were driven by how teams started the games....

The playoffs are a game of adjustments. Philly adjusted last night night and it went well for them.
In 48 hours Nurse went from being a smart guy to a dummy. Nick is on the clock as its his turn to make some moves.
And oh yeah.. The players... The players have to have a better night on Thursday than they did last night.
Both the Raps/Hinkies and Bucks/Chowders series are going to be hard fought. And why wouldn't they be? These are the 4 best teams in the conference. .

The giddiness and hope of a sweep here is now where it belongs.

On to Philly they go... Buckle up its going to be a great series.

[slaw]

The playoffs are a game of adjustments. Philly adjusted last night night and it went well for them.
In 48 hours Nurse went from being a smart guy to a dummy. Nick is on the clock as its his turn to make some moves.
And oh yeah.. The players... The players have to have a better night on Thursday than they did last night.
Both the Raps/Hinkies and Bucks/Chowders series are going to be hard fought. And why wouldn't they be? These are the 4 best teams in the conference. .

The giddiness and hope of a sweep here is now where it belongs.

On to Philly they go... Buckle up its going to be a great series.

I was baffled by some of Nurse's decisions last night but in retrospect, none were surprising. They'd won 5 in a row and were rolling - if it ain't broke, don't break it. Now, after the loss, we'll see some more material changes I would think.

As for the players, Gasol has to be more of a threat to score. I know, I know, that's not his role, blah, blah, blah.... but he was mostly a bystander as Philly clamped down on the rest of the front line. In that case, he has to look to be more of a threat and more than a passer. As for Green, he needs to make shots. The bench was putrid. Nurse needs to find better match ups for Ibaka. As for FVV, he's been completely ineffective against Philly. Would be nice to have Lin but he's been so bad I don't think they can risk putting him out there...

[A.I]

I was baffled by some of Nurse's decisions last night but in retrospect, none were surprising. They'd won 5 in a row and were rolling - if it ain't broke, don't break it. Now, after the loss, we'll see some more material changes I would think.

As for the players, Gasol has to be more of a threat to score. I know, I know, that's not his role, blah, blah, blah.... but he was mostly a bystander as Philly clamped down on the rest of the front line. In that case, he has to look to be more of a threat and more than a passer. As for Green, he needs to make shots. The bench was putrid. Nurse needs to find better match ups for Ibaka. As for FVV, he's been completely ineffective against Philly. Would be nice to have Lin but he's been so bad I don't think they can risk putting him out there...

On the bright side, Green and Gasol are 2 players I have the utmost confidence in for getting back on track. Sixers know Gasol always look for the next pass so they are predicting that. Gasol has to be ready to shoot.

[golden]

The worst of what we lost in the JV-Gasol trade was all exploited by the Sixers last night: bench scoring, size/length at the PG position, rebounding & scoring at the rim. We're basically a make or miss 3-pt shooting team, with only 2 guys who can score at the rim off the dribble (Kawhi & Pascal) and the i. Sixers used length & help to slow those guys down. 3-pt shooting is inherently high variance, and Philly did an exceptional job getting out on shooters just enough to never let us get into a shooting rhythm.

One thing is clear: we can't have 2 PGs as small as Lowry and FVV on the same roster. FVV has to be replaced by a PG with length. That's the way the league is going, with long PGs like Shai & Derrick White who can defend multiple positions and get to the rim. If you're going to have guy as small as FVV, he has to have a clear quickness advantage or be a dead-eye 3-pt shooter. FVV is a big negative right now and is getting owned by a scrub like James Ennis, simply because of the size and athleticism differential.

[slaw]

One thing is clear: we can't have 2 PGs as small as Lowry and FVV on the same roster. FVV has to be replaced by a PG with length. That's the way the league is going, with long PGs like Shai & Derrick White who can defend multiple positions and get to the rim. If you're going to have guy as small as FVV, he has to have a clear quickness advantage or be a dead-eye 3-pt shooter. FVV is a big negative right now and is getting owned by a scrub like James Ennis, simply because of the size and athleticism differential.

I think what's clear is that they can't be on the floor at the same time in this particular series. You're extrapolating cause you don't like FVV but it's not clear at all that they can't co-exist in the playoffs. Even the narrower point would be debatable if FVV was making threes but he isn't even really looking to shoot.

[golden]

I think what's clear is that they can't be on the floor at the same time in this particular series. You're extrapolating cause you don't like FVV but it's not clear at all that they can't co-exist in the playoffs. Even the narrower point would be debatable if FVV was making threes but he isn't even really looking to shoot.

FVV is even worse when he's the lone PG. That was established early in the season and has been confirmed multiple times over. The only place you can hide him is at the starting PG spot and Nurse and Lowry would never, ever, ever go there. That said, Nurse could/should try subbing out Lowry and Gasol real early.... at the exact same time Embiid comes out of the game.

[Demographic Shift]

The worst of what we lost in the JV-Gasol trade was all exploited by the Sixers last night: bench scoring, size/length at the PG position, rebounding & scoring at the rim. We're basically a make or miss 3-pt shooting team, with only 2 guys who can score at the rim off the dribble (Kawhi & Pascal) and the i. Sixers used length & help to slow those guys down. 3-pt shooting is inherently high variance, and Philly did an exceptional job getting out on shooters just enough to never let us get into a shooting rhythm.

One thing is clear: we can't have 2 PGs as small as Lowry and FVV on the same roster. FVV has to be replaced by a PG with length. That's the way the league is going, with long PGs like Shai & Derrick White who can defend multiple positions and get to the rim. If you're going to have guy as small as FVV, he has to have a clear quickness advantage or be a dead-eye 3-pt shooter. FVV is a big negative right now and is getting owned by a scrub like James Ennis, simply because of the size and athleticism differential.

Yes the wave of the future are taller PG's...

- Mitchel in Utah is about 6-3
- Fox in Sacto is about 6-3
- Alexander is an aberation at 6-6
- The top prospect in the draft Morant is 6-3
- Jrue Holiday .. who might be available .. is 6-4

- Wright was 6-5

Ujiri is just outa trade / draft collateral right now.... but when the oppty arises ... i would be surprised if the backfill PG isn't in the 6-4 range.

[guyroch]

Does anyone miss the playoffs without Lebron ?

[slaw]

Does anyone miss the playoffs without Lebron ?

Personally, not in the least.... but the NBA and its advertisers do.