Bucks vs Suns NBA Finals Thread

[HowardK4]

On last nights game

• I think Bud found something with Giannis playing the 5 and going small.
• They switched on everything and got burned and then dropped more and still got exposed by Paul. Not sure what the answer is other than just going over screens and getting exposed by the 3.
• Not sure Paul can play better but Giannis can. He had a week off and timing and flow were off
• Booker will not shoot 1-8 from 3 much but neither will Holiday. Who becomes a scoring option might determine the series
• Thats the best Bridgers has looked in weeks, props to him but dont think he can sustain that
• Ayton is really really good
• Said before the series PHX was the best team in the league, they have been since the bubble last year

Phoenix - I would agree they were the best team in the West - but a lot of people still think the Lakers are better only because of LeBron.

 

[FlaPack]

Phoenix - I would agree they were the best team in the West - but a lot of people still think the Lakers are better only because of LeBron.

those people dont watch much basketball then

 

[TW]

The Bucks were trying to readjust to having Giannis back in the lineup. By the time they did, the game was out of their hands.

I thought he played well, considering what he's been through. I didn't think the Bucks played that well, around him. Lopez was like a lost sheep out there at times. He'd lose his man, then lose focus as to where he was on the floor, and they'd score an easy bucket behind him. Giannis made several mistakes by not dishing the ball off to someone before he got into traffic. He should have played more within himself instead of trying to stretch his game. He was winded, and when you are, you do lose a step.

Middleton was throwing up some ill-timed shots. Partially on him, and partially on others, who failed to create space so they were available to take a pass. It's like they didn't realize you needed to have an outlet pass on most plays.

Connaughton's fouls were true. But he was fouled three times himself, even worse, and it wasn't called. All on plays under the bucket, that took away possessions, and points. Ayton was allowed to use his shoulder and hands/arms to push off under the bucket, to gain position, and it wasn't being called. It should have been, because it was being called on the Bucks.

Holiday's 4-14 didn't lose it for us. All around sloppy play, and a lack of help for each other on defense made the difference. They exploited the same weaknesses that we've seen exploited throughout the playoffs.

I think they can correct these problems, but not in the slightest bit confident they win the series. The Suns seem so much faster on the floor than the Bucks. They beat them off the spot repeatedly, and that usually translates into wins.

 

[FlaPack]

The Bucks were trying to readjust to having Giannis back in the lineup. By the time they did, the game was out of their hands.

I thought he played well, considering what he's been through. I didn't think the Bucks played that well, around him. Lopez was like a lost sheep out there at times. He'd lose his man, then lose focus as to where he was on the floor, and they'd score an easy bucket behind him. Giannis made several mistakes by not dishing the ball off to someone before he got into traffic. He should have played more within himself instead of trying to stretch his game. He was winded, and when you are, you do lose a step.

Middleton was throwing up some ill-timed shots. Partially on him, and partially on others, who failed to create space so they were available to take a pass. It's like they didn't realize you needed to have an outlet pass on most plays.

Connaughton's fouls were true. But he was fouled three times himself, even worse, and it wasn't called. All on plays under the bucket, that took away possessions, and points. Ayton was allowed to use his shoulder and hands/arms to push off under the bucket, to gain position, and it wasn't being called. It should have been, because it was being called on the Bucks.

Holiday's 4-14 didn't lose it for us. All around sloppy play, and a lack of help for each other on defense made the difference. They exploited the same weaknesses that we've seen exploited throughout the playoffs.

I think they can correct these problems, but not in the slightest bit confident they win the series. The Suns seem so much faster on the floor than the Bucks. They beat them off the spot repeatedly, and that usually translates into wins.

The thing with Lopez and to a great extent Portis was how Phoenix plays the pick and roll. 90% of the time the guard penetrates and either goes the hoop or dishes off. Phoenix guards bring the ball back out and let Paul go one on one in space with the switch. That’s advantage Paul. Lopez or Portis cannot guard that. Bud adjusted and went small with Giannis at the 5 and played small and it helped. When Giannis was on the floor Milwaukee was +4. When he sat Phoenix was +14.

What was telling to me is Milwaukee did not make the second chance shots and in the 1st they had 4-5. Tucker missed 2 Holiday missed 2. All point blank range shots.

Honestly I don’t think Phoenix can play much better. Milwaukee can. I’ll stick to Phoenix in 7 but all depends what they can get from Giannis.

 

[realitybytes]

Tucker missed 2 Holiday missed 2. All point blank range shots.

this is what drives me crazy. you're less than a foot away from the basket. how do you miss that? i mean, i know how i miss that. i can't play basketball worth a crap. but you're a professional.

 

[FlaPack]

this is what drives me crazy. you're less than a foot away from the basket. how do you miss that? i mean, i know how i miss that. i can't play basketball worth a crap. but you're a professional.

I was far from pro, played in HS and years of rec ball and it infuriated me when I missed from 5 feet in. There was a old message a coach told me once. “You were too open” and surprisingly it’s true.

 

[TW]

I was far from pro, played in HS and years of rec ball and it infuriated me when I missed from 5 feet in. There was a old message a coach told me once. “You were too open” and surprisingly it’s true.

I can relate to that. The bunny shots are too easy. They give you time to think, and nothing is worse when taking a shot. It's all muscle memory, and rhythm. Like I was told by an assistant coach in HS, "Thinking is for coaches. You shoot the ball!" He wasn't a good coach, but he did have a point.

 

[GBP4EVER]

I'm agreeing with Pack on this. And, it's supposed to get taken care of by rules committee in the off season. It sucks, but they can't do it now.

Thing is does a rule change have any teeth and do the refs call it?

 

[GBP4EVER]

Well huge game tonight. I think MKE needs to steal this one. Being down 0-2 is a bigger hole then being down 0-2 to the Nets IMO.

 

[FlaPack]

Well huge game tonight. I think MKE needs to steal this one. Being down 0-2 is a bigger hole then being down 0-2 to the Nets IMO.

No difference really IMO, all you need is one in the desert. I think the bigger thing is now Giannis now after 1 game, is his wind better? timing? more important IMO