NBA Playoffs: Bucks are in trouble
These games have been wild so far. Budenholzer and the Bucks getting out coached and exposed by Spo and the Heat.
However, the refs are way too influential. The flagrant foul on Kyle Korver was ridiculous.
Don’t get me started on the end of the Rockets Thunder game where Chris Paul could’ve officiated the game while playing better than Scott Foster n crew.
The NBA is way too quick to adjust rules based on rare circumstances like the Kawhi Zaza incident. It’s harming the game. It is nice to finally see some defense tho in the bubble era. The scores were getting a tad 1980s like for a minute there.
September 3rd, 2020 at 8:56 AM ^
Think about this, in a series featuring Giannis, Middleton and Jimmy Butler..........Goran Dragic has been the best player on the floor. He's single-handedly destroyed the Bucks drop coverage approach with numerous floaters (which drop coverage is designed to encourage) and hit pull-ups when the Bucks went to a switching approach.
The real storyline in my opinion is Giannis getting exposed a bit. He's really struggling as a half-court shot creator against a set defense. He's unstoppable in transition, but I think Bud needs to accept the fact that Giannis is a roll-man/post-up Center in a half court setting as opposed to a perimeter guy that creates off the bounce.
MVP or not, there's simply no way Giannis is on the same level as Kawhi or Lebron. He's a legit superstar, but likely in the 3-8 range along with guys like Luka, AD and perhaps Harden.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:11 AM ^
Couldn't agree more on the Giannis point. People jumped the gun crowning him as the best player in the world. When all the chips are down, give me LeBron or Kawhi.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:39 AM ^
I think people were crowning him the best because he's the first player since Shaq to be that freakishly large *and* freakishly athletic.
Throw in the fact that he's still relatively young, and the assumption that players in their 20s are always going to show improvement year after year, and you've got a perfect "case" for him as the best player in the world.
September 3rd, 2020 at 11:36 AM ^
I think a lot of people expect steady linear improvement from these superstars, when in actuality they have holes in their games just like anyone else. Every great player has had to work to add new facets to their game. Giannis could be absolutely lethal if he can establish a respectable face-up midrange game. His three-pointer has come along a bit in the past couple years but I don't think it every comes so far that it unlocks his game like a 12-18 footer that has to be respected would.
September 3rd, 2020 at 12:03 PM ^
Kawhi is, to me, just ridiculous. Just so crazy calm.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:53 PM ^
If life has taught me one thing, it's that keeping your cool is the best thing to do in any situation. It keeps you focused and can keep those around you focused as well. I've been trying for the last six months and it has paid off tremendously. Increased work performance and personal accomplishments galore. Even when I'm going crazy on the inside, I do my best not to let it show.
Fake it till you make it, as they say.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:13 AM ^
If were speaking purely about offense, Luka is the best in the league in my opinion. Giannis is physically imposing on offense but is not very versatile. Defensively though he is on another spectrum. Agree that Kawhi and LeBron are still the best in the game because of their two way capabilities. AD certainly has the potential to be the best player in the league but he doesn't seem assertive enough. More Chris Bosh, less Wilt Chamberlain.
Side note: Harden is fun as hell to watch but Curry is better than him simply for the fact that he can hurt you without dominating the ball.
September 3rd, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
I hate watching Harden.
September 3rd, 2020 at 11:12 AM ^
The Houston offense is basically unwatchable. I don't get what they say about them being this amazing offense and Dantoni being some offensive genius. So often, the offense just stands around and watches the guy with the ball (often, Harden) dribble around, then chuck up some prayer. It only "works" because they have skilled shooters who can bail them out at the end of the shot clock. It feels more lucky than good.
September 3rd, 2020 at 11:49 AM ^
While I appreciate your thoughts—and you may be totally correct in all of it—I'm not sure if we can call it lucky if a team has a system that consistently scores. Isn't that what "skilled shooters" are supposed to do?
September 3rd, 2020 at 2:08 PM ^
I'm just saying that their "offense" isn't coherent. They score often on off-balance, step-back threes, etc. It is stagnant. On many plays, nobody moves except the guy with the ball. They aren't consistently generating open looks. To me, that's what beautiful offense is--moving the ball, distorting the defense, and getting open looks -- not flinging it from odd corners of the court with a hand in your face.
September 3rd, 2020 at 3:01 PM ^
In general, if you're a huge college BB you will loathe the NBA style of play. College basketball lacks talent, hence parity for the most part, so you have to outscheme the opposition for the most part.
In the NBA, the distinction between the top 12-15 players in the world is so large that it is impossible to defend. It takes less time off the clock and involves less "clutter" if you just get the ball to your superstar and just let him get a bucket.
To put this in context, Miami/Bucks game 1 was basically a tie game heading into the closing minutes of the 4th quarter. Heat went all iso with Jimmy Butler with nobody else involved.........he proceeded to absolutely destroy the Bucks and open up a double digit lead because the Bucks didn't have anyone to contain him. Without Butler isos, I'm not sure Miami wins game 1.
September 3rd, 2020 at 11:50 AM ^
If I hit a 3-pointer, it's luck. If someone hired as a "skilled shooter" does it, maybe not luck.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:15 AM ^
Agree with everything you said except him being in the 3-8 range. The top 3 (Lebron Kawhi KD) are pretty set. Depending on who you ask so is Curry at 4 although I think that spot has a lot of competition.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:20 AM ^
I'd say KD has a very tentative hold on that 3 spot coming back from an achilles tear
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:22 AM ^
That's totally fair. But I'm gonna let him keep it till he comes back and looks less than he was. Lots of reasons I think he's mentally weak but I respect his skill enough to wait and see.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:38 AM ^
Healthy KD yes, but that injury + wrong side of 30 has historically meant a considerable drop off and in some cases, a significant drop off.
September 3rd, 2020 at 3:20 PM ^
Durant also has a lot of room to improve in terms of being a complete basketball player. He can improve as a passer, rebounder, and defender (though he did make great strides defensively during his GS tenure). A late career that is more of a complete player like LeBron could maintain his position as a top 5 talent.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:19 AM ^
I mean, Giannis got exposed last year against the Raptors in the same fashion. His scoring and efficiency were way down.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:27 AM ^
The Bucks really need a legit 2nd star to pair up with Giannis. Middleton is good but he's not that 2nd star the Bucks need
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:40 AM ^
Honestly Middleton is the only thing that has prevented the Bucks from losing by 20+.
He’s consistently made tough jumpers through 2 games to keep the Bucks attached.
September 3rd, 2020 at 10:02 AM ^
If only my hometown Pistons had players like Middleton...
Oh, wait. Never mind.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:49 PM ^
While true but Middleton is better off as a 3rd fiddle and Bucks needs to find a creator beside Giannis that can strike fear into defense. They have Giannis as a superstar, Middleton as a solid all-star with a bunch of supporting role players. It worked for them in the regular season, but it hasn't been successful in the playoff thus far. Bud is a solid coach but won't take you over the top which is an another problem for a team who is looking to win NBA title.
I see them as similar to pre-Kwahi Toronto Raptors where they're good enough to win 60-65 games but not quite good enough to win it all.
September 3rd, 2020 at 10:19 AM ^
It has been weird watching Giannis really struggle (relatively speaking) both offensively and defensively in this series. He's obviously still a great player but since the restart he's looked out of sorts and the Bucks haven't looked all that scary.
The Heat have also done a great job shooting the ball, and Butler has now had a couple of playoff series where he really elevates and looks like the two-way star he wants to be treated as. I really like watching this team and assuming the games play out like they have, the Heat and Celts will be an interesting ECF.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:47 PM ^
Who wins that series? I think the Heat defense is going to be difficult to overcome. The Celtics offense is fantastic and they have shooters all over the court but man that Heat defense is pretty damn good. Looking like a Heat vs Lakers/Clippers final this year.
September 3rd, 2020 at 2:26 PM ^
Frankly, I think a lot of it hinges on Bud's coaching. Offensively, the Bucks have a clear advantage in the paint with their size + the ability to score with post-ups.
If I'm Bud, I'm going with heavy doses of Giannis as a roll-man in PnR, along with heavy doses of Lopez in iso as a back to the basket scorer. There is simply no way that an undersized Bam/Olynyk tandem can deal with that.
Defensively, its clear the Bucks have to change their PnR coverage. The drop coverage is getting absolutely killed. Bud needs to go hedge + recover or switching. Dragic + Herro are hitting pull-up jumpers at a high clip.
September 3rd, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
This comment reminds me of a similar thought I had during/following the 2014 NBA Finals. On a court with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli... who is this Kawhi Leonard kid who is dominating the series? He deservedly took home finals MVP honors that year and turned out to be one of the best in the game.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:44 PM ^
I imagine you're keeping Luka out of the top tier because of his (lack of) defense? The guy is absolutely unstoppable on the offensive end. He can get his own shot, make shots from anywhere beyond half-court, and create for his team mates.
He does have a tendency to get loose with the ball. I can remember a couple of games in the bubble where he turned the ball over way too much. Other than that and his defense, I think he's pretty close. If he can figure those out he'll be there.
Easier said than done of course.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:50 PM ^
I don't think he has the lateral quickness to be a good defender. At best, he'll be an average defender which is fine for a player like him
September 3rd, 2020 at 2:11 PM ^
Yes. Luka, at least at this point, has a nearly identical impact offensively as Harden. He's not quite the shooter, but is a better playmaker for others. But he's hunted on the other end, which functionally means his offensive output is mitigated to a certain extent.
Lebron, while not engaged for full games, is not hunted on defense. He can turn it up a notch when he needs to, as we saw when he shut down both Kawhi and PG on the last possession in a Bubble win vs the Clippers.
I think Luka may become the best offensive player in the world as soon as next year, but he'll need to make some marginal improvement on the other end before he enters Kawhi/Lebron territory in my opinion.
September 3rd, 2020 at 2:48 PM ^
Let's be honest, Luka needs to shed some of that baby fat. If he commits to getting himself absolutely ripped and resolves to come out with a DAWG mindset, I think he can make some considerable strides on D. What he lacks in elite athleticism his off-the-charts game awareness could in part compensate for ... as long as his conditioning and defensive desire/hustle don't hold him back.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:01 AM ^
The Star's better get their shit together too....or they'll let those vile avalanche steal the series
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:23 AM ^
Amazing that you mention the refs are way too influential (which I agree with) and then point out the textbook Zaza rule flagrant on Korver. There were so many other calls in that game that just make me shake my head.
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:55 AM ^
And I'm pretty sure that was Bruce Bowen's go-to move back in the late 90s/early 2000s.
September 3rd, 2020 at 12:03 PM ^
My point is that the Zaza rule shouldn’t be a flagrant. It’s the equivalent of the Aaron Rodgers “falling too hard on the QB” rule from the NFL.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:20 PM ^
I don't think it should be a flagrant but it clearly should be a foul. Especially after they let people get away with it for so long, it feels like the NBA is just trying to make a point of it with the flagrant call and it will hopefully get relaxed in the next few years.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:29 PM ^
But that's not the refs being too influential because it was the league that instituted the rule and the refs are just calling it according to the rule
September 3rd, 2020 at 2:06 PM ^
I agree. It's like when there's a new football rule and it gets way over-officiated. The refs are just doing their jobs on those calls based on how the rules are written. Now the call on the 3-point attempt that tied the game, that was bogus....
September 3rd, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
DJ Wilson needs more touches!
September 3rd, 2020 at 10:16 AM ^
Duncan Robinson playing great.
September 3rd, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^
He’s actually not shooting all that well but still has done his job creating spacing and not forcing shots when they aren’t there. He probably isn’t going to play much in the 4th quarter this series unless they fall behind.
September 3rd, 2020 at 10:34 AM ^
Would love to see Dj Wilson get some good minutes in this series.
September 3rd, 2020 at 11:27 AM ^
I thought the flagrant foul call on Kyle Korver was actually the right call per the rule book, whether you agree with the rule or not.
There were A LOT of other calls/non-calls that were MUCH worse, and for both sides. I didn't think either foul on the jump shots at the end were fouls. Refs were really calling A TON of jump shot fouls -- some good calls, some not. Not a big deal except that dribblers and drivers are getting mauled with no calls. You just want consistency from the officials and that is not happening, for both sides. They have been influential, but I've never felt like 1 team has been getting a bigger benefit over another.
During the regular season, you couldn't breathe on a dribbler or driver without picking up a foul. The playoffs have been so different. The games are WAY more physical and fewer foul calls. In the OKC/Houston game, OKC still had a foul to give in the final seconds of the game. I can't remember the last time I've seen that in an NBA game with 5 team fouls to the bonus and 12-minute quarters.
September 3rd, 2020 at 12:49 PM ^
This is the reason why it is difficult for me to watch the NBA. Love basketball, but you can block Lebrons (or any superstars) layup, all ball, and you know damn well a foul is getting called on you. In fact, you don’t even have to touch him. If said superstar acts like you touched him (throws his head back and screams like he just got shot in the kneecap with a 9mm) you’re getting a foul called on you. Meanwhile, Joe Schmo off the bench is getting manhandled down low and no call.
The playoffs are better, but the stars still get painfully obvious preferential treatment and it has killed the joy of watching the NBA, despite the fact the overall athleticism and talent level is insanely high
September 3rd, 2020 at 2:51 PM ^
Joe Schmo ... or Luka. That dude did NOT get superstar calls in games 1-4 of the LAC series.
Wait until those start coming his way. He will be better than Harden offensively then.
September 3rd, 2020 at 5:47 PM ^
It seemed like there were 3 or 4 times Giannis did an out of control spin move and started falling. The refs called a foul every time. The last 2 calls in the game were both bad calls (1 on each team), which sucked a lot of the life out of the end game sequences.. It just seemed like a bad crew.
September 3rd, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
Probably no team is affected more by not having a home crowd than the Bucks.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:31 PM ^
I can't stand Philly, but they were really hurt by neutral court in the playoffs.Their place would have been lit against the C's.
September 3rd, 2020 at 1:56 PM ^
1) NBA is terribly soft now...those late game fouls and some of those technicals and flagrants were weak.
2) There's some crazy offensive talent out there these days - Murray, Mitchell, Harden, Curry, etc, etc. These guys would not have near the impact if the league still played defense.
3) Playoff basketball is different than the regular season and is even crazier in this bubble scenario.
Mid 80's to early 2000's basketball was better because the rules actually allowed for defense.
If you watched both game 7's, Jazz-Nuggets and Rockets-Thunder you would notice that all that free flowing offense was shut down when team's actually committed to defense and were exhausted on offense because of it. It isn't as pretty, but it's better than a shooting contest imo.
We can debate players in different eras all day, but it's pretty obvious that only a select few superstars could flourish in both eras/styles.
Jordan, Kobe, Magic, Bird, Zeke would be great in any era. Guys like Miller, Mullin, Ray Allen would probably be even better in this era. Duncan and Shaq and other great centers may have been limited in today's NBA.
Lebron, Kawhii, Durant could play in any era. NBA games just don't seem to have the same intensity with every touch foul being called - there's no incentive for players to develop on that end.
Pippen and Rodman were two of the most impactful players I've ever seen in the game due to perimeter and post defense, ability to switch and rebounding and all around game (Pippen). I don't think either would be highly valued in today's NBA.