This team proves that talent alone don't win you a series

[Fafnir]

It all comes down to Hayward being a shell and an inconsistent one at that of his prior form. We needed the free throws and the shot creation off the dribble. A secondary offensive hub. If he's Hayward from before his injury everything works more smoothly.

That combined with Kyries FA, Horfords FA, Roziers FA, and Tatum/Brown trying to establish themselves all snowballed. Team came apart every time adversity hit.

[Green-18]

After a full season sample, it's obvious that the pieces just don't fit together from a basketball standpoint.    The drama of the regular season and pressure of expectations only made things worse.

I'm mainly referring to the dynamic between Kyrie, Brown, Tatum, and Hayward.  Each of these players is at a different stage of their careers, and none of the final three were in a position to elevate their games to an All-Star level.  As others have mentioned, there was no hierarchy of roles.  Hayward couldn't find a consistent middle ground between aggression and passiveness, and Tatum clearly suffered from overconfidence after the playoff run from last season.  I'm not so sure this group would have made it work even if the roles were clearly defined.

Jaylen Brown deserves the most credit for finding a niche with this team, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the group.  He was able to provide a positive impact regardless of usage.     

 

[Silky]

After a full season sample, it's obvious that the pieces just don't fit together from a basketball standpoint.    The drama of the regular season and pressure of expectations only made things worse.

I'm mainly referring to the dynamic between Kyrie, Brown, Tatum, and Hayward.  Each of these players is at a different stage of their careers, and none of the final three were in a position to elevate their games to an All-Star level.  As others have mentioned, there was no hierarchy of roles.  Hayward couldn't find a consistent middle ground between aggression and passiveness, and Tatum clearly suffered from overconfidence after the playoff run from last season.  I'm not so sure this group would have made it work even if the roles were clearly defined.

Jaylen Brown deserves the most credit for finding a niche with this team, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the group.  He was able to provide a positive impact regardless of usage.   

I would like to see some play next game with

Irving
Smart
Brown
Horford
Williams

Suffocating defense, and almost as important, a true pecking order offensively. (Kyrie, Brown/Horford, Smart, Williams)

Smart/Brown and Horford can all space the floor for Kyrie to operate

[BitterJim]

This team has made it clear that if you want to win in the playoffs, you have to be able to finish through/create contact. Once defense gets more physical in the playoffs, our ability to score inside plummets because we can't finish and don't look to force the issue and go to the line.

Hopefully AD and next year's Hayward are able to fill that hole

[tstorey_97]

I pulled the stats together for these 4 Bux games. No axe to grind really, opponent's defense is kicking our butts. Keep in mind, game one is why these numbers aren't far worse.

Irving - 37 mpg 36.9 FG% 21.9 PPG
Horford 34 mpg 52.5 FG% 18.0 PPG
Tatum - 31 mpg 35.4 FG% 11.5 PPG
Brown-32.5mpg 48.6 FG% 17.8 PPG
Morris 29.8 mpg 66.7 FG% 15   PPG
Gordon 30.3 mpg 31.9 FG% 7.7 PPG

Rozier 17.3 mpg   22.5 FG% 5.5 PPG
Baynes 13.2 mpg and 2.2 PPG

Last three games?
Bux 359 points
Celtics 319 points

I suggest an unheralded view of this series is Milwaukee's size. It is not to say that, beyond the freak, any of these guys are brilliant, but, you have to admit, the results are there.

Giannis 34 mpg
Lopez 25 mpg
Illyasova 17 mpg
Mirotic 26 mpg

Often, two of these guys are on the floor together.

The NBA has "gone small" with lots of threes?

Bucks are "big."