NBA Season 2024-25

[Who]

Denver's lineup right now is Jokic and 4 guys who can't shoot. Sacramento had all 4 guys 15 feet and in on that possession. Westbrook caught it at the three point line. Nobody was going out to him. He got to dribble into the foul line and take a jumper from there. Miss.

G: Westbrook
G: J Pickett
F: P Watson
F: Nnaji
C: Jokic

Pickett may be able to shoot. I don't know. What is he? A two-way player? I haven't seen much of him. He isn't looking for his shot anyway.

[Who]

Wednesday's victory was the Bucks' fourth straight and the eighth in their past nine games. They improved to a season-best 11 games over .500, a stark turnaround following their 2-8 start to the season.

MIL have looked good but not great in the games I have seen during this streak. They are still missing Portis. They were looking better before Portis got suspended. He has left a hole in their rotation. They still have an issue at SG that they are trying to figure out as well. But doing well. Improving. Looking like a darkhorse title contender. Not a favourite but it looks like there is an opening there.

Giannis reached the 20k points club in that game. He is the 52nd player to achieve this.

Giannis was the 6th youngest player to do so. The only players younger were LeBron, Durant, Kobe, Wilt and MJ.

[radiohead]

Cavs borderline unbeatable?.so annoying

Better they win now and falter when it matters the most.

[Birdman]

Cavs only team in NBA that can beat us, truly believe that in a 7 game series

[Birdman]

Has lakers played away from home since Luka trade, seems like they been playing at home ever since

[Goldstar88]

[dang], Harden had 50 in the Clippers win over the Pistons last night. Didn?t think he could do that anymore.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Cavs only team in NBA that can beat us, truly believe that in a 7 game series

I want to see whether or not what happened in the second half in Oklahoma was a fluke or not before I agree with you.

[SparzWizard]

Has lakers played away from home since Luka trade, seems like they been playing at home ever since

Yup they won a couple at Portland and at Denver. They have one more home game tonight before going on a 4 game road trip starting with Boston this Saturday.

And then they get a 5 game home stretch afterwards lol

[jpotter33]

Cavs only team in NBA that can beat us, truly believe that in a 7 game series

Eh, I still don?t fear the Cavs. We still matchup great with them, and despite the regular season record being 2-2, we largely had control and were up big in every game, despite being healthy and not missing 2+ starters/rotation players for only one of them.

I think OKC is the more worrisome team. Still think we?re better and that they?re still too young/inexperienced with a questionable offense to win it all, but their defense is legit and they matchup a lot better with us.

[Phantom255x]

Cavs only team in NBA that can beat us, truly believe that in a 7 game series

Eh, I still don?t fear the Cavs. We still matchup great with them, and despite the regular season record being 2-2, we largely had control and were up big in every game, despite being healthy and not missing 2+ starters/rotation players for only one of them.

I think OKC is the more worrisome team. Still think we?re better and that they?re still too young/inexperienced with a questionable offense to win it all, but their defense is legit and they matchup a lot better with us.

I think CLE and OKC are the only teams who could beat us in a series.

Sparz will disagree but I don't think LAL can beat us either. When it's time to try and lock in, I think the Celtics will overwhelm them. But honestly I still think LAL is losing before the Finals. It's funny though, a lot of times the argument is, "doesn't really matter the C's won, it's regular season, wait until the real games", EXCEPT when teams like the Lakers or Nuggets beat us in regular season over the last few seasons, THEN it's a worrying sign and a sign of the apocalypse 

But I really do hope we show up for the Saturday game fully healthy and ready to go. Send a statement.

[Who]

Does anyone think Milwaukee can beat us in a series?

I think they could. I wouldn't have them as a favourite or anything. Boston would be the favourite. But I do think MIL are good enough to knock us out.

[Phantom255x]

Does anyone think Milwaukee can beat us in a series?

I think they could. I wouldn't have them as a favourite or anything. Boston would be the favourite. But I do think MIL are good enough to knock us out.

I personally don't, but acknowledge it could be a series that goes 6 or 7.

Like a lot of potential series though, it'll also depend on health, like I really do think we'd need Porzingis in a series vs MIL as well.

[Goldstar88]

Does anyone think Milwaukee can beat us in a series?

I think they could. I wouldn't have them as a favourite or anything. Boston would be the favourite. But I do think MIL are good enough to knock us out.

Nope. Joe will hunt Dame, who is a big liability defensively. Giannis will get his, but Jrue, D-White and JB will give Lillard a really hard time. I don?t think Kuzma will make that much of a difference. Brook is old.

[Who]

I haven't liked what I had seen from MIL for the 18 months prior to trading for Kuzma. I didn't think they were a contender last season or earlier this season. I have changed my mind since then though.

I thought Kuzma would improve them some because they were so desperate for young legs / speed & athleticism but it has surprised me just how much better the rest of the team looks now that he is on board. Particularly Brook Lopez.

MIL looked so old and slow these past 18 months. B Lopez was slowing down. Giannis was very good defensively but couldn't hide all those flaws. Lillard was a liability. The SG position was often a liability and is still a question mark. And Middleton was a liability at SF.

Just swapping out Middleton for Kuzma has changed from a liability to a strength defensively. But it has not just been a simple swap. Brook Lopez also looks much better defensively because he finally has some protection around him. He has two athletic forwards now in Kuzma and Giannis to shrink the court. B Lopez was always good for MIL in defending in small spaces and around the rim. His problem was in open spaces where he couldn't get help. Giannis and Kuzma have shrunk the space B Lopez has to concentrate on defensively allowing him to play more to his strengths and less to his weaknesses. He has looked a lot better. Not just defensively but offensively too. The offense has been a surprise. Maybe he is just happier now in his improved defensive role but he has looked much sharper and more aggressive on offense for MIL since the trade. Brook is playing his best basketball in 3-4 years.

They also have legit size off the bench in the forward slots too with Taureen Prince and Bobby Portis. Big, long, solid athletes, solid quickness. So when Giannis or Kuzma goes to the bench they can maintain that help for B Lopez much better. Or when Lopez sits and MIL goes small, they have a dynamic defensive frontcourt with a lot of speed while maintaining size & length.

I have been impressed by just how imposing that frontcourt is physically on the defensive end. The are HUGE. Brook Lopez 7-1 260lbs long. Giannis 6-11 (maybe taller) 240lbs. Kuzma 6-9 230lbs. They have been much more effective in protecting their backcourt defensively as well.

---------------------------------

This Bucks team reminds me much more of the squad they had in 2021 (when BOS knocked them out en route to Finals in 7) and 2022 (when they lost to Miami in 1st round) than the team we saw last season in 2023 or earlier this season. They have that defense back to a high enough level once again. As they did when Jrue Holiday was last there.

[Phantom255x]

Warriors about to now be 9-2 since the Butler trade. They look for real.

Also Post has turned into a very nice center for them. Nothing too flashy but does all the little things and can shoot. That's another element they have now that they didn't before (along with Butler)