NBA Season 2025-26

[slamtheking]

I'm curious what team Doc to the championship that wasn't supposed to get there.  that 2008 team very much had title expectations

[Donoghus]

I'm curious what team Doc to the championship that wasn't supposed to get there.  that 2008 team very much had title expectations

Yeah, '08 definitely had title aspirations. I think most of us expected them to get there.

2010 was a bit of a surprise. Coming off the KG injury and disappointment of '09.  Then the team just treaded water in the regular season and basically "rope a doped" people.  Most of this board had that team dead & buried early.  Getting to the Finals was a bit of a surprise.   Most people were punching in Lebron v. Kobe.

The '11-12 team was another one that was sorta just in cruise control then ended up a game from the Finals.

As a whole, I think most of us expected more than one title from that New Three era so that was a disappointment but the team did give us some pretty decent runs if you break it down season by season.  It's just a shame what could've been.

[Phantom255x]

There probably is some dysfunction in the Bucks organization in recent years, but it's also a bit weird to me how Giannis seems to escape a lot of criticism for how it's gone down too. Like, Griffin started 30-13 for that team yet they fired him (I wonder why...) and then hired Doc. That's kind of on them, but also it didn't seem like Giannis threw a fit when that move happened (again, I wonder why...)

My view on Giannis has changed in the past 3 years. I used to think he was gonna be both the face of the league AND someone who was likely gonna stay for *most* of his career in one spot and be that lovable, happy-looking guy with little drama. But it seems like there has been drama with him and some arrogance that has been even more apparent the last two years.

He keeps putting tidbits or "hints" out there yet doesn't demand a trade himself and then acts all "oh I want to stay in Milwaukee". Sure thing buddy. Add in that now he's involved with Kalshi (a betting platform) which I thought was a conflict of interest but guess not, but now he's part of that group and can influence things like his decision/next team and odds/wagers for that.

Again, there probably is dysfunction in the locker room and with Doc Rivers who I've always felt is overrated, but Giannis is also a big part of the reason behind it. The Bucks are better off just putting him out there this summer and starting a bidding war, that relationship has been done for a while now.

[Phantom255x]

Start of the Mavericks-Clippers game, Clippers up 17-0 

[SparzWizard]

LeBron James out with foot soreness. How fitting, against the OKC Thunder. That team really giving the Lakers PTSD

[Phantom255x]

LeBron James out with foot soreness. How fitting, against the OKC Thunder. That team really giving the Lakers PTSD

If the Rockets win out there's a real chance they pass the Lakers for the 4 seed and have HCA for the first round

[Phantom255x]

LeBron James out with foot soreness. How fitting, against the OKC Thunder. That team really giving the Lakers PTSD

If the Rockets win out there's a real chance they pass the Lakers for the 4 seed and have HCA for the first round

Although they are down 19 early to Phoenix. Ime's teams just don't seem to value offense, it's always a grind for them even with Durant

[ozgod]

Stuff is starting to come out on this Bucks implosion.  This is cringe.

Train wreck


https://www.reddit.com/r/MkeBucks/comments/1sfc0xo/perhaps_i_was_too_harsh_on_you_kuz/

[SparzWizard]

Stuff is starting to come out on this Bucks implosion.  This is cringe.

Train wreck


https://www.reddit.com/r/MkeBucks/comments/1sfc0xo/perhaps_i_was_too_harsh_on_you_kuz/

Nobody could take Joke Rivers seriously. Let's be honest, it was the strength and health of the Big 3 in 2008 that willed the Celtics to a championship (and Tom Thibs with his masterful defensive playbook).

Had the C's been healthy in 2009 (healthy KG and Leon Powe), they would've made it back to the Finals. They'd prob lose to LA though because LAL was really good that year for whatever reason.

But the C's had they been healthy in 2010 (healthy Perk), that series ends in 6. If not, 7, with Boston celebrating Banner 18.

In 2012, the C's had a 3-2 series lead and they just fell apart at the end. That team's lack of depth (no Wilcox, no Jeff Green) and LeBron going supersaiyan outdone them. Doc had no part in the X's and O's.

Even Doc with the Clippers and he continued blowing 3-1 leads. He blew a few 3-2 leads with Boston and then with Philly. Idk how he deserved this recognition but Bucks players def are tuning out on him.

[Who]

Stuff is starting to come out on this Bucks implosion.  This is cringe.

Train wreck


https://www.reddit.com/r/MkeBucks/comments/1sfc0xo/perhaps_i_was_too_harsh_on_you_kuz/

In fairness to Doc, those 2 guards are both selfish players. So is Kuzma.

[Moranis]

Stuff is starting to come out on this Bucks implosion.  This is cringe.

Train wreck


https://www.reddit.com/r/MkeBucks/comments/1sfc0xo/perhaps_i_was_too_harsh_on_you_kuz/

Nobody could take Joke Rivers seriously. Let's be honest, it was the strength and health of the Big 3 in 2008 that willed the Celtics to a championship (and Tom Thibs with his masterful defensive playbook).

Had the C's been healthy in 2009 (healthy KG and Leon Powe), they would've made it back to the Finals. They'd prob lose to LA though because LAL was really good that year for whatever reason.

But the C's had they been healthy in 2010 (healthy Perk), that series ends in 6. If not, 7, with Boston celebrating Banner 18.

In 2012, the C's had a 3-2 series lead and they just fell apart at the end. That team's lack of depth (no Wilcox, no Jeff Green) and LeBron going supersaiyan outdone them. Doc had no part in the X's and O's.

Even Doc with the Clippers and he continued blowing 3-1 leads. He blew a few 3-2 leads with Boston and then with Philly. Idk how he deserved this recognition but Bucks players def are tuning out on him.

to be fair, 2012 is the year Bosh was hurt. Didn't play at all until game 5 in limited minutes.  Played over half the game in games 6 and 7 and the series was over. With Bosh, the Heat were simply a much better team.  We saw that in 2011 when the Heat won in 5. Had Bosh been healthy from the start that would have been a quick mostly non-competitive series. 

I never liked Doc.  I wanted him fired sometime during his 1st year and every year thereafter.  Everything he said was a lie.  He was just so fake and phoney, I didn't trust him at all.  Couple that with his consistent failure in big moments, I just wanted him gone.  I mean even in 2008, the Celtics played 26 playoff games.  The most a team can play is 28.  Doc's teams always struggled to close out series, especially against inferior teams.  You can't just keep playing 7 game series.  You can't keep losing close out games. It eventually catches up to you.  It leads to fatigue which leads to injury. 

The day Doc left I was so happy even though the Big 3 era was over. 

[Roy H.]

Stuff is starting to come out on this Bucks implosion.  This is cringe.

Train wreck


https://www.reddit.com/r/MkeBucks/comments/1sfc0xo/perhaps_i_was_too_harsh_on_you_kuz/

Nobody could take Joke Rivers seriously. Let's be honest, it was the strength and health of the Big 3 in 2008 that willed the Celtics to a championship (and Tom Thibs with his masterful defensive playbook).

Had the C's been healthy in 2009 (healthy KG and Leon Powe), they would've made it back to the Finals. They'd prob lose to LA though because LAL was really good that year for whatever reason.

But the C's had they been healthy in 2010 (healthy Perk), that series ends in 6. If not, 7, with Boston celebrating Banner 18.

In 2012, the C's had a 3-2 series lead and they just fell apart at the end. That team's lack of depth (no Wilcox, no Jeff Green) and LeBron going supersaiyan outdone them. Doc had no part in the X's and O's.

Even Doc with the Clippers and he continued blowing 3-1 leads. He blew a few 3-2 leads with Boston and then with Philly. Idk how he deserved this recognition but Bucks players def are tuning out on him.

to be fair, 2012 is the year Bosh was hurt. Didn't play at all until game 5 in limited minutes.  Played over half the game in games 6 and 7 and the series was over. With Bosh, the Heat were simply a much better team.  We saw that in 2011 when the Heat won in 5. Had Bosh been healthy from the start that would have been a quick mostly non-competitive series. 

I never liked Doc.  I wanted him fired sometime during his 1st year and every year thereafter.  Everything he said was a lie.  He was just so fake and phoney, I didn't trust him at all.  Couple that with his consistent failure in big moments, I just wanted him gone.  I mean even in 2008, the Celtics played 26 playoff games.  The most a team can play is 28.  Doc's teams always struggled to close out series, especially against inferior teams.  You can't just keep playing 7 game series.  You can't keep losing close out games. It eventually catches up to you.  It leads to fatigue which leads to injury. 

The day Doc left I was so happy even though the Big 3 era was over.

I think Doc did pretty well with the group of players here in 2008 onward.  You're right about a lot of his flaws, but he did a good job keeping a locker room full of big personalities on task.  He also helped develop a lot of our young guys into viable players. 

I don't think we fully realize how tough it was to manage KG (a "love you or hate you" guy as a teammate), Rondo and Ray.  I think that he maximized their potential here.  With a little less injury bad luck, I think Doc would have won three rings, maybe four.

I think he was a pretty lousy coach most other places, and I didn't like him during his first three years here.  But, I think he was a good fit for our veteran team.

[Who]

Kawhi has quietly put together an amazing season.

28ppg in 32mpg
50.5% FG 38.4% 3PT 90% FT 63% TS
6.3rpg 3.6apg 1.9spg 0.4bpg
2 turnovers per game

28ppg is his career high.

He just missed a 50/40/90 season. This is the first time Kawhi has made 90% of his FTs. He had shot 40+% from 3 for the previous three seasons and narrowly missed a 4th (39.8%). He shot slightly worse this year while upping his volume from around 5 threes per game to 7 threes per game.

His 1.9 steals per game is the highest number since the 2014-15 season (2.3spg) in San Antonio. 11 years ago. And 2nd highest of his career.

Only 2 turnovers per game with that efficiency in his shot making plus 3.6 assists per game. A 1.8:1.0 AST:TOV ratio. One of the top offensive seasons in the league this year. Volume scoring with high efficiency.

Only 32mpg as well. 28ppg in 32mpg.

[Roy H.]

Kawhi has quietly put together an amazing season.

28ppg in 32mpg
50.5% FG 38.4% 3PT 90% FT 63% TS
6.3rpg 3.6apg 1.9spg 0.4bpg
2 turnovers per game

28ppg is his career high.

He just missed a 50/40/90 season. This is the first time Kawhi has made 90% of his FTs. He had shot 40+% from 3 for the previous three seasons and narrowly missed a 4th (39.8%). He shot slightly worse this year while upping his volume from around 5 threes per game to 7 threes per game.

His 1.9 steals per game is the highest number since the 2014-15 season (2.3spg) in San Antonio. 11 years ago. And 2nd highest of his career.

Only 2 turnovers per game with that efficiency in his shot making plus 3.6 assists per game. A 1.8:1.0 AST:TOV ratio. One of the top offensive seasons in the league this year. Volume scoring with high efficiency.

Only 32mpg as well. 28ppg in 32mpg.

I wonder how much the fact that he could be a free agent this summer (depending on how the NBA investigation goes) motivated him.

I know it's been speculated that the NBA could void his contract, but seemingly that would benefit Kawhi, not punish him.

[Moranis]

63 games played also, so if he plays in 2 of the final 3 can qualify for all nba.