[zcnumerounoParticipant]

Giannis just went for 52/16/7/2/1 in only 36 minutes, while shooting 15-26 from the field (57.7%), 3-8 from 3 (37.5%) and 19-21 from the line (90.5%) in a close loss to the 76ers today.

What makes this so impressive is that he was the only consistent source of offense for the Bucks tonight, as Bledsoe, Mirotic, Middleton, and Lopez all struggled, while Brogdon is hurt.

Give this man the MVP. He single-handedly kept the Bucks in this game against one of the most talented teams in the NBA.

[BeastMode716Participant]

 kept the Bucks in this game & Phila has Insane size, length & athleticism at the Def end 

I hope the Bucks can get Brogden back healthy for the playoffs b/c his absence really hurt Milwaukee today 

As far as Phila – I don’t know Phila’s game plan going forward – but Good Lawd if that Ownership keeps that core together & Butler, Harris, Simmons & Embiid have a full season to develop & learn to play w/ each other my God they are gonna beat Tough to Beat

[SubZeroParticipant]

He’s the Shaq of this generation just based on pure physical dominance. How many MVPs can he realistically win? The sky’s really the limit for him

[r377Participant]

 Not sure if he gets MVP or not but he definitely has my vote. He actually plays both ends of the court unlike Harden.

[Sewok15Participant]

 Brett Brown always allows star players to crush them. He refuses to change his defensive game plan when it obviously isn’t working. Countless players have scored career highs on the Sixers this year and Brett Brown just allows it. Nobody else was doing anything for the Bucks and they still almost won. 

They lost to the Bulls a few games back when LaVine had 39. It was obvious he was getting the ball after inbounding to Robin Lopez at the elbow. When he got the ball back using Lopez as a screen they didn’t double Lavine. Both players actually stayed with Lopez which is a mental mistake on their part…but if you are no doubt double teaming their top offensive threat with 4 seconds left that doesn’t happen. 

Maybe Brett is saving the good defensive schemes for the playoffs…

They have given up 50 to Giannis and Blake Griffin. They gave up 39 to Zach Lavine and Spencer Dinwiddie in losses. They gave up many other 30+ point games in losses to star players such as KD, Kawhi, Beal, Jokic, CJ McCollum, PG-13, Hield and Harden (who scores 30 plus on everyone every night). 

The vast majority of the games they lose are because their inability to stop the best teams offensive player. I understand the guys in the league are talented and will score 30 points on you sometimes…but when they do it easily and you keep allowing them to do it you are asking for trouble.

I worry about this team in a series against a Kyrie, Kawhi or Giannis. I think the Sixers have more talent than anyone in the East but I question their coaching. 

[frogmanParticipant]

Strange to go after him after they just beat the best team in the conference on their home floor.  A star player putting 30 on you is not that strange but if what you say is a problem a 7-game series where you can make game-to game adjustments should suit them then.

With the defender’s they have I am not worried that a Kyrie/Kawhi/Giannis is going to average 40 on them in a losing series.

 

 

[Sewok15Participant]

 The Sixers should have won that game by 10 points easily. If Brogdon plays they would have lost that game. The Bucks had the best player on the court but the Sixers had the next 4 best players (Middleton is close to Harris). They gave up 43 points in the 4th quarter…the only reason they won is because they have more talent than Milwaukee and just outscored them. 

Brett Brown hasn’t shown the ability to adjust his gameplans at all. The reason they lost to Boston in the playoffs last year was Brad Stevens outcoached Brown. With a bit more specialized defensive schemes (not just switching every screen and let star players work whatever matchup they desire 1 on 1) they probably wouldn’t be fighting so hard just to get the 3rd seed in the East. 

If you aren’t worried about one of those guys averaging 40 against the Sixers than you haven’t been watching the same team I have this year. The Sixers do have a bunch of good individual defenders. The problem is they don’t have 5 of them that play at the same time. So at any given time just by setting a lackluster screen their opponents can choose the weakest defender (Often JJ Reddick sometimes Mike Scott or Boban) to attack one on one. 

If they continue to let the offense dictate the matchups so easily and refuse to double team they will have to outscore every team they play. They should be able to do that in the first round but after that I expect difficulties. They are 12th in defensive efficiency this season after finishing 3rd last season. I think Boston exposed them a bit last year in the playoffs and the smart teams are copying their game plan. 

I have been a Brett Brown fan during the process but there is a growing feeling around here that he might not be the coach to get them over the hump. If he doesn’t reach the conference finals I expect a new coach next season. 

[Sewok15Participant]

 Still not worried?

[Sewok15Participant]

 How about now? Kawhi scores a careeeeeerrrrr high 45 in game 1. I guess BB is waiting until game 2 to "make adjustments". 

[Sewok15Participant]

 Kawhi only averaged 34.7 against them. He hardly killed them. 

[Sewok15Participant]

 Kawhi only averaged 34.7 against them. He hardly killed them. 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

This was a phenomenal game for the Freakish Greek since Caligula, yet the 76ers controlled the game for the most part…I would be worried about a 7 game series against the 76ers if I were the Bucks, the 76ers have 4 guys they can throw at Giannis to make him work, the other guys would need to step up (Middleton started to heat up late and got the Bucks back into the game)

Depth wise, Philly is in good shape, they can afford to play around with their lineups as long as they keep any 2 of the Embiid/Simmons/Butler/Harris Foursome on the court

The real shame here is Joel went off for 40 and 15, with 6 assits and a few great defensive plays and no one is talking about great he is 4 games removed from time away due to injury/fatigue

The Playoffs are going to be fun to watch because Philly is clearly the most talented Team on paper and are in the midst of a 4 game win streak and gaining more chemistry by the day, It’s going to be interesting to follow the Raps/Bucks/Celtics these next few weeks because they’ve all got looming questions to answer before the PO’s start 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 Out East a lot will depend on who can stay fresh and to pick who will emerge as likely NBA finalists will be hard. The West is loaded but the East will be just as hard to win and no team is likely to have a clear run to the NBA finals.

The Celtics are a team to probably watch as they have a lot of play off experience and roster depth, Toronto are better balanced than last season, the 76ers have an excellent starting 5 and the best big out East in Embiid, the Bucks have the best player out East in the Greek Freak and Pacers have gone under the radar and could be a tough match up for anyone.

The scary thing about Giannis is that he is still only 24 years old, his playmaking and 3 point shooting are still works in progress and his basketball IQ is still improving. A lot of the recent great players didn’t win their first title until they were 27/28 at just reaching their peak, so what Giannis could become is a scary thought.

[Author]

Posts