Bucks 2024-25 Season Thread

[Voyageur]

Here's one of the latest articles on how poorly Doc handled the Bucks lineup game after game. Luna got it partially right, but it could have been handled still utilizing Lopez, Kuzma, and Connaughton earlier in the season and it would have gotten them in better shape as a unit. Rivers is a foolish man who believes he can actually change a player's style of play completely as if he was remolding clay and make it work. Nothing could be further from the truth. You need to explore the inherent abilities of what you have on your roster to make things happen using each player's skill set as part of a mix.

He destroyed what was left of Middleton, totally decimated Kuzma's game, turned Connaughton into an end of bench player, despite the fact that he showed at the end of the season he still had it in the tank by being only one of 4 Bucks players in history to score over 40 points in a game. He tried to push Lopez out on the perimeter instead of letting him be the plug in the middle who forced teams to work outside more, and he let Giannis shoot 3s and long-range jumpers that aren't his cup of tea. He can't hit free throws why would we believe he's going to hit 3s for crying out loud? He submitted to Lillard's personal statement about playing more early in games and it ended up costing the Bucks enormously when the other 4 guys on the court had to run around like they were possessed trying to cover 5 guys while Lillard watched.

Even his allowing Giannis to bring the ball up the court was stupid. Giannis was and will never be the point guard for this team. The guys that bring the ball up are supposed to be the guys who can move the ball in a way as to create bunny shots for guys like Giannis and Lopez, and 3-point opportunities for others like Connaughton, Porter, and others. Instead, they were constantly out of sync because their big man was playing out at the point and making his own decisions without set plays being part of the mix.

Look deeper as to the problem. We have had 3 coaches now who kiss Giannis posterior, so he'll be happy. The team concept is history with him because he now feels like he is the team and those around him should be selected to enhance him. If you want a comparison, look at what happened with Luka Doncic going to the Lakers from the Mavs. He'd been the "golden boy" in Dallas and in LA, he had to fit into a system. He's had some good games, but his game was definitely not in sync with the game that was being played by LeBron and others. He didn't adjust well, and kept falling into his old game and they ended up being dumped out of the playoffs just like the Bucks.

The key to winning in the NBA, in fact any sport is based on team chemistry. It has to mesh. The Bucks suck in that area. Time to disband the entire bunch and get draft picks back so they can at least be somewhat competitive. They don't need to be a strong lottery pick team for the next 5 to 10 years but it could happen if they don't work on getting a new look starting now.

This guy understood what I was talking about.

It took an elimination game for Bucks' Doc Rivers to listen (it was too late)

Doc Rivers took too long to do right by these Milwaukee Bucks. Now the season's over, and they brace for an offseason of uncertainty.

behindthebuckpass.com

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Side track....

Did anyone follow Khris Middleton after he was traded? He was traded on 2/5 and only played in 14 games (of a possible 32) for the Wizards.

 

[Voyageur]

Side track....

Did anyone follow Khris Middleton after he was traded? He was traded on 2/5 and only played in 14 games (of a possible 32) for the Wizards.

He didn't do much at all. To be honest, I think he was still injured when he left the Bucks and never got in shape to play. I think he wanted to rush it to get on the floor and it backfired. I expect him to be a decent player next year. But, it could go downhill for him. Hard to say.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Is the current Bucks team all that bad or are we being overcritical of their exits from the playoffs over the last several years?

The team that beat the Bucks in the Playoffs has made the ECF or Finals every year since 2018.

The Pacers knocked the Bucks out this year and are 1 game away from playing in the Championship Round.

25: Pacers; in ECF
24: Pacers; made ECF
23: Heat; made Finals
22: Celtics; made Finals
21: Bucks won Finals
20: Heat; made Finals
19: Raptors; won Finals
18: Celtics; made ECF

 

[gopkrs]

I've noticed in these playoffs that teams need a 5, 6 and probably 7 players that are good and don't hurt you when they are in. That killed the Nuggets imho. Westbrook is just a loose cannon and he was #5 or 6. A versatile big man too. That thin but sturdy guy on Oklahoma is really a plus and then they have another big man that doesn't hurt them. Tough for me to see OK losing but I'll root for Indiana.

 

[Voyageur]

I've noticed in these playoffs that teams need a 5, 6 and probably 7 players that are good and don't hurt you when they are in. That killed the Nuggets imho. Westbrook is just a loose cannon and he was #5 or 6. A versatile big man too. That thin but sturdy guy on Oklahoma is really a plus and then they have another big man that doesn't hurt them. Tough for me to see OK losing but I'll root for Indiana.

It does take 8 players to make it work. The game is so fast today that if you don't have 8 good pieces to play, you're dead in the water because you can't keep fresh legs out there.

 

[Heyjoe4]

It does take 8 players to make it work. The game is so fast today that if you don't have 8 good pieces to play, you're dead in the water because you can't keep fresh legs out there.

Like the NFL, the NBA is becoming a young player's league. Even a slight drop off is speed or endurance will hurt a player, hurt a team.

I think that's why it's so hard to repeat as champion in the NBA.

 

[Voyageur]

If I see one more article from a wannabe sports reporter giving us the "low-down" on a trade that the Bucks will make with Giannis, I'm gonna puke!

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

If I see one more article from a wannabe sports reporter giving us the "low-down" on a trade that the Bucks will make with Giannis, I'm gonna puke!

Remember the days when we didn't hear about a big trade until....after it happened?

Now we hear about trades years before....they never happen.

My new idea for an app.....It sorts through all of the available "articles" to read when you do a google search. Then it sorts them from top to bottom from "Most reliable facts" to "absolute bullshit". I suppose I could add a feature in that app that gets rid of all the BS articles available, but if I did that, many searches would come up empty.

 

[Heyjoe4]

If I see one more article from a wannabe sports reporter giving us the "low-down" on a trade that the Bucks will make with Giannis, I'm gonna puke!

Next up will be stories about recently-fired Knicks HC Thibodeaux. That might be interesting if the Bucks didn't already have two HCs on the payroll.

 

[weeds]

Next up will be stories about recently-fired Knicks HC Thibodeaux. That might be interesting if the Bucks didn't already have two HCs on the payroll.

I was just wondering that very thing. How many head coaches are we currently paying.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I was just wondering that very thing. How many head coaches are we currently paying.

I think the Bucks are still on the hook for Griffin, who lasted 1/2 a season. And I think Rivers has a five-year deal.

 

[Voyageur]

I think the Bucks are still on the hook for Griffin, who lasted 1/2 a season. And I think Rivers has a five-year deal.

Budenholzer's contract ran through the 2024-25 season. He's off the payroll now.

Griffin signed a 4-year deal starting in the 2023-24 season. So the contract years end in '24, '25, '26, and '27. The Bucks pay him for two more years.

Doc Rivers contract was a 5-year deal. It runs concurrent with the Griffin contract and ends in '27. No matter what, the two of them get paid big bucks for two more years.

Rough figures, Griffin is getting $4 mill a year and Rivers is getting $10 mill.

So, who makes out best? It would be Budenholzer, since the Phoenix Suns owe him $40. He's gonna get $10 mill a year for the next 4 years.

 

[lambeaulambo]

This thread about the unwatchable NBA baffles me. Raise the hoop to 12 feet and lengthen the court, no more than 2 steps or its travelling. No palming the ball. there - fixed.

 

[gopkrs]

This thread about the unwatchable NBA baffles me. Raise the hoop to 12 feet and lengthen the court, no more than 2 steps or its travelling. No palming the ball. there - fixed.

I agree mostly. Just don't know about 12 ft. hoops. Kids like to play like the pros do. 12 ft. is pretty high for everyone else. And changing all the hoops around the world? I certainly agree with the traveling and palming. Probably move the 3pt. line out more.

 

[Voyageur]

Go back to the old palming the ball rule and you lose all the cuts and drives to the hoop, and quick moves where you change direction. Move the bucket up to 12' and you eliminate the dunk shot. When I was in HS, if you dunked the ball the basket was disallowed, and the other team got the ball. Once, I actually got my hand up high enough that my fingertips were above the rim and it was kind of a mini-dunk, and the refs called it against me. Everyone booed the refs. Everyone wanted to see dunks. It's part of the game. Part of the ballet of big men.

The Euro-step is now reaching the HS level. It creates more diversity on the floor, giving players those longer glides to the bucket. Let's face it. Do away with it and you've pretty much said that Giannis is not going to play in the NBA, because he's one of the guys who can take off at the free throw line and throw it down. Most of the time they'd call traveling on him. The game is boring if you can't see some dynamic moves.

12' high buckets would actually give the bigger men more of an advantage, because the rebounding game would be played beyond the reach of the guys 6-2 to 6-8. Teams would throw two big aircraft carriers out there to dominate the boards, and the other three players would be the shooters.

All these rules' modifications were done to enhance the game not hurt it.

The last thing that most of us who enjoy the game want to see is us going back to the 4 corners game with nothing but set shots. When my dad played the game, that's exactly what it was and he thought it was about as enjoyable to watch as sitting on a bench watching paint dry.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Budenholzer's contract ran through the 2024-25 season. He's off the payroll now.

Griffin signed a 4-year deal starting in the 2023-24 season. So the contract years end in '24, '25, '26, and '27. The Bucks pay him for two more years.

Doc Rivers contract was a 5-year deal. It runs concurrent with the Griffin contract and ends in '27. No matter what, the two of them get paid big bucks for two more years.

Rough figures, Griffin is getting $4 mill a year and Rivers is getting $10 mill.

So, who makes out best? It would be Budenholzer, since the Phoenix Suns owe him $40. He's gonna get $10 mill a year for the next 4 years.

Thans V, I forgot about Coach Bud. What was the term of his contract with the Suns? I'm guessing 5 years, $50 mil. That means they whacked him after one season. Is that right?

They should immediately extend their GM, as the Bucks just did with the hapless Horst.

 

[gopkrs]

I totally disagree that the game is boring if you don't have players running to the basket and there is less dunking. Elgin Baylor, just as a single example, was incredible with layups. Your right about that being the deathnell for Giannis though. And a lot others.

 

[milani]

I totally disagree that the game is boring if you don't have players running to the basket and there is less dunking. Elgin Baylor, just as a single example, was incredible with layups. Your right about that being the deathnell for Giannis though. And a lot others.

Elgin going to the basket was a compliment to Jerry West on the perimeter.

 

[gopkrs]

Elgin going to the basket was a compliment to Jerry West on the perimeter.

They were both hall of famers. Too bad they couldn't beat the Celtics.

 

[gopkrs]

Pretty amazing that Indiana won. Down 10+ points all game long and came back when it mattered. Those fans at OK, to me, just look ridiculous. No personality, no individuality. Reminds me of watching the covid games with cardboard fans. Imo of course.

 

[Voyageur]

Pretty amazing that Indiana won. Down 10+ points all game long and came back when it mattered. Those fans at OK, to me, just look ridiculous. No personality, no individuality. Reminds me of watching the covid games with cardboard fans. Imo of course.

It was no fluke that the Bucks were beaten by the Pacers. They jelled into a great team at just the right point in time to give them an amazing playoff run. You don't see that type of team too often.

 

[Heyjoe4]

It was no fluke that the Bucks were beaten by the Pacers. They jelled into a great team at just the right point in time to give them an amazing playoff run. You don't see that type of team too often.

I really didn't think Indy/OKC would be much of a series. Looks like Indy has other ideas. Looks like a battle.

 

[gopkrs]

I'm really surprised a lot of people seem to think so little of Halliburton. I even saw MJ trash him. The guy is kind of the ultimate point guard. He's tall and dishes the ball really well. When he passes around the key he really snaps it and that gives that millisecond to open another player up imho. Obviously a team player. And he's a good shooter. He's not like Alexander good but he sure helps his team. I enjoy watching him play. Indiana won't have anything easy though.

 

[Voyageur]

I'm really surprised a lot of people seem to think so little of Halliburton. I even saw MJ trash him. The guy is kind of the ultimate point guard. He's tall and dishes the ball really well. When he passes around the key he really snaps it and that gives that millisecond to open another player up imho. Obviously a team player. And he's a good shooter. He's not like Alexander good but he sure helps his team. I enjoy watching him play. Indiana won't have anything easy though.

I agree. He's mouthy but he can back it up with his play. He's in the same category as Jrue Holiday in my opinion. Halliburton scores more but their brand of play is so similar. They're not selfish and see the floor well.

I don't think the average NBA fan really sees the inside makings of each game, and what it takes as a blend of players out there to win consistently. With only 5 guys playing at one time and usually using 3 or 4 subs at most during key games, the chemistry is either there or you get hammered like the Bucks did by the Pacers, which quite honestly, was not that difficult to predict considering how both teams were playing at the end of the season.