24-25 Season

[mufan2003]

Some interesting sound bites from "The Starting Lineup" (Frank Isola and Brian Scalabrine) on SiriusXM NBA Radio:

Giannis:

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1848745508484911315

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1848792329098039538

Dame:

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1848748276390187333

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1848776959360438634

Doc:

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNBA/status/1848760840784384225

[mufan2003]

The Bucks are being overlooked. Gary Trent was a very nice addition. Dame is in much better shape heading into this season.

Just give me a healthy Giannis, Dame, Khris, Brook, Bobby, Trent come playoff time and I believe the Bucks are the biggest threat to Boston, that should still be the favorite in the East.

https://twitter.com/frankmikesmith/status/1848475516325560365

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1846597771115352550

https://twitter.com/SWatsonTV/status/1849113895962603573

[mufan2003]

Milwaukee picked to finish 5th in the East by NBA GMs:

https://www.nba.com/news/2024-25-nba-gm-survey

[Goose85]

The Bucks are being overlooked. Gary Trent was a very nice addition. Dame is in much better shape heading into this season.

Just give me a healthy Giannis, Dame, Khris, Brook, Bobby, Trent come playoff time and I believe the Bucks are the biggest threat to Boston, that should still be the favorite in the East.

https://twitter.com/frankmikesmith/status/1848475516325560365

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1846597771115352550

https://twitter.com/SWatsonTV/status/1849113895962603573

Bucks are being way overlooked.
Almost beat Indiana in round 1 without Giannis and with Dame injured.

I think Doc will have them in a good place. I think this team is determined.

Boston won it all, so they are #1 until someone knocks them off the perch.
I get the excitement for the Knicks, and they were aggressive offseason.
Bucks should be #3.

Take time with Middleton, no need to rush him back. Try to focus on being in the top 3 seeds. Load management, make sure the key players are healthy and ready for the playoffs.

I really like this Bucks team, if healthy, to make a serious run at the title.

[mufan2003]

Things are looking up. Bucks have won 5 straight, 7 of 8 and back to .500 (9-9).

Lillard was incredible last night against Miami. I really like what AJ Green and Andre Jackson are bringing to the team. Green can obviously really shoot it, but is a very underrated defender with a strong build that holds his ground well (high IQ). Andre Jackson is so athletic and has been fantastic on the defensive end. He also keeps the ball moving on offense and is just full of energy.

Gary Trent is finally playing better and Taurean Prince has been consistent. I think the plan all along was to keep Middleton out the month of November. Shorten the season for him, bring him back at some point in December.....All-Star break in February and then playoffs begin mid-April.

Nice win against the Heat last night, 3-0 in the NBA Cup standings.

https://x.com/BucksAfterDark/status/1861621902579552339

https://x.com/Bucks/status/1861616355780202880

https://x.com/BleacherReport/status/1861590657015652678

[Goose85]

Bucks looking good and now over .500

Agree mufan, Green is playing much better defense as is Jackson. Need young guys who can step in and play meaningful minutes, and they are. Need Green's 3 and D right now, and thankfully Trent is finally hitting shots.

Middleton was a beast in the playoffs last year. Need him to be healthy so take your time getting him back. Manage the season, as they have been doing, and just get into the top 5 and be ready to play playoff basketball.

[mufan2003]

Middleton listed as "Probable" for tomorrow's game @Boston. :cool:

https://x.com/Bucks/status/1864753174864712153

https://x.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1864693559535784077?t=dxQc3WOPvMxjqVMC2Cgo7g&s=19

[Goose85]

Middleton needs to get his shooting back in line, might take some time. Had a good number of assists last night.

I really don't care about this in-season tournament, but at least the Bucks are showing up in games and advancing.

Just need to keep playing together, developing the younger players into guys that can play meaningful minutes and D, and getting Middleton back in the flow of the game with Dame and Giannis.

When looking at schedule, we are already done playing Boston for the year, and have just one more game with Cleveland, so from an east standpoint we have the hardest games in the rear view mirror.

[mufan2003]

While the ultimate goal is April/May/June, watching the Bucks win the NBA Cup and Giannis another MVP was fun because they are playing so well right now. Lillard's conditioning is superb, at times he looked "lazy" last season because he was not in peak condition. He is driving the ball and making great reads/passes. His shooting remains amazing, just shake my head at times (Steph Curry and Lillard in a class by themselves of active players).

Gary Trent is dialed in and playing well. Taurean Prince has been a solid starter. AJ Green, not only his shooting but his tough defense. Andre Jackson's defense and motor.

Giannis truly might be the leading candidate for a 3rd MVP right now. Jokic might be the only one ahead of him. The Bucks have righted the ship.

An unspoken strength......a great coaching staff. Darvin Ham left after the 2022 ECSF against Boston that was lost in 7, to coach the Lakers. Many of the players said Darvin Ham had a way of holding players accountable and had a strong presence. I think it is so crucial having him back in the fold, he might be the successor to Doc......Giannis is playing defense like he was in 2020 (DPOY) and 2021. Greg Buckner, who came from Cleveland, was widely respected for his defensive prowess in helping a resurging Cleveland team. Dave Joerger, former coach in Memphis, highly respected. Joe Prunty (time as a head coach, long-time assistant), Rex Kalamian and Vin Baker (great for Giannis and his offensive game).

I love how Giannis said they were playing so that rookie Liam Robbins could buy a house in Iowa (with the $500K prize money) :D. Dame speaking along the same lines to help staff and others with the prize money. Kind of a cool thing, even though the Larry O'Brien trophy is the main prize that they are working towards.

https://x.com/ChrisBHaynes/status/1869248675652022527

https://x.com/ArashMarkazi/status/1869252977200144750

https://x.com/BucksLead/status/1869230889147973878

https://x.com/JWeinbachNBA/status/1869241582882546161

https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/1869198158120567227

https://x.com/NBA/status/1869258652126966072

https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/1869231610991657354

https://x.com/NBAonTNT/status/1869231691199619368

https://x.com/NBA/status/1868385907247849783

https://x.com/NBAPR/status/1869237477594263889/photo/1

[Goose85]

Great post, and thanks for the links mufan2003, I enjoyed those links.

Trent and Prince are finding their place to be successful with this group. Jackson and Green have really fit the bill of what the Bucks lacked last season. Jackson brings that defensive quickness and energy. Green is hitting 3's and playing better D.

Need to just stay healthy, get Middleton in the mix (hopefully to the point he was at in the Pacer playoff series), and keep the momentum with Trent, Prince, Jackson and Green. Keep Connaughton in the mix as he too will be needed (it is a long season).

Giannis and Dame are looking more comfortable together. Just keep those two clicking.

Great points on the coaching staff.

Look forward to seeing what this team can do.
Interesting point, after Friday we are done playing Cleveland and Boston for the rest of the year (until playoffs). Doesn't mean we have an easy schedule, but it doesn't hurt to be done with the two top teams in the East.

[mufan2003]

To me, Boston is still the clear-cut best team in the East and the NBA. However, Milwaukee has never had its "Big 3" since winning the championship in 2021. No Middleton in 2022, no Giannis in 2023 or 2024, Lillard missing 2 games in 2024 and not being healthy in game 6 against Indiana.

If everyone is available, the way they are now playing together offensively and defensively as a team, they certainly can come out of the East and win it all. Not wishing for it, but Boston has not had to deal with missing Tatum or Brown in the playoffs. Cleveland has been very good. New York, Indiana and Miami all have talent and good coaching......but to me Boston is the best until someone knocks them off.

[Goose85]

To me, Boston is still the clear-cut best team in the East and the NBA. However, Milwaukee has never had its "Big 3" since winning the championship in 2021. No Middleton in 2022, no Giannis in 2023 or 2024, Lillard missing 2 games in 2024 and not being healthy in game 6 against Indiana.

If everyone is available, the way they are now playing together offensively and defensively as a team, they certainly can come out of the East and win it all. Not wishing for it, but Boston has not had to deal with missing Tatum or Brown in the playoffs. Cleveland has been very good. New York, Indiana and Miami all have talent and good coaching......but to me Boston is the best until someone knocks them off.

Winning the title is a crap shoot of who has all their top guys healthy.

Celtics are top dogs, but it is really hard to run it back. It was a long grind last year for the Celtics, and it will be another long season too. Holiday is 34 and Horford is 38. Hard to have fresh legs deep in the playoffs after NBA championship season, and another long season. They should really focus on load management with those two guys as the regular season doesn't matter as long as you get to the playoffs.

Like you said, Bucks haven't had the big 3 healthy since winning it all. Teams that are healthy have a shot. Let's hope the Bucks are healthy!

[mufan2003]

Way to go Giannis! Top vote-getter for his 9th All-Star appearance:

https://x.com/NBAPR/status/1882622812726469007

https://x.com/NBAAllStar/status/1882588838411047099

Lillard deserves to be 1 of the 7 East reserves selected by the league's coaches and announced next Thursday. He had an amazing 3-pt make in the corner right before halftime against Miami. He is in such better shape this season compared to last. Most importantly, Bucks have won 5 in a wow and 8 of 10.

https://x.com/Bucks/status/1882622992720744855

After the game, Giannis made a great statement regarding the travel issues the team faced around their scheduled game in New Orleans. You just have to love this guy's mindset! IMO, no doubt, the hardships he faced growing up in Greece makes him laugh at "difficulties" such as this.

https://x.com/TheGameMKE/status/1882780180348846454

https://x.com/eric_nehm/status/1882663511027073298

[Goose85]

Great perspective from Giannis. Another reason why he is so popular, he gets it.

[mufan2003]

Giannis out through the All-Star break (will sit out the All-Star game) with a left calf injury.

I don't mind Giannis having a nice 18-day, 19-day break mid-season which includes the All-Star game. Rest up and finish the regular season strong.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43764657/sources-giannis-antetokounmpo-ruled-all-star-break

[Goose85]

Good point. Take a break and make sure he is ready to go down the stretch.

After the All Star break there are 28 games left. Plenty of time to work in the new guys with Giannis, and try to solidify the four seed. Not sure it makes sense to shoot for anything higher than that seed.

[mufan2003]

An interesting breakdown of the Kuzma addition. Albeit a small sample size, I like what I have seen through 4 games.

https://youtu.be/4TTZoPpJYTY?si=J9smrhh2M4dWdsRx

[mufan2003]

https://x.com/BucksLead/status/1892327141234130987

[mufan2003]

Portis suspended 25 games for taking Tramadol (pain reducing, anti-inflammatory pill) which is banned by the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug program.

He could return with 5 games remaining in the regular season.

https://x.com/eric_nehm/status/1892606689196531807

[Goose85]

Well, I guess not paying his salary for those 25 games puts the Bucks further under the tax apron (if they count that).

Too bad, as it would be nice if we could get the whole gang together while working in the new players for more than just a couple games before the playoffs.

Back to back games, so I would think Giannis may not play in them. If he does, my guess would be just one so we will be short handed.

[mufan2003]

Nice win last night, Brook is still very valuable at age 36. Can stretch the floor, 4 blocks, finish tough inside.

The positive is that Bobby can continue to work on his game so that he is ready to go when the suspension is over. Different from an injury, where you need to get your conditioning back. While seeding matters, Miami showed in 2023 (#8 seed) that it matters how you are playing come playoff time and having health.

This has been discussed before, but Giannis has really improved his mid-range game. Really looks smooth, even incorporated a "Dirk-like" shot off one leg. This will be useful in the playoffs when it can become more of a half-court game.

https://x.com/GiannisWorld_/status/1892256234771755513

[mufan2003]

KPJ (Scoot) just might be a steal. 24-years-old, doesn't turn 25 until May, has not even entered his prime yet. He was a 5-star recruit out of high school although did not play in the McDonald's All-American or Jordan Brand game. Could it be similar to 2013 when the Bucks traded Brandon Jennings for Brandon Knight and a relatively unknown player named Khris Middleton?

KPJ was drafted 30th in 2019 and put up nice numbers while in Houston. Then was out of the league for a year. At such a young age, some adversity might have this guy heading in the right direction at the right time. Love the attitude he brings to go along with Portis and Giannis.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/porteke02.html#per_game_stats

What an epic comeback against Minnesota. Down by as many as 24 in the 4th QTR. This team can be dangerous, especially if Lillard can return.

https://youtu.be/vMMnBNjy27Q

[mufan2003]

KPJ was #28 overall in 247's 2018 composite rankings:

https://247sports.com/season/2018-basketball/compositerecruitrankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

The 5 players predominantly on the floor during the 4th QTR comeback, and their age:

Kevin Porter Jr. - 24
Gary Trent Jr. - 26
AJ Green - 25
Bobby Portis - 30
Giannis - 30

All of a sudden, the Bucks aren't a bunch of older, slower guys. 2 players (Prince & Green) Top 10 in 3P% with Gary Trent at #20. All three players shooting above 40% from beyond the arc. A great compliment to have around Giannis......and if Lillard can return.

https://www.espn.com/nba/stats/player/_/table/offensive/sort/threePointFieldGoalPct/dir/desc

[Goose85]

KPJ was #28 overall in 247's 2018 composite rankings:

https://247sports.com/season/2018-basketball/compositerecruitrankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

The 5 players predominantly on the floor during the 4th QTR comeback, and their age:

Kevin Porter Jr. - 24
Gary Trent Jr. - 26
AJ Green - 25
Bobby Portis - 30
Giannis - 30

All of a sudden, the Bucks aren't a bunch of older, slower guys. 2 players (Prince & Green) Top 10 in 3P% with Gary Trent at #20. All three players shooting above 40% from beyond the arc. A great compliment to have around Giannis......and if Lillard can return.

https://www.espn.com/nba/stats/player/_/table/offensive/sort/threePointFieldGoalPct/dir/desc

Agree on Porter, and hopefully he can continue to develop on this team into the player a lot of people thought he would be. I like your comparison to Middleton.