50th Win

Bucks reach the 50-win mark last night in Phoenix and can reach 60 wins if they go at least 10-3 down the stretch. Best record (50-19) in the East/NBA with the closest team (Boston) 3 games back. I don't care about 60 wins but I want the #1 seed.

This team is playing unbelievably good basketball and is showing its incredible depth. Middleton is really coming into his own again, Lopez is having one of his finest seasons and is a leading DPOY candidate, Giannis is a top MVP candidate (again), Holiday was an All-Star and is also having one of his best seasons. Portis, Crowder, Ingles, Allen, Connaughton and then the transformation of Jevon Carter. Not to mention Wes Matthews, who they are inevitably resting for playoff time along with Goran Dragic in their back pocket.

The Bucks have looked like a well oiled machine with so much talent that they can keep throwing at you in waves. In 2021, winning the championship, the bench was really limited (Portis, Connaughton, Forbes, Teague, Thanasis) and they still found a way to win. This 2023 edition is so much deeper and are really starting to gel now. It is going to be fun watching the stretch run and playoffs.

Right now three games up on Boston in the loss column.

The Bucks and Boston play at the end of the month. Should the Bucks Should we win that game, we have the tie breaker.

If the Bucks go 9-4 the rest of the way, with on of the wins being over Boston, even if the Celtics go undefeated in all other games, the Bucks would have the #1 seed.

10 games left, important 2-game road trip against Utah and Denver (#1 team in the West) with 2 big home games next week against Boston and Philly.

In the loss column, 3 games ahead of Boston and Philly. A crucial stretch for the #1 seed.

Boston with a surprising loss @ Washington last night.

In the loss column, back to 3 games up on Boston and now 5 on Philly. For best record in the NBA, also 3 games in the loss column.

7 games remaining.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MUFAN2003

Boston with a surprising loss @ Washington last night.

In the loss column, back to 3 games up on Boston and now 5 on Philly. For best record in the NBA, also 3 games in the loss column.

7 games remaining.

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Couldn't believe it when I saw that score from yesterday's game.

Up 3 in the loss column with 7 games to go. Not a bad spot to be in.

Will be interesting to see how the Bucks handle tonight's game with Indiana and tomorrow with Boston. Do they go all in for tonight to win, and give off tomorrow due to the back to back, or do the Bucks try to win both, and if so, alternate rest the remainder of the season?

I could also see the Bucks using tomorrow's game with Boston to try out different defensive options as a test for the playoffs.

Should the Bucks win tonight and tomorrow, pretty much a lock we are the #1 seed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Goose85

Couldn't believe it when I saw that score from yesterday's game.

Up 3 in the loss column with 7 games to go. Not a bad spot to be in.

Will be interesting to see how the Bucks handle tonight's game with Indiana and tomorrow with Boston. Do they go all in for tonight to win, and give off tomorrow due to the back to back, or do the Bucks try to win both, and if so, alternate rest the remainder of the season?

I could also see the Bucks using tomorrow's game with Boston to try out different defensive options as a test for the playoffs.

Should the Bucks win tonight and tomorrow, pretty much a lock we are the #1 seed.

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Agreed, and that Indiana game was full of highlights:

Jrue with a career high 51 PTS, 8 REBS, 8 ASSTS

https://twitter.com/DaveKoehnPxP/sta...15864610734081

Giannis with a triple-double 38 PTS, 17 REBS, 12 ASSTS

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1641246170457706496

Grayson with a ridiculous dunk that had everyone in the building mesmerized

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1641246802258321414

https://twitter.com/Bucks/status/1641249206160576513

Bucks nation after last night's loss to the Celtics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFeVfwDvTyM

Some thoughts:

(1) Easy to chalk it up to being the back end of a back-to-back......5 games in 7 days. However.....Middleton, Crowder, Ingles did not play the night before in Indiana.

(2) In the 3 games against the Celtics this season, the Bucks have allowed Boston to make 17, 19 and 22 from beyond the arc. Credit the Bucks, they are up to 5th in limiting opponents' 3FG%. However, as has been a consistent theme going back to last year, they play far too off their man when it comes to the Celtics. Going under screens, no hand up, just hoping their percentages come down as the game progresses. This is on Bud and the coaching staff to hammer home. Too much height, length and quality defenders on Milwaukee to accept such a subpar defensive effort and defensive mentality.

(3) Giannis has to go to more in his bag other than dunks/layups against Boston. Needs to relax a bit.....receive the ball in the wide post, free throw line, elbow. Going downhill 150mph, against Boston, becomes pointless. There will be those moments (in transition), but not against a set, half-court defense.

(4) Need guys to make shots beyond the arc against the Celtics. Milwaukee is a good 3-point shooting team, but always seem to be less than stellar against Boston. Credit Boston's defense for some of it, but some of it seems mental. Shoot it with confidence.

(5) The Bucks are deep, take advantage of it by playing high pressure defense every possession, there are enough guys to rotate and stay fresh. One three by Tatum, Giannis is bending over with no hand up. When you are 7'0" with all of that length, don't make yourself smaller.

(6) Bucks need to respond against Philly and still do everything possible to wrap up the #1 seed. 5 games left, cannot tie with Boston.

(7) If there is any positive to the blowout loss......it motivates and reminds the Bucks how dialed in they need to be when facing Boston. It exposed all of the issues the Bucks have against the Celtics, and yet it was only one regular season loss. It is on the coaches and players to adjust accordingly and be much better should they face each other in the playoffs. The effort level and physicality displayed last night clearly won't cut it.