2024 Playoffs Eastern Conference First Round: (3) Milwaukee Bucks vs (6) Indiana Pacers

HomeRunBaker

HomeRunBaker

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Red Averages said:
Dame is just absolute murder on their half court defense and the Pacers finally started taking advantage of it. So many open 3s, or Siakam easy drives because of it. The Bucks actually made a run when he was out at the end of the 3rd and start of the 4th making it a 4 point game before the Pacers scored about 10 straight when he returned within 2 min.
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Carlisle has the personnel to exploit this, namely Siakam, and put together a fantastic game plan that they executed consistently for 48 min.
 
J

jablo1312

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https://x.com/RunItBackFDTV/status/1783142075229438255

""I'm told [Giannis Antetokounmpo] has at least started to do some stationary jump shooting...But still not much cutting, no scrimmaging, no all out running yet...I think the Bucks have to be prepared to keep playing on without Giannis." "

Not scrimmaging or running, with a muscle injury, kinda sounds like someone who will need another week to return? 2 days off now, then games Fri-Sun-Tues.
 
PedroKsBambino

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The one thing to me remains that Giannis signed an extension right after the Dame deal. Sure, he may still ask out but that in and of itself justifies the move even in the worst-case scenario (which, I acknowledge, Milwaukee can now see very close in their rearview).
 
lovegtm

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PedroKsBambino said:
The one thing to me remains that Giannis signed an extension right after the Dame deal. Sure, he may still ask out but that in and of itself justifies the move even in the worst-case scenario (which, I acknowledge, Milwaukee can now see very close in their rearview).
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True, it justifies it, since you can turn around and trade Giannis if need be, and get a huge haul to reset. If they crash out this year, I don't see how they really talk themselves into running it back with this team, but they kind of have to.
 
Euclis20

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lovegtm said:
True, it justifies it, since you can turn around and trade Giannis if need be, and get a huge haul to reset. If they crash out this year, I don't see how they really talk themselves into running it back with this team, but they kind of have to.
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Giannis getting hurt (again) makes it pretty easy imo. They were the 2 seed basically the entire year until he got hurt, six months from now Giannis/Dame will still look like a devastating offensive combo, and maybe a full offseason gives them the time they need to properly gel.

The neutral observer can see that 3 of their top 5 guys are clearly on the decline (and the other 2 guys are at the age where the reasonable best case scenario is to simply stay healthy and not get worse), but it's not difficult to see how the org would happily run it back again next year. Even with their issues, they're still likely to be a top 3 seed again next year (with the exact same group) and with the best player in the conference.
 
PedroKsBambino

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Euclis20 said:
Giannis getting hurt (again) makes it pretty easy imo. They were the 2 seed basically the entire year until he got hurt, six months from now Giannis/Dame will still look like a devastating offensive combo, and maybe a full offseason gives them the time they need to properly gel.

The neutral observer can see that 3 of their top 5 guys are clearly on the decline (and the other 2 guys are at the age where the reasonable best case scenario is to simply stay healthy and not get worse), but it's not difficult to see how the org would happily run it back again next year. Even with their issues, they're still likely to be a top 3 seed again next year (with the exact same group) and with the best player in the conference.
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Yeah, especially being a non-FA destination city with the star signed long-term I think you gotta try for another year or two before you cash in the chips.

That does not mean I substantively disagree with either of you that they are decreasingly likely to actually win anything meaningful but I'll be quite surprised if they punt.
 
lovegtm

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PedroKsBambino said:
Yeah, especially being a non-FA destination city with the star signed long-term I think you gotta try for another year or two before you cash in the chips.

That does not mean I substantively disagree with either of you that they are decreasingly likely to actually win anything meaningful but I'll be quite surprised if they punt.
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100% agree, especially wrt not being a FA destination. They have to maximize whatever outside-shot title equity they might maybe have.
 
Euclis20

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Lillard did return. It annoys me watching him play defense, literally his only move is to force a turnover. If he isn't gambling for a steal or gambling for a charge, he might as well be a literal traffic cone.
 
JCizzle

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Hubie is really hard to listen to at this point.

"I really don't see where the push is coming from?"

As Middleton two hand shoves Nesmith to set the screen before Turner falls over him.
 
PedroKsBambino

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Pacers really tightening up late third/fourth. I feel like Siakam is trying to be a bit too mcuh of a scorer for them.
 
PedroKsBambino

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Dame does on offense; on defense, he's constantly trying to slide and get a charge and doesn't ever seem to get away with it (fortunately)
 
Euclis20

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benhogan said:
Lillard gets a ridiculously friendly whistle
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I do love that on the biggest possessions of their season, lillard tried to junk his way to a shooting foul, then tried to draw a stupid charge instead of playing defense or getting a rebound and he was burned both times.

Indy left the door open here by missing a couple of free throws in the final minute, though nesmith was clutch there.
 
bigq

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Nesmith with two big FTs to put the Pacers up by 3 with 7 seconds left in regulation.
 
PedroKsBambino

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Indiana not being able to put the ball in the basket at all was not on my Bingo card for this series...
 
JCizzle

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I had no idea Middleton had a game like this left in his body after all the injuries.
 
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