2021 ECF. Bucks vs Hawks: UPDATE - - - BUCKS IN SIX

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

We can dream. I would have guessed that we would know torn ACL by now.

 

Swelling has to subside for them to get a good look at it. We may not have results until tomorrow.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Yeah, but ACL is also one you can often tell immediately by feel, before the swelling. That they even let him walk around and flirt with coming back into the game I thought was a decent sign. Oh well. It is what it is. Entirely possible it is what you're saying.

[Daubs]

 

"There is no structural damage to Giannis Antetokounmpo's left knee after his awkward landing last night in Atlanta; ligaments are sound, sources tell @ZachLowe_NBA and me. Timetable to return is unclear."

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

Damn near miraculous. Even if they fall short this series without him, at least they're not losing next year.

[homer]

About as good as you could have hoped for:

 

Giannis Antetokounmpo sustained a hyperextended left knee and will be listed as doubtful for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals tomorrow night at Fiserv Forum.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Find a way to win it home without him tomorrow night. If they lose it Atlanta on game 6 maybe 3 or 4 days of rest and therapy get him back for game 7. Even 30 minutes. Maybe I'm just wishful thinking.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I don't know what happened last night. Atlanta without Trey Young shouldn't have stomped all over us. We have better players than the Hawks. The bucks just came out full of themselves and assuming they were going to win.

 

Our guys are better than their guys. We can win this series without G If they play like they know they can and they have to. Let the chips fall where they may against either Phoenix or the clippers.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm more relieved for Giannis the human being than anything else, and knowing he doesn't have to do 18 months of rehab. But the cynic in me just feels dead inside as a fan. You go through the whole season, this happens, and then I guess you're supposed to be happy that you get to try again next year, but...I'm just not. The whole thing sucks.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I'm more relieved for Giannis the human being than anything else, and knowing he doesn't have to do 18 months of rehab. But the cynic in me just feels dead inside as a fan. You go through the whole season, this happens, and then I guess you're supposed to be happy that you get to try again next year, but...I'm just not. The whole thing sucks.

 

It sounds improbable, but part of me believes Giannis will play in the finals should the Bucks advance. Heck, it wouldn't even surprise me to see him in Games 6-7. Dude is that much of a freak athlete. Nothing he does really surprises me anymore.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I don't know what happened last night. Atlanta without Trey Young shouldn't have stomped all over us. We have better players than the Hawks. The bucks just came out full of themselves and assuming they were going to win.

 

Our guys are better than their guys. We can win this series without G If they play like they know they can and they have to. Let the chips fall where they may against either Phoenix or the clippers.

 

We'll never know, but I really thought the Bucks had just turned a corner when this happened. They just looked better right out of the half, Giannis was attacking, and I was fully expecting them to hit another gear and take that one. When you rabidly follow one team, it gets easy to be frustrated when they suck...but when you watch other teams a lot, you realize it's just part of the flow of the game. They looked really, really bad, but NBA games are just so turbulent. If the scores are remotely close with 5 minutes to play, anything can happen.

 

But yes, I do think they can beat ATL without Giannis. If the last 2/3 were in ATL, I wouldn't...it can happen, but they're going to need somebody to be a hero. Middleton better pick Game 6 to disappear if they win Game 5, and they're going to need somebody to make some noise. Whether that's Forbes, Portis, Vin Baker or Bango...somebody.

[MrTPlush]

To bad the Bucks probably won’t give an honest timetable for a return just to keep the other team wondering.

 

I’m guessing there is zero chance he can play again this year, but of course I’m not in the doctors room. Even the thought of him playing again this series seems like the ultimate pipe dream.

[PinaMadness]

I'm sorry but it ain't happening again this year. I picked Hawks in seven because I don't believe in Bud one iota. His teams always get bounced out early due to his inept coaching in the playoffs. He got outcoached by Nick Nurse two years ago, he got outcoached by Spolstra last year, and he's getting outcoached by Macmillan now. He refuses to make adjustments that makes him McCarthy 2.0 with his "We're not here to reinvent the wheel" attitude. His starting lineup is still completely unsuited to this matchup. The Bucks have a decided advantage in the paint yet refuse to use it and instead jack up 3s no matter how awful they shoot them because, that's who they are. The talking heads like Barkley are right. They play stupid basketball, and that's on the coaching. Bud obviously didn't have them ready to play last night. He can't get run out of town soon enough for me.

 

Simply put, the Hawks want it more than the Bucks, and it's been pretty evident from the start.

[homer]

 

"I told you the Bucks would lose in 7!"

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I don't like Bud and he is getting out-coached, but he has made adjustments this playoffs. However, it's a bit odd to toot your Hawks in 7 pick after Giannis is most likely hurt and out for the year, lol. I think the Bucks would be up 3-1 if Giannis didn't get hurt. And if it were 2-2 they'd likely still be a good favorite.

[PinaMadness]

 

"I told you the Bucks would lose in 7!"

My prediction isn't hindsight. They were going to lose this series even with a healthy Giannis, and Bud would be the reason why.

[homer]

 

"I told you the Bucks would lose in 7!"

My prediction isn't hindsight. They were going to lose this series even with a healthy Giannis, and Bud would be the reason why.

 

would have been more impressive had you posted this when the Bucks were up 2-1

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The Bucks have a decided advantage in the paint yet refuse to use it and instead jack up 3s no matter how awful they shoot them because, that's who they are.

 

Post was so odd I had to go back to it.

 

Points in the paint by game:

 

70-54 Bucks

62-30 Bucks

56-34 Bucks

44-46 Hawks

 

Bucks out-rebounded the Hawks by 13 and 15 in both wins, edged 43-42 in Game 4 and were out-rebounded 51-45 in Game 1.

 

The Bucks have taken three more 3s than Atlanta the entire series, though I'll admit that's not a great comp since ATL should probably be taking way more than the Bucks given the matchup. Although maybe not, since they really aren't particularly good at it. And I'll concede that despite the numbers I think the Bucks could probably exploit it more.

 

It's always amusing to me when fans try to write a narrative almost solely built on nothing but spicy hot takes. The Hawks want it more? Give me a break. The Bucks looked like they were about to collapse in Game 7 and were down most of the game and fought like Hell to be here. Young going off in Game 1 and injuries are the reason this may be the end of the line. And some plain old bad play from a couple guys at some unfortunate times, but it has nothing to do with the Hawks "wanting it more." Did they not "want it" the night they were down 40?

[OldSchoolSnapper]

 

"I told you the Bucks would lose in 7!"

My prediction isn't hindsight. They were going to lose this series even with a healthy Giannis, and Bud would be the reason why.

 

Yeah, no, they weren't. And they may still win it...may.

[PinaMadness]

I don't like Bud and he is getting out-coached, but he has made adjustments this playoffs. However, it's a bit odd to toot your Hawks in 7 pick after Giannis is most likely hurt and out for the year, lol. I think the Bucks would be up 3-1 if Giannis didn't get hurt. And if it were 2-2 they'd likely still be a good favorite.

I wasn't tooting my prediction so much as I was actually saying I might be wrong and it could very well be over in six. We'll agree to disagree about Game 4. They can still be a favorite in the eyes of the experts, but they didn't take into consideration the intangibles, mainly coaching and the will to win. Outside of a phenomenal second quarter in Game 2, the Bucks are playing like they've been listening to the experts and believing the press clippings. Macmillan inspires his team. Bud does not.

[PinaMadness]

 

"I told you the Bucks would lose in 7!"

My prediction isn't hindsight. They were going to lose this series even with a healthy Giannis, and Bud would be the reason why.

 

Yeah, no, they weren't. And they may still win it...may.

That's what we said about the Raptors and the Heat too.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Well yeah, because that's kind of how sports works. The outcome is either that one team wins or the other ones does. So I would expect that yes, that is what they said.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

the will to win.

 

What's the metric for this? The night the Bucks were up 40, did they just want it more, but just that one time?

[PinaMadness]

the will to win.

 

What's the metric for this? The night the Bucks were up 40, did they just want it more, but just that one time?

The metric is the other 15 quarters that have been played in this series so far. The reason it's 2-2 right now is because of the Bucks talent advantage. Unfortunately, talent alone doesn't make the difference. Coaching matters, and the Hawks have the decided advantage in that area.

 

Hey, if I'm wrong I'll gladly eat the crow. If Young is out the rest of the series, anything is possible. It's widely considered that outside of he and Giannis, the next two best players in the series are Middleton and Holliday. Unfortunately half the time they don't play like it.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The other 15 quarters? I think you are leaning a bit too heavily on this "the Bucks won one quarter" schtick.

 

So game 3, when ATL held most a 6-9 point lead for the duration of the game and then lost, that night too, the Bucks momentarily wanted it more?

 

This makes no sense. You're talking as if the Bucks have been dominated or something.

 

I'm sorry, but any pre-series "predictions" are moot once Young and Giannis start missing games. As I said, I don't like Bud...but superior NBA team drop games within a series. It's a thing that happens a lot, especially in a conference final. They should have won Game 1 and also Game 4 and it's all Bud's fault...they should just storm through and sweep everyone. It sounds ridiculous. Things happen besides Bud.

 

This just feels like a bit of a reach. I'll never say the Bucks shouldn't have won this series, but I think it might be time for people to come around to ATL being a good team. They started the year 14-20 and have been shunned by the experts in every round of the playoffs. The Bucks having a fight with them is hardly unique.

[GAME05]

This team tends to act as if Giannis will do everything. Maybe having him out will be the kick in the pants they need to take a couple games. Seems like we still match up pretty well.