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

[OldSchoolSnapper]

It's pretty encouraging that Giannis was up, moving around and clapping. Meanwhile Young could barely move in pregame. I'm not sure he is healthy enough to even hobble around. I'm starting to think they know his season is over and the day to day thing is just strategy.

[PeaveyFury]

It's pretty encouraging that Giannis was up, moving around and clapping. Meanwhile Young could barely move in pregame. I'm not sure he is healthy enough to even hobble around. I'm starting to think they know his season is over and the day to day thing is just strategy.

 

Whether Giannis was on the bench and how he acted was a key indicator to me- he was standing and cheering for much of the game. If this was more serious, you’d have to believe he would have been strapped into a chair or something to keep him off the knee…..

[DuWayne Steurer]

I'm 67.24% confident that we can win this series and finish these guys off without Giannis. I'd rather he continue to get rest and treatment for the possibility that he's available to play in the finals.

 

I said before the game yesterday play Bobby portis 35 minutes and whooaa solvdd. Bobby played 36 minutes and scored 22 points and grabbed eight boards. Now.... I'm not saying that Portis is equal or even nearly as good as Giannis. But I do prefer seeing holiday or Middleton run the offense, as opposed to watching g dribble the ball at the top of the key before slamming himself into the wall and either getting fouled and missing free throws or passing out to Holiday or Middleton. The offense is uninspired and predictable when he's running half court.

 

Watching holiday facilitate the game all night last night and just feed Lopez bucket after bucket down in the low post showed us how dynamic the offense can be. Even when they were missing threes in the first half, the offense was still scoring plenty.

 

Hopefully they don't come out in game six overconfident and assuming they have this thing in the bag. I don't think they will.

 

Lastly. For the love of God, keep Jeff teague out of the game

[MrTPlush]

I recall them saying during the game he was practicing/testing it prior to the game. Did they show or elaborate on what exactly he was doing? I didn't actually put the game on the TV till the 3rd Q so I missed, what I imagine, was the in depth talk in the pre-game.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm 67.24% confident that we can win this series and finish these guys off without Giannis. I'd rather he continue to get rest and treatment for the possibility that he's available to play in the finals.

 

I said before the game yesterday play Bobby portis 35 minutes and whooaa solvdd. Bobby played 36 minutes and scored 22 points and grabbed eight boards. Now.... I'm not saying that Portis is equal or even nearly as good as Giannis. But I do prefer seeing holiday or Middleton run the offense, as opposed to watching g dribble the ball at the top of the key before slamming himself into the wall and either getting fouled and missing free throws or passing out to Holiday or Middleton. The offense is uninspired and predictable when he's running half court.

 

Watching holiday facilitate the game all night last night and just feed Lopez bucket after bucket down in the low post showed us how dynamic the offense can be. Even when they were missing threes in the first half, the offense was still scoring plenty.

 

Hopefully they don't come out in game six overconfident and assuming they have this thing in the bag. I don't think they will.

 

Lastly. For the love of God, keep Jeff teague out of the game

 

Without the crutch of Giannis they were forced to run an actual offense. What it should do is open their eyes to what they could do if they, you know, ran an offense with Giannis in the game. For some reason though I am prepared to watch them stand around and shoot threes in Game 6.

 

I also advocated Portis getting heavy minutes...but at the expense of Lopez

[DuWayne Steurer]

Yeah. I'm not saying that Giannis isn't and can't be an amazing player (and I don't think that's what you took from it), but they won a lot of games in the past 3 seasons with a very tried and true strategy that has failed them in the playoffs multiple times. It's time for Bud (and the players) to see that there's got to be a better way to utilize his (prodigious) talent rather than having him dribble the ball at the top of the circle for 18 seconds and get fouled.

 

I thought it was really telling in the post game when Charles Barkley (I appreciate how candid chuck is, and has always been) asked Jrue "why aren't you always as aggressive as you were tonight?" and Jrue looked surprised for just a brief moment and said that yeah, other people have told him he needs to be more aggressive and really take control of his game.

 

If you know it, then do it.

[nate82]

One problem with actually running an offense with Giannis is that he is one of the worst pick and roll players in the league when he doesn't have the ball.

[patrickgpe]

Let’s go!!!!!! Great team win tonight. Hope Giannis is back next game.

I can't disagree more. Maybe if he is healthy enough to play the win or go home game #7, thats a discussion that can be had. I do not want to risk further injury tomorrow with him on the court when they have 2 games to win 1.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm not a big fan of saving anything for Game 7. We should do everything we can to close this out tomorrow. Obviously if Giannis can't go, he can't go, and I don't think they'll let him play if the doctors say he can't. But who knows, if he just got lucky and is a freak healer, I'd love to see him play if it were possible.

[MrTPlush]

After last night is it possible a team entirely without Giannis is better than a team with a 50% or whatever Giannis? Kinda like what people thought when Harden came back and the first game a forum member could have been better? I wouldn't even consider using him in Game 6 unless he feels near 100%. Of course in Game 7 the Bucks would never subject themselves to potential elimination with Giannis on the bench if he has any ability to play. I am guessing they would rather die with Giannis on the court versus holding him out if he 'could' play.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Yes, if he can't jump or cut there is no point in sending him out there. I don't think Brooklyn was better without hurt Harden. He basically had a triple double in Game 7 and he is lethal just standing around and shooting even though he clearly was hampered. Giannis can't do that. He needs to move, and he is probably the best defensive asset in the NBA. Statue Giannis will be a major liability, especially if he tries to be Superman and puts up dumb shots.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I'm pretty sure g is smart enough to know whether or not he's helping or hindering the team by being on the floor. As much of a competitor as he is, he wants to go to the finals, And they are close enough that they can taste it right now. He saw what his team can do last night. He has had plenty of off days, and scheduled rest days. I really truly believe that if he felt like his being on the floor would be more of a hindrance than help he would do the smart thing, the right thing and keep his body planted on the bench and let the chips fall where they may

[adambr2]

I don't direct this at anyone here at all, but I never understand when a guy has an injury and fans suddenly have their own medical take on whether or not a guy should be out there for a game or whether the risk of reinjury is just too great.

 

I know nothing about how Giannis' knee feels today and what exact potential risks exist by him playing a basketball game. I'll leave those decisions to the medical professionals that are obviously very much privy to every bit of information about the situation.

[MrTPlush]

I don't direct this at anyone here at all, but I never understand when a guy has an injury and fans suddenly have their own medical take on whether or not a guy should be out there for a game or whether the risk of reinjury is just too great.

 

I know nothing about how Giannis' knee feels today and what exact potential risks exist by him playing a basketball game. I'll leave those decisions to the medical professionals that are obviously very much privy to every bit of information about the situation.

 

Because that is what sports fans do, especially when on a message board.

 

It is no different than questioning a line up or who to sign or anything else for that matter. No one here is an expert about anything we talk about on here. A lot of it is just guessing because the team is going to provide nothing about the injury or timetable to return.

 

If all we did was talk about what we know I would be talking about economics/finance...AKCheesehead would be talking about building igloos and fending off polar bears, so on...

[DuWayne Steurer]

Here's my expert take. If he can play and contribute he should. If he can't, he shouldn't.

[patrickgpe]

Here's my expert take. If he can play and contribute he should. If he can't, he shouldn't.

 

https://www.ballysports.com/wisconsin/news/milwaukee-brewers-kolten-wong-injured-list-strained-calf?fbclid=IwAR0QE189Hn9vE2NCNLv52nkLjpLXAFqSz-OC-rDfdGehiAkgKyubyLvidEE

 

exhibit A on why I stand firm he shouldn't atleast for game 6

[owbc]

Giannis listed as doubtful for game 6. Not a big surprise.

[patrickgpe]

Young is questionable.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The rumor circulating is that he will play if it goes 7...so basically, just win tomorrow Bucks, he gets time off and can play the Finals.

[rickh150]

Here's my expert take. If he can play and contribute he should. If he can't, he shouldn't.

 

https://www.ballysports.com/wisconsin/news/milwaukee-brewers-kolten-wong-injured-list-strained-calf?fbclid=IwAR0QE189Hn9vE2NCNLv52nkLjpLXAFqSz-OC-rDfdGehiAkgKyubyLvidEE

 

exhibit A on why I stand firm he shouldn't atleast for game 6

 

 

So if he feels good and wants to go, he shouldn’t?

No structural damage… no pain (?), he probably still sits for Game 6 for cautionary reasons or simply for the Bucks to save face, but he plays Game 7. I mean it looked bad, but this decision is not based on how hurt GA should be.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I don't think it's really the same type of deal as Wong reinjuring himself. There's risk of injury every time these guys play but I'd leave it to the doctors and Giannis as far as the risk of re-aggravating the same injury so severely that his career is at risk.

 

Wong is in the middle of a season where it makes sense to sit longer if it means you're good for August and September. There is no guarantee of tomorrow for the Bucks (well I guess there is for Game 7). If the risk of serious injury is low, but the risk of playing too soon and being out a month or two is "medium", then I would play.

 

I trust the Bucks won't be idiots with this. If this injury is that bad they're going to tell him no. Sitting Game 6 makes sense...but God I hope they can win it again.

[KCBrewerfan34]

GM 6 is a free roll for the Bucks. Maybe they can steal one if ATL has an off shooting night, for sure you rest Giannis tonight. I believe Giannis will be good to go for GM 7.

 

 

Go Bucks

[OldHeidelberg]

GM 6 is a free roll for the Bucks. Maybe they can steal one if ATL has an off shooting night, for sure you rest Giannis tonight. I believe Giannis will be good to go for GM 7.

 

 

Go Bucks

 

I saw a tweet somewhere that there is an expectation that Giannis will play if there is a game 7, if true that is good news. Just need to get out of this series. Will the finals start Monday if they win tonight?

[bucks2281]

GM 6 is a free roll for the Bucks. Maybe they can steal one if ATL has an off shooting night, for sure you rest Giannis tonight. I believe Giannis will be good to go for GM 7.

 

 

Go Bucks

 

I saw a tweet somewhere that there is an expectation that Giannis will play if there is a game 7, if true that is good news. Just need to get out of this series. Will the finals start Monday if they win tonight?

 

Tuesday. The team probably has its bags packed to go straight to Phoenix from Atlanta.

 

 

If it goes to G7, Finals begin Thursday.

[adambr2]

Giannis has been ruled out for Game 6. Trae Young still questionable.