Bucks 2022-2023 Season Thread

[CheezWizHed]

Loved the Carter pickup last year and it continues to look better every day.  Don't think we should expect 30-some points too often. I'm just happy to see a high 30s% 3pt rate and strong D continue.  Perfect backup PG.  

I wonder if the Carter/Holiday combo this year is Bud's acknowledgment that not playing Carter vs Boston was a mistake?  

[UpandIn]

22 hours ago, DuWayne Steurer said:

awesome to see Beauchamp providing a spark this soon.

also.... Carter with 36 points??!! who saw that coming? wow.

They both seem like just perfect fits with this team. Beauchamp seems like he understands his role perfectly. Go out there and defend, cut. When he gets the ball, keep it moving(maybe take an open 3). 

Carter though, I loved him and he's doing move than I thought. He's getting to the restricted area and using his body to finish a times. He's denying and just hounding people. Take a lot off Jrue's plate. 

Glad we had him part of last year...we can offer the early bird this year when he inevitably turns down the PO, meanwhile Beauchamp keeps developing. 

The biggest problem is how we're going to work Ingles, Middleton and Connaughton in the lineup! I mean...not really. They're priorities and now you've got some real trade chips(not Beauchamp though). But Nwora has played alright, Serge is holding it down and looks much more spry. Lopez looks MUCH more athletic this year.

And this team isn't even shooting it well. 

[CheezWizHed]

Nwora has look surprisingly bad this year, IMO.  Shooting sub-31% on the year.  Ironically, he was supposed to be all offense, no defense with Beauchamp being the opposite.  Looks like Beauchamp is better at both right now.

[GAME05]

Rumor is that the team is shopping Grayson because he's bad at defense. 

[UpandIn]

On 11/11/2022 at 8:23 AM, CheezWizHed said:

Nwora has look surprisingly bad this year, IMO.  Shooting sub-31% on the year.  Ironically, he was supposed to be all offense, no defense with Beauchamp being the opposite.  Looks like Beauchamp is better at both right now.

I actually thought he'd looked like he'd improved quite a bit this year...he just hadn't been hitting his shots, but season's early and small sample. His overall game though looks much improved. His defense had been much better, he hasn't just been a black hole offensively. He made a few REALLY nice passes last game, playing smarter and within the system.

All of that is kinda moot though if he continues to shoot so poorly as that's always going to be where most of his value comes, so I understand the larger point, but the smaller things, I definitely think there's a big improvement there. 

Beauchamp is in a whole different league defensively. Even raw and still figuring things out and not communicating as well as he can, you can at least put him on the other teams top wing and he's going to make things difficult. 

 

 

[UpandIn]

8 hours ago, GAME05 said:

Rumor is that the team is shopping Grayson because he's bad at defense. 

I see all these rumors around Allen, but I don't see the problem. He's clearly a 3 point specialist and not an elite defender, but he's also not like Donovan Mitchell or this black hole defensively. 

He's not gonna make any All NBA Defensive teams, but he's competitive and he's a sniper. I think Carter and Beauchamp have shown enough that you can trade Allen, Hill, Nowra as I said. I guess depending on the player, you even include that 2029 1st...which could obviously be very valuable as Giannis could be gone, Middleton and Jrue would be ~36 or so. But if you can add a star, sure. But I don't know how many players like that are going to be available. 

 

It should be a very active trade deadline with all the teams tanking for Victor Wembanyama or whatever. The love child between Rudy Gobert and Kevin Durant who's the biggest NBA prospect since LeBron(so I'm told). 

I just don't see the point of trading Allen JUST to trade him. It's almost certainly going to be a contract a team wants to dump(which is fine, as long as they're an upgrade). 

[patrickgpe]

This was news to me. Looks like cream jerseys are not coming back anytime soon. I did like them since the bucks owned that color.

https://paullukas.substack.com/p/exclusive-the-inside-story-of-why

[sveumrules]

Ugly second half for the Bucks at Philly last night scoring only 40 points & turning a 7 point lead into an 8 point loss.

Giannis particularly bad at the line (4 for 15) and now on his 6th straight game shooting under 50% from the field.

Either way, I’ll take 11-4 with all the injuries this season vs 7-8 to start the season last year with no Brook. 

POR, CHI, CLE and DAL coming to Fiserv this week. Hopefully go at least 3-1 and maybe see Khris back at some point in there?

[BigWoo53]

On 11/19/2022 at 8:19 AM, sveumrules said:

Ugly second half for the Bucks at Philly last night scoring only 40 points & turning a 7 point lead into an 8 point loss.

Giannis particularly bad at the line (4 for 15) and now on his 6th straight game shooting under 50% from the field.

Either way, I’ll take 11-4 with all the injuries this season vs 7-8 to start the season last year with no Brook. 

POR, CHI, CLE and DAL coming to Fiserv this week. Hopefully go at least 3-1 and maybe see Khris back at some point in there?

Not sure how long Midds is out, but Connaughton should be back Monday. The Bucks being 11-4 without Midds and Connaughton all 15 games is a very good spot to be. This is just my opinion but sounds like PHX is looking for a 3rd team with MKE in a Crowder/Allen trade. But it wouldn't surprise me either if the Bucks want to wait for Middleton to be back. Offense right now can be an issue or rather it's nice to have Allen's shooting etc. but once the playoffs begin and as Midds gets back the offense runs through the Big 3 and need guys who can defend and multiple positions at that and Crowder fits the bill.

[Brock Beauchamp]

8 hours ago, BigWoo53 said:

Not sure how long Midds is out, but Connaughton should be back Monday. The Bucks being 11-4 without Midds and Connaughton all 15 games is a very good spot to be. This is just my opinion but sounds like PHX is looking for a 3rd team with MKE in a Crowder/Allen trade. But it wouldn't surprise me either if the Bucks want to wait for Middleton to be back. Offense right now can be an issue or rather it's nice to have Allen's shooting etc. but once the playoffs begin and as Midds gets back the offense runs through the Big 3 and need guys who can defend and multiple positions at that and Crowder fits the bill.

Welcome to the site!

[nate82]

Middleton assigned to G-League. 

[UpandIn]

On 11/20/2022 at 11:08 PM, BigWoo53 said:

Not sure how long Midds is out, but Connaughton should be back Monday. The Bucks being 11-4 without Midds and Connaughton all 15 games is a very good spot to be. This is just my opinion but sounds like PHX is looking for a 3rd team with MKE in a Crowder/Allen trade. But it wouldn't surprise me either if the Bucks want to wait for Middleton to be back. Offense right now can be an issue or rather it's nice to have Allen's shooting etc. but once the playoffs begin and as Midds gets back the offense runs through the Big 3 and need guys who can defend and multiple positions at that and Crowder fits the bill.

Crowder is a really nice player and would have been a really good fit early last year when we lost Tucker, but with Carter, Beauchamp, Ingles all coming back, Serge looks like he's moving much better(even Hill looks like he's healthy and moving better...even if that's not translating into actually hitting his shots). 

I'd rather wait for the deadline when I think there will be teams looking to dump a salary and take back a young player like Nwora, who has some upside, Hill, who is on an expiring and Allen who is on a very team friendly deal. 

Crowder definitely fits the bill as someone who can help defend and switch seamlessly, but I think we addressed that when we added Beauchamp and Carter to a degree and I really like the D at the moment. Two guys in the backcourt who can defend, Marjon can defend multiple positions. Middleton is a solid defender. 

It was a great fit, I just...again, think at the deadline there will be better players available. 

[CheezWizHed]

If Crowder were a tick better at his 3ptrs it would be a no-brainer.  Beauchamp is still a rookie and is up and down.  I wonder how much respect officials will give him on D in the playoffs? 

Certainly the thought is that Crowder will be "Tucker-lite" (again if he just shot 3s a bit better...) and looking towards a Boston matchup with Tatum again.  A defense of Holiday, Middleton, Crowder, Giannis, and Brooks would defend the Tatum-pick-to-the-worst-D-player offense much better than last year.

In that situation, Carter is just too short and I think Beauchamp won't get many favorable calls against Tatum.

[UpandIn]

1 hour ago, CheezWizHed said:

If Crowder were a tick better at his 3ptrs it would be a no-brainer.  Beauchamp is still a rookie and is up and down.  I wonder how much respect officials will give him on D in the playoffs? 

Certainly the thought is that Crowder will be "Tucker-lite" (again if he just shot 3s a bit better...) and looking towards a Boston matchup with Tatum again.  A defense of Holiday, Middleton, Crowder, Giannis, and Brooks would defend the Tatum-pick-to-the-worst-D-player offense much better than last year.

In that situation, Carter is just too short and I think Beauchamp won't get many favorable calls against Tatum.

I would definitely improve the defense. I'm not that worried about Beauchamp getting the calls in the playoffs. He's a pretty disciplined defender(or I don't think Bud would be playing him). 

The concern there has to be that while he's looked better offensively than I think many projected...ideally you'd want someone who offers a little more on the offensive end.

Carter is too small, but he's also so physical and so strong, he could at least present more of a challenge to Tatum than we could last year. Quick hands, he can get up into him...just bother him, annoy him like a Pat Bev(or a smaller PJ Tucker...which is what I think he is defensively).

 

My issue is that you also have to include Ingles into that mix. He's a 6'8 wing who has never been an athlete, but always put up good advanced defensive metrics. And again, I just think you'll find a better fit. Crowder is really more of a 4 who can defend smaller players, but he's best defensing a Giannis or LeBron type on the block. I think we're pretty well set there. We've only got enough ammo to make one trade without dealing anyone from our core, so I just think we should wait.

BUT, Crowder would make the defense much better and I take your point about Carter's size and Beauchamp's...youth.

The Kings may be a team that's worth keeping an eye on. Harrison Barnes is someone reportedly looking to trade. I think he might be a better fit AND a player they could maaaybe extend? They want to make room for Keegan Murray, Terrance Davis and some of their younger/core players.

He doesn't provide the physical play, but he's got the length and the scoring ability. 

Hopefully we get a few weeks of Ingles before the deadline. And if not...there's always the buyout market...which looks to be stronger this year than it normally is. 

[CheezWizHed]

Realize that I'm not talking about Beachamp's actual defensive capabilities... I'm talking about a rookie playing D on an All-Star in the playoffs... the rookie will need to be 2x as good to get the benefit of the doubt. 

Carter on Tatum would be better than Allen and maybe PC, but he still gives up 6" of height so there would be a lot of open jumpers. 

I'm not sold on Crowder over Allen, but I see how his skills fit into our mix-n-match to the opponent style.  We'll have Joe Ingles coming back to be the 3pt+minimal D role that Allen fills now.  Plus, you block anyone else from getting Crowder for the purpose of playing D on Giannis. ?

[UpandIn]

23 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

Realize that I'm not talking about Beachamp's actual defensive capabilities... I'm talking about a rookie playing D on an All-Star in the playoffs... the rookie will need to be 2x as good to get the benefit of the doubt. 

Carter on Tatum would be better than Allen and maybe PC, but he still gives up 6" of height so there would be a lot of open jumpers. 

I'm not sold on Crowder over Allen, but I see how his skills fit into our mix-n-match to the opponent style.  We'll have Joe Ingles coming back to be the 3pt+minimal D role that Allen fills now.  Plus, you block anyone else from getting Crowder for the purpose of playing D on Giannis. ?

I get what you're saying...I'm thinking the fact that Beauchamp is now on the Heard and that's before we get Middleton back, the Bucks don't see him as being a rotational player in the post-season(at least as of now).

I thought he'd played well enough that he'd earned 15-20 MPG with Middleton and Ingles out, but...they clearly see it differently. 
Definitely not against getting Crowder. He'd make this team a lot more versatile, I just thought the argument that we'll be able to do better at the deadline(whoever originally made it, I don't remember) was persuasive. Don't remember where it comes from, but it was a talking head that I actually respect.

I also just can't wait to see Ingles. See HOW the hell he's a good defender. It has to be as a smart, help defender. His nickname was slow Joe BEFORE the torn ACL. 

Oh, and Carter is definitely not a great matchup on Tatum or Brown. They'll be able to shoot over him. But at least he'll bother them and stay in front of them better than Hill did last year. It's kinda like...Jrue on KD. If KD is on, as good as Jrue is, there's only so much he can do. 

 

[sveumrules]

Bucks trailed by 11 after a lethargic first half.

Now up 14 heading into Q4 after hanging a 35-10 on CLE in Q3.

[CheezWizHed]

Not sure why I didn't think of this before, but @Brock Beauchamp, when are you buying a #0 Bucks jersey? ?

[Brock Beauchamp]

49 minutes ago, CheezWizHed said:

Not sure why I didn't think of this before, but @Brock Beauchamp, when are you buying a #0 Bucks jersey? ?

Never trust a Beauchamp. They'll only let you down; we're a bunch of screw-ups.

[wallus]

Khris coming back on Friday and Joe is expected by Christmas. The Bucks fly under the radar, even by their own fans apparently. 

[sveumrules]

6 hours ago, wallus said:

The Bucks fly under the radar, even by their own fans apparently. 

Hasn’t been much to complain about so far ? ?

If Bucks we’re like 10-10 instead of 15-5 the thread would have another couple two tree pages easy.

Currently 16th in ORtg with Giannis putting up his worst efficiency in like five years.

Will be interesting to see how much Middleton’s return helps those numbers over the rest of the season.

[sveumrules]

Bucks with a pretty epic win on the road in Dallas tonight.

Giannis fouled out contesting a three, THJ missed all three FTs.

Khris gets called for a ticky tack foul on a tipped ball along the sideline, DFS misses both FTs.

Bud calls up a great OOB play that leads to an uncontested Brook lay-oop to take the lead.

Kidd doesn’t call timeout to advance the ball and Jrue knocks Luka’s dribble out of bounds with like 2.5 seconds left.

Bucks totally know the OOB play Kidd is running and Luka has to chuck up a contested prayer from thirty plus feet out before storming off the court amidst a Pigpen dust swirl of grievances and obscenities.

Doncic spends so much time complaining his nickname should be The Internet.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

5 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Bucks with a pretty epic win on the road in Dallas tonight.

Giannis fouled out contesting a three, THJ missed all three FTs.

Khris gets called for a ticky tack foul on a tipped ball along the sideline, DFS misses both FTs.

Bud calls up a great OOB play that leads to an uncontested Brook lay-oop to take the lead.

Kidd doesn’t call timeout to advance the ball and Jrue knocks Luka’s dribble out of bounds with like 2.5 seconds left.

Bucks totally know the OOB play Kidd is running and Luka has to chuck up a contested prayer from thirty plus feet out before storming off the court amidst a Pigpen dust swirl of grievances and obscenities.

Doncic spends so much time complaining his nickname should be The Internet.

The most "ball don't lie" game I've ever witnessed

[Pugger]

9 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Bucks with a pretty epic win on the road in Dallas tonight.

Giannis fouled out contesting a three, THJ missed all three FTs.

Khris gets called for a ticky tack foul on a tipped ball along the sideline, DFS misses both FTs.

Bud calls up a great OOB play that leads to an uncontested Brook lay-oop to take the lead.

Kidd doesn’t call timeout to advance the ball and Jrue knocks Luka’s dribble out of bounds with like 2.5 seconds left.

Bucks totally know the OOB play Kidd is running and Luka has to chuck up a contested prayer from thirty plus feet out before storming off the court amidst a Pigpen dust swirl of grievances and obscenities.

Doncic spends so much time complaining his nickname should be The Internet.

It was a great game but did Kidd have a timeout there?  Thank goodness the Mavs can't hit free throws any better than Giannis...?

[sveumrules]

1 hour ago, Pugger said:

It was a great game but did Kidd have a timeout there?  Thank goodness the Mavs can't hit free throws any better than Giannis...?

Yeah, Kidd used the TO to “draw up” that last OOB play with two seconds left.