Of all the unusual things that have happened since the NBA’s restart began, nothing would be more surprising than to see the East’s top seed swept out of the playoffs. But that’s the situation facing the Bucks, who will be fighting to save their season Sunday against Miami.
The Heat took complete control of the series Friday, outscoring Milwaukee 40-13 in the final quarter to complete their comeback. Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic have all been dominant as Miami has won its first seven playoff games.
Making things even more dire for the Bucks is an ankle injury that reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered early in Game 3. He was able to produce 21 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists while playing through pain, but has been listed as questionable for tomorrow afternoon.
John Hollinger of The Athletic examines the criticisms being directed at Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer and disputes several of them. Budenholzer is taking heat for not playing his stars enough, but Hollinger notes that Miami is handling its top players the same way. He also points out that Budenholzer’s system, which is under fire, has produced success in the past. The Bucks won 10 of their first 11 playoff games last season before falling to Toronto in the conference finals.
The implications of a second-round loss are huge for Milwaukee and they stretch far beyond this season. Several teams have been making sure they have plenty of cap room for next summer in case Antetokounmpo opts for free agency rather than a long-term deal with the Bucks. A report this week indicates that rumors at the Disney World campus have the Heat and Raptors as frontrunners to land Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks face four must-win games that will likely affect the future of the franchise. Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press tweets that no team with a winning percentage as high as Milwaukee’s has ever been swept, but that’s little consolation as they try to figure out how to survive, possibly without their star player.
We want to get your opinion. Do the Bucks have a chance to make history by rallying from a 3-0 deficit, or should the series be considered over? Please leave your responses in the space below.
No. They aren’t even that good. That they had the highest record is more a product of a lot of teams with new players and injuries that took a while to settle in. Now the settling in has occurred and the real cream is rising to the crop.
Top* idk where crop came from
You were probably subconsciously thinking of the phrase, “cream of the crop” and incidentally wrote crop instead of top. Totally agree though. Their depth works in the regular season, as they can take advantage of other teams load managing. However, their reliance on Giannis and Middleton to carry the offense simply isn’t working out.
Whereas the Heat can rely on any of Dragic, Crowder, Butler, Robinson, Herro, or Bam to lead their scoring attack, Milwaukee is very limited in available options. Brook has played well, yet Bledsoe has shown nothing as a shooter and Hill has disappeared as well. The disparity in guard play might be the biggest mismatch of the series
Sure they have a chance. I also have a chance of winning the Powerball.
Bucks owner GM coach are all average
One more team need trade trade trade
This offseason need 100 trades in the nba
But it won’t exceed 20 trades because many teams want to tank for draft picks
Bud is definitely average. Take the Popovich trailer off of him and he is what he is…
average.
No
Giannis is overrated.
Idk about that… BUT I will say… a “superstar” that really can’t shoot at a “superstar level” can be a problem especially in the playoffs. Because sometimes the way games/series go… you need to be able to shoot rather than just drive to the hoop… and that’s certainly not Giannis’ strength and it’s hurt them vs the Heat who are such a good 3-pt shooting team. I know they’ve got Middleton who’s one of the best shooters in the game… but that’s the risk you take when your team is built around a ‘superstar’ who can’t shoot all that well. To me personally… Idk that I’d really want to build a franchise around Giannis… as good as he is… the shooting issue is one that has always given me pause when evaluating him.
You could also say the exact same thing about Anthony Davis. All those years he spent with New Orleans and everyone kept expecting him to take the next step and becoming a perennial MVP candidate, just like Giannis and Harden are right now. Did he ever take that next step? It certainly doesn’t look like he has, even playing on the same team as LeBron James (although he is no longer the best player in the NBA like when he was in his prime).
No, he was not talking about Giannis forcing his way out, or Giannis being the best. You just found a spot to get in your negativities and Bronhate.
BTW AD is so far the best player in the playoffs, don’t know what you talking about! Also AD could very well have 3 MVP’s by now if he played in a better team than NOP!
Of course MIL has a chance! But only if Giannis plays, is kind of healthy & plays real minutes, like 42-45 per game as any star should in the playoffs as a minimum! If all of that happens, why not? If somethin’ is missing then they won’t, as simple as!
Two chances:
1. Slim
2. None
No, Miami is well conditioned; they are not cracking up; Spoelstra has full say; and the FO made trades just for this situation, giving up two of their three young favs, JRich & Winslow.
What is the deal with MIL. I criticized the HC last year for the put-shooters-around-Giannis strategy, but they doubled down on it while overfocussing on defense, like Denver was, until they suddenly turned it around and green-lit Murray’s ways when Harris returned. IDK Giannis’ influence, what he wants. Maybe HC Buden has to do it.
No possible way they win series
Miami have copied the Raps playbook on how to beat the Bucks—tough defense and take away the middle—driving lane from the Greek Freak
Let’s hope they take a game or 2 to salvage their psyche
In order for giannis to win, he has to permanently play the the 5. He has the height and length to play it(in this era). He already likes to roll 98% on P&R & he will be a matchup nightmare for every center whether its in transition or in the halfcourt.
I think they can win 2 or 3 games but I don’t see Miami losing 4 games in a row.
Slim to none and Slim left town. So, Giannis is gone. You do a 3-team deal or even a 4 team deal. Giannis to the Warriors or Wolves. Wolves are all-in. Get #1, Culver, Okogie, Johnson, and a future unprotected 1st. If its GSW, you get #2, and flip the other parts involved for picks and expiring contracts with a 3rd or 4th team. Knicks you do #8, RJ, Knox, some expiring deals, and a hoard of picks.
If giannis ankle is bad..heat will win. The record on 0-3 comeback is clear. I hate to say I told you so…..but….we wrote here last year that losing Brogdon was a big mistake. He was their second best all-around player!!!!! Bledsoe disappears. Brogdon was friends with giannis. He will likely leave. Especially if they get swept…embarrassing.
Told us what, that you would prefer letting Lopez go for nothing? They had cap problems. It is easy to say Brogdon is good but he got what he wanted, PG duty— and an earlier sweep.
The error was an early re-signing of Bledsoe. But they didn’t want Brogdon at PG. As it turned out, neither did McMillan in their series.
I like it when the tall guy is the PG, but that is not traditional.
hoosier is right, Brogdon would make a difference. The story: Having a PG-capable 2G helped make their attack and flow LAST season outstanding team-wide; the team came together well but all credit went to Giannis. That was the official line because they wanted him to re-sign, and he is good after all.
Initially I had thought it was Bledsoe’s insertion that made the difference and maybe management did too, and gave Bledsoe a generous contract midseason. But seeing the team without one or the other eventually convinced me it was Brogdon who is most responsible for their smoothness. With intelligence and high vision he kept the ball moving.
This season the flow continued but without Brogdon it fell away by bubble time. There is too much Giannis-ness now IMO.
The preseason roster choice was to lose Brogdon or Lopez. Brogdon did not like giving up leadership to Bledsoe and forced his way out, essentially making the choice for the FO. Bledsoe, who had forced himself out of Phoenix earlier, is not what I thought last midseason, and may really be as muscle-headed as his rep. Nobody I mentioned lacks confidence, except Lopez who is not playing well.
Yes they could have kept Brogdon and played Giannis at center, played Illyasova instead of Lopez if he got lured away. Or kept Christian Wood and yell at him a lot.
They have a chance to not get swept, but no way they win 4 in a row against this Heat team. Heat are 5-1 against them this year including the postseason.
Giannis is the MVP. But it takes a team to win in playoffs. Heat got their number all season. Right, well there must be a reason why. You’d think the coaches would figure that out. Yes Giannis has been exposed some. But his coaches have let him and his team down. Giannis strength is not in half court. Especially him handling the ball. That’s when he needs his PG. A general a decision maker. Imagine CP3 with Giannis. Basketball is a team gm. To win it takes coaches and trainers. You can’t ride one player in NBA anymore.
Coach should be fired.
They survived last night but odds are will get bounced out in five or six. When you look at this team you see a regular season team not a playoff team. By that I mean this team is not built to make a long playoff run. The same thing happened last year when they came across Toronto and now it is happening against Miami. I think many people who are very knowledgeable about basketball said before the playoffs started Milwaukee had a chance as long as they don’t have to play Miami. Milwaukee is legitimately the fourth best team in basketball behind the Lakers, Clippers and heat.