The trade that brought Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee helped the Bucks reach the Finals. Holiday has struggled in the first two games of the series but Giannis Antetokounmpo is confident his teammate turn things around as the series shifts to Milwaukee, Tim Bontemps of ESPN writes.
“No matter what’s going on, you’ve got to stay aggressive and you cannot get in your feelings. It’s hard not to,” Antetokounmpo said. “You know, NBA Finals, 20,000 people booing you and all that, it’s kind of hard. … If there’s a game that you’re 3-for-12 or whatever the case might be and you can rebound the ball or get a steal or do something else to help the team win, that’s what it’s all about right now. I think he understands that. I know he’s going to be there when we need him the most and I don’t worry about it.”
Holiday shot 11-for-35 from the field during the two games in Phoenix.
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Zach LaVine will discuss a contract extension with the Bulls soon and he anticipates a positive outcome, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times tweets. LaVine will make $19.5MM next season and then is due to become an unrestricted free agent. LaVine is currently with Team USA training for the Olympics.
- On the surface, Jamahl Mosley won’t have a lot of pressure as the new head coach of the rebuilding Magic — provided that he finalizes an agreement — but he’ll face some obstacles, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes. The current roster doesn’t have a clear No. 1 offensive option and that could create some chemistry issues. In the same piece, Robbins reveals that president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond are expected to receive contract extensions. Both have one year remaining on their deals and the length of their new contracts will likely coincide with Mosley’s deal.
- Now that he’s had the interim tag removed, Hawks coach Nate McMillan knows that expectations will ramp up for a team that reached the conference finals, Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes. “Things just for whatever reason went right, and we had a lot of success,” he said. “We know that expectations are going to be higher for us next season. But the one thing we’ve tried to keep this team locked in on is just us. Not the outside noise and what people are saying we should be or shouldn’t be because at the beginning of the season, they weren’t saying what they’re saying now about us. So you can’t focus on that.”
He’ll have a bad holiday season if they lose…get it?
And if the Suns lose then CP3 will be labelled a choker after missing out on a ring again.
If Chris Paul finally gets his ring, a certain Hoopsrumors commenter is going to need a Holiday.
Not funny
I don’t think you got it? “Holiday” season?
It is worth repeating, just saying.
Did you even get it?
That’s not even funny
Eh… Jrue is mostly fine. Shame he and Middleton are going to choke this away. Brightside CP3 showed up for the series. Maybe next year Buck-aroos.
By this logic, CP3 has choked his entire career til now?
Seems Middleton and Holiday did fine the final 2 games of the Atlanta series when Giannis was out. Maybe that’s the problem.
Maybe he did! Enjoy that L.
Of course he has, there’s no denying it. The Clippers never got past the second round with their Big 3 of CP3, Blake, and DeAndre. They blew a 3-1 lead against the Rockets in 2015, then 3 years later he finally made it to the WCF with Houston and cost them the championship by getting hurt after they got a 3-2 lead over the Warriors.
Without Chris Paul the Rockets would’ve lost that series in 5
Without CP3 the rockets got the 2 overall pick
LaVine for Simmons straight up
Lefty, Philly I think would strongly consider that,though they’d probably grind for a first round pick to be included.
First trade offer for Simmons on here that I’d consider.
I think Philly would have to include that pick. Simmons stock took a hit this year because of his performance and lack of confidence in the playoffs. He’s talented, but the objective of the game is to put the ball in the hoop.
I don’t think his value is as low as hoopsrumors.com comment section thinks it is. And multiple nba insiders I trust more than y’all have said the same thing
6ers would have to throw in a sweetener. No way Simmons is worth LaVine by himself.
LaVine wants a max contract that’s larger than Simmons. 5/201M. Simmons is actually a discount at 4/147M. Any team that trades for LaVine does so either willing to let him walk or pay him max.
Bulls would be the one including the 1st in this scenario.
Only if Bulls do not want to be on the hook for a max. But (under different mgmt.) they went beyond HR poster consensus to offer the contract he is on now… Bulls FO really wanted to keep him.
Bulls FO would not be sending a first if they deal at all.
Sixer FO will go on sitting on Simmons.
sorry but if you pulled every GM if theh would max LaVine and become a repeater tax payer, because that’s the situation you’re getting into with 201M. I think youd get a resounding No. Dame Lillard I’d say Yes. Beal, more than 50%. LaVine would cost the Sixers way more than Ben and a Max contract. That’s why they’d only do it if they got draft compensation. I do think they Bulls keep him so it’s moot. they gave up picks for Vucevic they are going to build around Lavine and Vucevic.
Polled *
Maybe, I am not even sure I would do it then…and I am a Big Ben supporter. Not sure but Zach and a first would at least bring me to the table.
As a Sixers fan and LaVine fan, I’d love this move. LaVine is poor defensively but offensively he’s really worked on his game.
He averaged a career high 27.5 points per game last year, 7th in league, shooting 51-42-85. He also had career highs is assists (5) and rebounds (5). At 26, 6’5 and capable at PG or SG, his mix of dribbling, shooting and athleticism would be great for us.
What would need to then happen is us finding a PG (or space to bring home Kyle Lowry). We would also need to look at getting a back up 4.
Only way Lowry ends up in Philly is on the MLE. And he will get more per year from another team. A S&T is unlikely. They do not have the salaries to match up. GH is 10M. Then you’d have to use Maxey, Thybulle, etc not a good plan.
Wouldn’t be terrible for the Bulls either. Vuce is a centre that would work with Simmons cause he doesn’t block up the paint, he can shoot the ball and he’s a good passer too.
You may also bring back Lauri Markeneen for his shooting touch.
ORL roster is a backdrop to whatever rookies they draft. Barnes and Moody?
Is it just me, or do you think this draft is crucial to the future of more teams than most drafts?
This draft’s talent has been built up so much. Also previous offseasons have seen teams trade away multiple picks and they may not be happy about it now!
Superior players produce night in and night out. Holiday doesn’t. Nice player but not a so called third star. Levine straight up for Big Ben no thanks I need more from the the bulls but if im the Sixers im listening.
If Bulls give up Lavine there is no point for Simmons on their roster. They only need his passing and defense with Lavine, without him they would need some outside shooting. So, no.
Lavine for Simmons is the best win-win trade out there for both teams. Bulls need a defensive presence to change its losing culture and Sixers need a true Robin for Embid. But then again, its also a trade of flawed overrated players and at the end it’s just rearranging of deck chairs on sinking ships.
Hell naw!!! The last thing the Bulls need is a one dimensional PF wannabe PG who can’t shoot.
They need to keep LaVine, add a guy like Lonzo or Rozier and get a shooter like Barton coming off the bench and they’ll be competing for that playoff spot. Billy Donovan is a good coach and will help them in long term. Colby White hasn’t improved though.
Well, what the Bulls have in LaVine is a one-dimensional SG wannabe PG who can’t defend. I think it would be a fair swap.
Crazy idea I don’t even know if it’s legal but hear me out.
Simmons and Curry for LaVine, Thad Young and a second round pick.
Bulls get Simmons who is 2 years younger than LaVine. Has made 2 all defensive teams and 1 all nba team. LaVine is due an extension which will pay him 50mil more than Simmons current deal so the bulls would be also saving loads.
Add to that Curry for Thad Young. Curry is also on a bargain of a contract for the bulls. This allows them to then bring Lauri Markeneen back which also helps provide spacing for Ben.
Sixers then release George’s Hill from his non guaranteed contract for next season. And trade Tobias Harris for Kyle Lowry and a second round pick via sign and trade. Sixers then just fill out the roster with some draft picks and veterans in FA.
Sixers then have LaVine (26) and Embiid (27) as the new faces of the franchise with help from veterans Kyle Lowry and Thad Young. Lowry returns home to Philly and will be hungry to win a championship for his city. Last season he averaged 17-7-5 shooting 44-40-88. LaVine would be a go to scorer who set career highs in scoring (27.5), assists (5) and rebounds (5) last year, while shooting an efficient 51-42-85.
Thad Young spent 7 season in Philly before bouncing around the league, last season he found some form however and he also returns after setting a career high in assists last year with 4. Then of course you have Embiid who was insane last year.
Lowry runs the offence while sharing the touches with LaVine and Embiid. Embiid gets spacing with Lowry LaVine and Young all capable of knocking down threes, which gives him space to dominate the paint. Defensively you do take a hit without Simmons but Lowry and Young are both good defenders and although LaVine ain’t good you had Curry last season who was a weak also.
Off the bench Lowry would provide a really good veteran presence for the young guards like Maxey, Milton and Joe. And Thad Young and Dwight Howard are there to mentor any young bigs.
1. Lowry. Maxey. Milton
2. LaVine. Ellington*Joe
3. Green (possibly). Thybulle. Reed
4. Young. RHJ*. Todd*
5. Embiid. Howard
Would be extremely happy with his as a Sixers fan. Would mean we are a lot older but would have a better chance at a ring for the next couple years and I’d have more hope in LaVine and Embiid than Simmons and Embiid as a duo. Then eventually Maxey would step up and be third star
From my perspective Bulls would do well aswell and the Raptors I mean your getting something for nothing.
A major reason for the Philly sinking ship is Harris at a max contract slot. Raptors would laugh at your trade proposal. Nothing is better.
As I said before the finals, Giannis is dominating & destroying PHO… such a shame all the other guys are bums (specially K-Mid & Jrue)!
Giannis can’t win alone!
But, boy oh boy, is he been the MVP so far!!!
Just hope MIL finds a way to turn up, Giannis deserves to win & the MVP for how he is playing, specially with the injury!!!
He is playing MVP worthy basketball, no argument there!
Holiday is putting up Bledsoe-like numbers in the playoffs and Middleton is putting up Middleton-like numbers. I honestly feel that the MIL Big 3 plus Bud have 1 more year and then it might be time to rebuild the team with everyone but Giannis for sale. Bud may not even get that extra year if Bucks get swept.
There are at least some things to their credit in that they are playing at home and they have been behind before in these playoffs. They sure could use DiVincenzo to help with Booker and Paul.
Bucks were never going to win without a healthy Giannis. Middleton and Jrue had one bad gm each. They can still step up. Bucks play better when Giannis and Middleton are off the ball. That’s why they got Holiday. This coach is not good. He thinks he’s going to ride Giannis. First off he’s not a killer. Bucks if they win have to do it as ten guys. Everyone has to play well, both ways. Starts today, they have to win two or it’s over. Bucks need a new coach, and a better bench. Bench not built right to support core guys.
I dont understand why Holliday or Middleton is getting any criticisms. They are the ones that beat the Hawks without Giannis.
Giannis is the problem. He might have had a solid game #2, but he had a terrible game #1. In addition, the team is having a hard time getting into a groove with him on the floor.
Only 1 stat matters and thats a WIN.