Trailing 3-1 in their series with Indiana, the Bucks‘ best hope for a comeback rests with the return of injured stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, writes Jim Owczarski of The Journal Sentinel. Both players sat out Sunday’s loss, but neither has been ruled out for the series, which resumes Tuesday night in Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo, who has been sidelined since suffering a calf strain April 9, has been listed as doubtful for the first four games. However, there’s cause for optimism after the former MVP completed an intense workout Sunday morning.
“It went well,” coach Doc Rivers said. “He moved, he shot, he’s running now with no resistance. So those are all very good signs.” Rivers said he’s “optimistic” about Antetokounmpo’s chances to return at some point, adding, “Like I think there’s a chance for him to play in this series. I really do.”
Lillard aggravated his right Achilles tendon late in Game 3. He wore a walking boot for Saturday’s film session, but didn’t have it on as he sat on the bench for Sunday’s contest. He was officially listed as out with tendinitis in the Achilles tendon.
“Not shutting him down,” Rivers said. “That’s a fact. I can say that much for sure.”
There is “obviously pessimism” about the status of both players with a quick turnaround for Game 5, Shams Charania said this morning on Run It Back (video link).
There’s more on the Bucks:
- Milwaukee lost an important part of its rotation on Sunday when Bobby Portis was ejected seven minutes into the game for an altercation with Andrew Nembhard (video link), notes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Although Nembhard pulled Portis’ arm, the officials determined during a video review that Portis’ push and open-handed strike were two separate hostile acts, meeting the standard for an ejection. “The emotions got the best of him,” Khris Middleton said. “I thought, for the most part of the year, he’s done a great job flirting with that line and not crossing over it. Tonight, it just crossed over at the worst time for us.”
- Middleton played 40 minutes on Sunday despite pain in both ankles, Nehm adds. The veteran swingman was dealing with a sprained right ankle entering the game, and he hurt the left one when Myles Turner landed on it during a third quarter collision.
- Sources tell Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer there’s a legitimate chance that general manager Jon Horst will leave the Bucks this summer to become head of basketball operations for the Pistons. Horst wasn’t on board with either of the team’s coaching hirings over the past year, according to O’Connor, as he preferred Nick Nurse when the organization opted for Adrian Griffin to please Antetokounmpo and he pushed for Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson when Rivers was brought in at midseason. O’Connor notes that Horst is a Michigan native who got his first front office job with the Pistons, and he might be more comfortable building a young team than refining Milwaukee’s aging roster.
- Kelly Iko of The Athletic looks at the strategic adjustments made by Rivers and Indiana’s Rick Carlisle that have helped to shape the series.
Doc is well respectful but he has not figured out the new team
When you have Doc Rivers, your team should target next season
Patience
Horst would be smart to move on now. This current Bucks team is basically on their last legs. They have completely lost their identity from their Championship season. Lillard’s contract is going to look uglier every year. Middleton looks finished.
Middleton looking good on two bum ankles Stevie wonder.
Agreed, Giannis has been injured two years in a row at playoff time. Bad luck or a pattern? He is turning 30 soon. Sell high! Can probably convince someone that Lillard is their missing piece to playoff success. The Bucks will have to ride out Middleton’s contract. Start rebuilding by restocking 1st round picks. I don’t think Horst is the guy as his recent moves have backfired.
Trade Gianni to Warriors
Warriors would give Bucks whatever they like, except Curry.
Giannis, his brother, Portis, and Beasley
FOR
Wiggins, Kuminga, Looney, CP3 and a future 2nd round pick
Dud of a deal for the bucks dudley ur dismissed.
Not even close. There’s no way the Bucks would trade Giannis unless he wants out. If Giannis wants out there’s no incentive to take on Wiggins’ contract. If his contract was expiring maybe.
More realistic 2 future 1sts, CP3, Kuminga, Podziemski and Moody. That’s only if Giannis was insistent he wanted to go to the Warriors and no one like the Jazz, Thunder or Knicks bid against the Warriors.
PG-Curry
SG-Moody
SF-Green
PF-Giannis*
C-Jackson-Davis
——————————-
Portis*, Thompson, Podziemski, Beasley*, Saric/Garuba, Santos, Quinones/Robinson, Spencer, Giannis’ brother*, DRAFT/FREE AGENCY players (i.e. – a cheap PG)
The Bucks GM just hangs up instantly. What kind of 2K-ass trade is that?
Sillivan is smoking Crack again? Who is Gianni? CP3 to the Bucks for Portis and picks so they can sign Claxton sounds reasonable.
Doc Rivers not knowing who plays on his own team once again hurting his team in the playoffs……………..
Any team that wants to trade for Giannis better
a) have a team ready to compete for a championship, cause the kitty will be empty after the trade
b) find a way to trade Milwaukee’s own picks back to them
c) have a bevy of picks and interesting contracts
I hope it doesn’t happen at all. The Bucks might be formidable next season – it often takes a season for two main guys to get synced – yet if there a team that would fit bedt with Giannis rn it would be the Knicks imho.
I like the deal for both sides. In terms of the Bucks, this SIGNIFICANTLY decongests the paint area. Lillard and Lopez would have to be on board with the completely revamped system; if not, then this is a moot point. The burden of creating and scoring in bunches would no longer be required of Lillard during his leaner years. He would be asked to help bring back to the sport the original intended purpose of the point guard position – push the tempo and facilitate for his wings in budding-star Kuminga and Wiggins, who might benefit greatly from a change of scenery. Lopez would be asked to go back to playing traditional center: posting up, dishing off to a cutting wing, and crashing the boards – there’s no reason this guy shouldn’t average 8+ rebounds (at least for one season) with his size and with more room to work down low. If he and the athletic wings don’t mesh as well as planned, then Lopez comes off the bench with CP3, who also benefits from reuniting with Crowder. And not knowing how the remainder of the bench would look, it really makes more sense to have Lopez’s scoring punch for the second unit. Looney starts at center, but Lopez gets more minutes and is in there with the closing group if the situation calls for playing bigger. Current management must love Middleton, but hard to say if that sentiment would carry over with a new GM. Perhaps begin the season with him in tow, while testing the waters to see if you could move him for a younger asset; obviously keep him though if he stays healthy and gels with the up-tempo, multiple-slashers pace.
PG-Lillard
SG-Middleton
SF-Wiggins*
PF-Kuminga*
C-Looney*
————————————-
Lopez, CP3*, Crowder, Connaughton, Jackson, Green, Beverley?, DRAFT/FREE AGENCY (i.e. – good ball handler as insurance for CP3)
Why on earth would you do this? No Giannis means that you have to tear down the whole roster anyway and there’s no point in keeping Middleton, Lillard or Lopez.