NBA 2023 CAPSTONE **DENVER NUGGETS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP**

[T-ski]

I want to believe the Bucks can come back but I’ve seen this happen before, against the Raptors in ‘19 and against the Heat in the bubble of ‘20. They just tend to crumble in crunch time.

I’m thankful I got to see them win it all in ‘21, because I’m not sure this group stays together if they’re an early exit this year.

Hate when I’m right.

Bucks just play dumb when it matters most. Should be an interesting off season, no way they can keep this core together, including the coach, after this.

[Azyiu]

Hate when I’m right.

Bucks just play dumb when it matters most. Should be an interesting off season, no way they can keep this core together, including the coach, after this.

If Budenholzer is fired, which I think the possibilities are pretty high at this point; all the NBA Finals-winning coaches between 2019 and 2021 are all fired. What a crazy thought.

[bosk1]

I want to believe the Bucks can come back but I’ve seen this happen before, against the Raptors in ‘19 and against the Heat in the bubble of ‘20. They just tend to crumble in crunch time.

I’m thankful I got to see them win it all in ‘21, because I’m not sure this group stays together if they’re an early exit this year.

Hate when I’m right.

Bucks just play dumb when it matters most. Should be an interesting off season, no way they can keep this core together, including the coach, after this.

Man, I really didn't see it happening so soon.  Even though I thought they dug themselves into a hole they wouldn't likely get out of, I didn't think it would be this game.  Sorry, man.

Also kind of surprised and not thrilled about Memphis winning last night.  Hopefully, Lakers and Warriors can close out their respective series with game 6 wins.

[Azyiu]

Hopefully, Lakers and Warriors can close out their respective series with game 6 wins.

The Warriors? Very likely... my Lakers? Who knows? Let's just hope AD doesn't get hurt.

[Lonk]

LeBron hasn't been shooting that well from 3 (16% in 5 games  ), and seeing him play, it feels like he has been a bit reserved.

I think they close it out tomorrow, but if they want a chance of getting out of the next round, everyone needs to be more consistent and aggressive.

[bosk1]

Hopefully, Lakers and Warriors can close out their respective series with game 6 wins.

The Warriors? Very likely... my Lakers? Who knows? Let's just hope AD doesn't get hurt.

Well, don't get me wrong--I hope they get destroyed next round.  I just want them to shut Memphis up and send them home. 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I just wanted to take a moment and say how much I appreciated Giannis's answer to the reporter who asked about failure. If you haven't seen it, I'd strongly recommend taking a moment to watch. I think that most people, myself included, are incredibly hard on themselves to the point it's not actually productive or sensible. Giannis was very eloquent in talking about this, and it really resonated with me. Definitely take a look if you can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj4icUkwP2A

[bosk1]

Yup.  I have no problem with the question being asked in the first place, but I appreciate his perspective.  Few things in sports get a bigger eyeroll from me than sports "journalists" spitting the rhetoric of "If X team/X athlete doesn't win it all this year, that's basically a failure." 

[TAC]

His answer is a cop out for a professional athlete. Sorry. He basically tried to shame the reporter because he was all pissy. His team didn't show up for the playoffs. Fucking own it, ya big baby.

[Azyiu]

His answer is a cop out for a professional athlete. Sorry. He basically tried to shame the reporter because he was all pissy. His team didn't show up for the playoffs. Fucking own it, ya big baby.

Giannis didn't fair too well at the foul line either. He also appeared to be avoiding the ball very late in OT in case he got fouled.

[King Postwhore]

I, personally don't want my star player saying that to the media. I know most players know it's a long haul but when you're the #1 seed and the best player in the league,  you have to show ownership in losses and wins.

[T-ski]

I’ll jump in here.

Giannis has a very strong relationship with the reporter who asked the question. The problem was the phrasing, using “failure” instead of something else. Giannis’ answer is who he is, he looks at things through a much different perspective due to his upbringing. He will never be negative, never.

As to his free throw shooting it’s been an issue for years, sometimes he’ll find consistency but overall it is what it is. Need to remember he was injured in the first game and missed games 2 and 3. He was not 100% and I’m sure that didn’t help things.

There is also a quote going around about how the Bucks were looking at winning a championship while the Heat were focused on winning the series. This I believe to be true and it’s been an issue with the Bucks for years.

[TAC]

I understand this is their job and maybe it's true they don't live and die with these victories, but you can charge what you do and tell the fans that the outcome doesn't matter. Giannis will take their money no problem. But at the end of the day, if he doesn't give a shit whether he wins or not, why should anyone else.

[bosk1]

He never said the outcome didn't matter, and he never said he didn't care if he wins or not.  You are putting words in his mouth.

[TAC]

In essence that was what he was saying. 

Maybe it's a cultural thing. Like no one's going to tell me I failed or am a failure.

[King Postwhore]

Let's be honest. It was a huge fail.  He's not excepting responsibility. Leaders need to shoulder the loses as they do with wins.

We are not talking about a finals loss. It was the best team in the league, losing in the 1st round.

[bosk1]

In essence that was what he was saying.

No, it's really not.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Interesting view points all around.

I personally did not interpret what he was saying as "I don't care if I win or lose". It was more about the blanket idea of simply labelling the entirety of the last six months a failure because of this one series loss. The Bucks absolutely need to go back to the drawing board and Giannis needs to figure out a way to not shoot < 50% from the free throw line for a series. They have to take this seriously. But at the same time, you also have to be able to move on with your life and keep a certain perspective. There's a healthy balance somewhere in there, but maybe I'm just not sure exactly where.

[T-ski]

Turns out Coach Bud’s brother passed away prior to game 4 of the series. Not sure how one manages to focus on coaching when something like that happens.

[Azyiu]

Turns out Coach Bud’s brother passed away prior to game 4 of the series. Not sure how one manages to focus on coaching when something like that happens.

Oh no! Bless his family...

By the way, I cannot believe we blew the Grizzlies out of LA.  But you never know which version of us would show up. And how about them Kings? I wish they beat the Warriors in game 7.

[lonestar]

Holy shit Steph 

[Samsara]

Grizzlies actually did the right thing and basically told Dillon Brooks to GTFO. 

Problem for the rest of the league is, he'll likely sign a vets minimum to a big team and still be in the league. If this was 30 years ago though, that guy would be celebrated like the Pistons and Bulls were. But these days, instantly ostracized. I don't like Brooks. A dirty player with a big mouth who isn't as good as he thinks he is. But he'll land somewhere, and all of us who aren't fans of whoever that team is, will suffer for it.

[KevShmev]

Grizzlies actually did the right thing and basically told Dillon Brooks to GTFO. 

Problem for the rest of the league is, he'll likely sign a vets minimum to a big team and still be in the league. If this was 30 years ago though, that guy would be celebrated like the Pistons and Bulls were. But these days, instantly ostracized. I don't like Brooks. A dirty player with a big mouth who isn't as good as he thinks he is. But he'll land somewhere, and all of us who aren't fans of whoever that team is, will suffer for it.

I don't think it helps Brooks' cause that his skill level is pretty low (by NBA standards).  A guy like Draymond Green is essentially the same kind of player, but has much more skill and has generally been an asset to his team over the years.  Same with Bill Laimbeer back in the Pistons days.  He was a dirty player, but was still good enough to make four all-star teams (same as D Green).

[Azyiu]

Yeah, I watched an episode of Andy Hoops a few weeks prior to the playoffs got started, and he stated Brooks is the most inefficient starter in the league or something along that line.

[T-ski]

Bucks have dismissed Coach Bud.

I have mixed feeling about it as he brought us a Championship two seasons ago and helped make the Bucks a true contender for the last five years. But I also recognize he was not good at adjusting during the playoffs and that is ultimately what brought on the change.

The timing also stinks as he just lost a brother a week ago.

Should have a who’s who list of candidates to choose from to fill the post though.

[Azyiu]

@T-ski, so who do you want? Do you have a few candidates in your head?

Meanwhile, the Lakers as a team bears some responsibility for AD’s poor game 2 performance by allowing him playing passively instead of force feeding him the ball. There were several plays guys just kept on driving toward the hoops and into double teams, instead of passing the rock to AD at the key.

[TAC]

Meanwhile, the Lakers as a team bears some responsibility for AD’s poor game 2 performance by allowing him playing passively instead of force feeding him the ball. There were several plays guys just kept on driving toward the hoops and into double teams, instead of passing the rock to AD at the key.

It seemed that AD and especially Lebron just seemed happy to win G1. They were not invested in G2 at all. I know Klay raining threes can be disheartening, and they played like it.

[T-ski]

@T-ski, so who do you want? Do you have a few candidates in your head?

Personally I don’t care, Nick Nurse is the one name most Bucks fans seem to want, he’s kinda of the opposite style of Bud.

[bosk1]

Meanwhile, the Lakers as a team bears some responsibility for AD’s poor game 2 performance by allowing him playing passively instead of force feeding him the ball. There were several plays guys just kept on driving toward the hoops and into double teams, instead of passing the rock to AD at the key.

It seemed that AD and especially Lebron just seemed happy to win G1. They were not invested in G2 at all. I know Klay raining threes can be disheartening, and they played like it.

Yeah, and on one hand, "stealing" a game in SF was the goal and they won in that respect, so the advantage is now theirs.  But on the other, playing like they did in game 2 and letting the Warriors gain momentum and confidence (not that they lost much after game 1, since they've been there before, but still) by the margin of the win last night is not a good idea for L.A.  They may try to tell themselves otherwise, but I think that was a big mistake for them.

@T-ski, so who do you want? Do you have a few candidates in your head?

Personally I don’t care, Nick Nurse is the one name most Bucks fans seem to want, he’s kinda of the opposite style of Bud.

I'm bummed on your behalf.  I don't follow the Bucks closely enough to know the details of that team and its personality.  But titles are incredibly elusive, and firing a coach that has taken a team to one just seems ludicrous to me.

[Azyiu]

A satisfying game 3 win. If the pattern continues, get ready for a terrible AD in game 4.

[Lonk]

I really thought the Knicks had it in them to beat the Heat, but down 3-1 I highly doubt We'll get passed game 6. The Lakers got lucky with Walker's performance, and Curry missing those shots at the end. Also, that jump ball call was laughable

I just noticed that one of every seed advanced to the second round (1-8)

[Azyiu]

The Lakers got lucky with Walker's performance, and Curry missing those shots at the end. Also, that jump ball call was laughable

I just noticed that one of every seed advanced to the second round (1-8)

Yep. Klay won't score just 9 points, and Poole will probably bounce back in game 5 too. Kerr had made his adjustments to draw AD way out of the key. We will see how Ham does his things for game 5.

[King Postwhore]

Celtics saying last year they were gassed by the Finals yet they take 6 games to beat the Hawks snd now 7 games with the 6'ers. Not a way to get to the finals when you had chances to end earlier in each series. 

[Lonk]

Celtics saying last year they were gassed by the Finals yet they take 6 games to beat the Hawks and now 7 games with the 6'ers. Not a way to get to the finals when you had chances to end earlier in each series.

Honestly, I expected the sixers to win this series a lot sooner. Game 7 at home though, so Boston can get a good win. Whoever comes out of this series though is going to annihilate the next round (No way the Knicks or Heat have it in them to beat Boston or Philly).

[Azyiu]

Doc Rivers can add it to his resume for losing another series lead.