Series Thread: ECF: 1) Milwaukee Bucks vs 2) Toronto Raptors

[Gman]

He did not change tactics. And he should of.

Maybe. Maybe not. Hindsight is 20/20.

The Bucks continued to do what they did all season long... and it worked like gang-busters... (until it didn't against the best team in the EC)

One thing about "changing up" is the fact that while the Bucks have a few excellent individual defenders... (Giannis, Bledsoe, Middleton)... they also have a few guys in their regular rotation who have been noted as poor defenders in their career... (Lopez, Mirotic)... to me, it was a magic trick of sorts that Coach Bud was able to implement a system that hid the obvious flaws... even in playoff time, when flaws are usually exploited.

Go away from the system that got them here... then maybe you have Lopez and/or Mirotic getting exploited more.

 

[tlance]

Maybe. Maybe not. Hindsight is 20/20.

The Bucks continued to do what they did all season long... and it worked like gang-busters... (until it didn't against the best team in the EC)

One thing about "changing up" is the fact that while the Bucks have a few excellent individual defenders... (Giannis, Bledsoe, Middleton)... they also have a few guys in their regular rotation who have been noted as poor defenders in their career... (Lopez, Mirotic)... to me, it was a magic trick of sorts that Coach Bud was able to implement a system that hid the obvious flaws... even in playoff time, when flaws are usually exploited.

Go away from the system that got them here... then maybe you have Lopez and/or Mirotic getting exploited more.

No doubt.

And I don't mean they should abandon their defensive principles, just alter where the help was coming from.

Van Vleet was too hot to leave, yet it seemed to happen time and again where the Raps drive, the Bucks send help, they kick out to an open shooter like Powell above the break and Van Vleet's man leaves to contest that opportunity. One more pass, wide open shot.

Once the role players really got going in game 4, I do think Bud should have made them hit more of those contested 2s instead of the open 3s.

 

[Gman]

No doubt.

And I don't mean they should abandon their defensive principles, just alter where the help was coming from.

Van Vleet was too hot to leave, yet it seemed to happen time and again where the Raps drive, the Bucks send help, they kick out to an open shooter like Powell above the break and Van Vleet's man leaves to contest that opportunity. One more pass, wide open shot.

Once the role players really got going in game 4, I do think Bud should have made them hit more of those contested 2s instead of the open 3s.

Fair enough. Easier said then done, of course.

Kawhi forced the issue a lot and snaked around until he distended the Bucks defense the way he wanted to... Kawhi is truly a great player.

On a side note: Personally, I'm more pissed as a Celtics fan... there was a way to attack that Bucks defense and the C's simply failed to capitalize.

Rozier and his whining should take a long look at Van Vleet and what he was able to get done in the same role.

 

[Four4Four]

Damn the Bucks were one late regulation Middleton 3pter away in game 3 from going up 3-0. Even though he was coming off a fast break, he still had a some what clean look.

 

[tlance]

Fair enough. Easier said then done, of course.

Kawhi forced the issue a lot and snaked around until he distended the Bucks defense the way he wanted to... Kawhi is truly a great player.

On a side note: Personally, I'm more pissed as a Celtics fan... there was a way to attack that Bucks defense and the C's simply failed to capitalize.

Rozier and his whining should take a long look at Van Vleet and what he was able to get done in the same role.

Yeah.

Came down to game planning IMO.

Giannis can only really score 1 way. And when the Raptors took that away, he was a bit lost. The Raptors sold out defensively to take away Giannis shots at the rim and it worked.

Milwaukee basically tried to do the same thing with Kawhi, but Kawhi is a much more versatile offensive player so it was more difficult. And Milwaukee let the "others" get going in the process.

Starting in game 5, I would have applied less help to Kawhi if I were in Bud's shoes. Take away the others, and make Kawhi go for 45-50 to beat you. He could have done that for sure, but I think it would have given the Bucks a better chance to regain control of the series because maybe he can't do it twice.

Bud is a great coach and a big part of the reason Milwaukee made it as far as they did. But he failed to make adjustments on both sides of the ball after Toronto adjusted to them. Nurse outcoached him in this series. To me, that was the difference between the two teams who were otherwise very evenly matched.

 

[Gman]

Yeah.

Came down to game planning IMO.

Giannis can only really score 1 way. And when the Raptors took that away, he was a bit lost. The Raptors sold out defensively to take away Giannis shots at the rim and it worked.

Milwaukee basically tried to do the same thing with Kawhi, but Kawhi is a much more versatile offensive player so it was more difficult. And Milwaukee let the "others" get going in the process.

Starting in game 5, I would have applied less help to Kawhi if I were in Bud's shoes. Take away the others, and make Kawhi go for 45-50 to beat you. He could have done that for sure, but I think it would have given the Bucks a better chance to regain control of the series because maybe he can't do it twice.

Bud is a great coach and a big part of the reason Milwaukee made it as far as they did. But he failed to make adjustments on both sides of the ball after Toronto adjusted to them. Nurse outcoached him in this series. To me, that was the difference between the two teams who were otherwise very evenly matched.

Maybe... I'm not so sure it came down to coaching, though.

Kawhi is that good... Kawhi was the difference.

 

[tlance]

Maybe... I'm not so sure it came down to coaching, though.

Kawhi is that good... Kawhi was the difference.

Also true

Kawhi > Giannis

Milwaukee support players should be > than Toronto support players, but not in games 4-6 of this series. And that was due to game planning, IMO.

 

[Gman]

Also true

Kawhi > Giannis

Milwaukee support players should be > than Toronto support players, but not in games 4-6 of this series. And that was due to game planning, IMO.

Trade Kawhi and Giannis, though... and all of the sudden Coach Bud is out-coaching Nurse and Milwaukee's support players are outplaying their counterparts.

Because Kawhi is better at opening things up for everybody else and getting them the ball than Giannis is... that's my point.

 

[flyerhawk]

This is one of the biggest surprise results in the playoffs, for me at least, in several years. Really didn't expect to see the Bucks fold up like that.

 

[Black Adam]

I love gracious winners

they're great, aren't they...?

Course, if the Chiefs win another title after 50 plus years I'll probably be Compelled to wanna say the exact same stuff...

 

[lebron23james]

they're great, aren't they...?

Course, if the Chiefs win another title after 50 plus years I'll probably be Compelled to wanna say the exact same stuff...

I will be very gracious when my browns win this year lol

 

[tlance]

Trade Kawhi and Giannis, though... and all of the sudden Coach Bud is out-coaching Nurse and Milwaukee's support players are outplaying their counterparts.

Because Kawhi is better at opening things up for everybody else and getting them the ball than Giannis is... that's my point.

And I do agree.

But I also saw a coach that made very few noticeable adjustments as his team lost 4 straight. He kept running Giannis ISO from the top to initiate the offense, but Giannis was unable to gain an advantage because Toronto figured out how to guard that action without leaving shooters.

On the other side, Nurse made the necessary adjustments to give him a team the edge.

At some point, as a coach you have to do something different.

 

[Black Adam]

I will be very gracious when my browns win this year lol

sorry. getting my Money Mahomes gear this season. you cats are toast...

#itsallconnected

 

[DJ Fieri]

Maybe. Maybe not. Hindsight is 20/20.

The Bucks continued to do what they did all season long... and it worked like gang-busters... (until it didn't against the best team in the EC)

One thing about "changing up" is the fact that while the Bucks have a few excellent individual defenders... (Giannis, Bledsoe, Middleton)... they also have a few guys in their regular rotation who have been noted as poor defenders in their career... (Lopez, Mirotic)... to me, it was a magic trick of sorts that Coach Bud was able to implement a system that hid the obvious flaws... even in playoff time, when flaws are usually exploited.

Go away from the system that got them here... then maybe you have Lopez and/or Mirotic getting exploited more.

Bud did a great job for the Bucks this season.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I will be very gracious when my browns win this year lol

 

[DJ Fieri]

Maybe... I'm not so sure it came down to coaching, though.

Kawhi is that good... Kawhi was the difference.

Yeah, the Raps raped the Spurs in that trade.

 

[Gman]

On the other side, Nurse made the necessary adjustments to give him a team the edge.

"We need to get the ball to Kawhi and get out of the way."

"Hey, VanVleet... those shots you've been missing, can you get some of those to go down?"

I kid.

Somewhat.

 

[tlance]

"We need to get the ball to Kawhi and get out of the way."

"Hey, VanVleet... those shots you've been missing, can you get some of those to go down?"

I kid.

Somewhat.

There is some truth in that.

The Giannis Wall really came into full shape in game 3.

What did Bud do to adjust?

I didn't see a whole lot.

He needed to try something. They were far too predicatable on both ends. Toronto knew where their shots were coming from and Milwaukee didn't.

 

[Iggloo]

 

[trojanfan12]

Near tears brah!!!!!! Like I said I'm no basketball fan but there are few moments where you can take pride in your nation and say this is Canada's team. Ain't nothing to say but

WE THE MOTHER FUCKING NORTH

Then shut up and get out. You don't get to celebrate.

Congrats though. lol