|
|
Post by El Marsh on Jul 21, 2021 6:03:26 GMT
Congratulations on the Bucks winning the title, Tim! Damn fine run by them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Timberwolf on Jul 22, 2021 12:36:37 GMT
Congratulations on the Bucks winning the title, Tim! Damn fine run by them. Thanks, Marsh. And congratulations on your Royals sweeping the Brewers this year 😄 I actually had plans to go to Milwaukee for both Brewers-Royals games this week, but scrapped those plans as I wanted to stay home and watch the Bucks. The core of the Bucks is returning next year, but the NBA Eastern conference is very good and it will be a very tough fight for Milwaukee to repeat as champions. I have never seen so many outstanding talent in the NBA as I have this past season and it will only get better as this year's draft class is looking good. |
|
|
|
Post by OrochiGeese on Jul 23, 2021 5:30:22 GMT
Congratulations to the Bucks! 🦌
Game 6 was HOT with great momentum swings, an absolute legendary game for Giannis, and a competitive finish. Really entertaining and I was happy seeing the Bucks win. After the series with the Nets, I started rooting for the Bucks due to all the heart they showed, especially in that final game with OT.
The Suns had an amazing year, one that very few people saw coming (I certainly didn't) and accomplished a lot. But Giannis did what the top players do - he took his great play and elevated it a level. That's what Magic, MJ, Kobe, Tim Duncan, Lebron, and Kawhi did. With each new round of the playoffs, they found a new gear inside themselves and operated on that level. 50 point games are usually reserved for regular season mismatch blowouts - not Game 6 of a very competitive NBA finals when the guy is still getting over an injury. I really can't emphasize what a huge accomplishment that was. Middleton was the definition of clutch. Holiday played like a true superstar. Portis was all heart and FIGHTING SPIRITU! 🔥
Next season is going to be really incredible with the astounding teams and talent that have formed 🏀🧺
|
|
|
|
Post by faulknasty on Jul 23, 2021 5:42:05 GMT
Giannis finals performance flipped how I felt about him. That guy gave everything he had on both ends of the court and during transition(offensively and defensively).
|
|
|
|
Post by Timberwolf on Jul 26, 2021 14:29:48 GMT
Congratulations on the Bucks winning the title, Tim! Damn fine run by them. Tagging Marsh here because it's about a discussion that was in the Sports thread at the old Fire Pro Arena board 8 years ago. 8 years ago, the Milwaukee Bucks drafted a young 18 year player by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was considered to be a prospect that wouldn't contribute to the team right away. I wasn't thrilled with that pick and I said so in that Sports thread at the Arena. I think Marsh countered that argument and said something like that it was a good pick and that Giannis would be a good player someday. If Marsh did indeed post that, then he definitely was correct in that aspect. Milwaukee went 15-67 in that first season with Giannis and at first glance, my fears proved to be true since the Bucks were worse with Giannis on the court. They parlayed that terrible record into the #2 overall pick for Jabari Parker, who I was very happy with. I thought for sure, Jabari would be the face of the franchise and get them back to respectability and maybe even a championship. Little did I know that Jabari washed out with the team because he couldn't stay healthy while Giannis continued to improve his game and became a force in the league. I looked at both the 2013 drafts and the 2014 draft. In the 2013 draft, I didn't see any names that stood out among the players selected after Giannis that the Bucks could have selected. And in the 2014 draft, I wonder where the Bucks would be if they picked Joel Embiid, taken #3 by the Sixers, instead of Jabari Parker. Joel had his own health issues, but overcame them and remained with the Sixers to help lead them to the #1 overall seed in this year's playoffs before being upset by the Hawks. In either case, it was a great run by Milwaukee and I hope to see more of that, but it's gonna be tough. There is just way too much talent in the NBA. The days of seeing the same teams in the finals every year are over. No longer will we see something like a Golden State-Cleveland match up for 4 years in a row because there is just too much parity in the NBA. What is everyone's opinion on this topic? |
|
|
|
Post by El Marsh on Jul 27, 2021 4:08:50 GMT
That does sound pretty familiar but I don't honestly remember who that pick was. If that pick was indeed Giannis then holy crap! lol
My general approach to draft picks is "wait and see," particularly when it comes to international prospects who haven't had the luxury of being on TV throughout a NCAA season. I know it can be frustrating when your team doesn't bring in a "name" guy but sometimes, guys like that turn out to be legends while guys who were expected to be good are out of the league before their first contract ends. It's just a complete crapshoot.
But yeah, the Bucks did a great job of building around Giannis, particularly during this last offseason (how huge were Holiday and Lopez down the stretch?)
I'm really happy for you and all of the Milwaukee/Wisconsin faithful who are Bucks lifers. From a guy who experienced a 30* year World Series drought and the back end of a 50 year Super Bowl drought, I know what it's like to finally see your team win after a lifetime of waiting. Feels good man.
(*note, that I also follow the Cubs pretty closely because of my mom lol; sorry Tim and Zealot >_>)
|
|
|
|
Post by OrochiGeese on Jul 27, 2021 7:16:06 GMT
In either case, it was a great run by Milwaukee and I hope to see more of that, but it's gonna be tough. There is just way too much talent in the NBA. The days of seeing the same teams in the finals every year are over. No longer will we see something like a Golden State-Cleveland match up for 4 years in a row because there is just too much parity in the NBA. What is everyone's opinion on this topic? This is an excellent question 💡 We're in a new golden era of competition in the NBA and that is awesome! Right now we have an Eastern division that has weathered the storm of Lebron's domination over the years. We have a number of great teams that can all easily be seen as Eastern finalists if not NBA Champions: Bucks, Nets, 76'ers, Hawks, and Heat. It's a far cry from the East just sending Lebron after he routs every other team. The West is also extremely interesting. The Lakers will come back with a vengeance, the Warriors appear to be rebuilding and Curry did insane things this past year, the Suns had a helluva run this year and will build off that confidence, the Clippers could actually be a bigger threat if Kawhi is healthy, Utah is going to also come back with a vengeance, and then you have the Nuggets who were one major injury short of being real contenders this year. So I think it's really hard to predict who will be in the Finals next year. I'd give the Bucks an edge in the East though because I really do think they have an excellent team dynamic and the newfound confidence of winning it all. I really have no idea who will make it to the Finals from the West. Although I think parity at the top of the NBA is a great thing, I don't think it always leads to different teams in the Finals. I think there are a few factors that can cause the same teams to end up there anyway. 1) Injuries - the great equalizer and usually the result of pure RNG chance. 2) Experience. Even if there are like 4 top teams in one division, I think that the team that has had more experience winning the Championship, or at least being in the Finals, has a big confidence and comfort edge. Even if you have 4 teams that have about equal talent (individual and team dynamics) on paper, experience really helps. Just about all of the teams who won recent titles had major injury setbacks this past playoffs. But there's something to be said for players, and teams, who have made their way to the end. They look at the whole process differently. They've been past the finish line and can retrace those steps easier. That being said, perhaps their hunger isn't the same as a team who hasn't been there before but has come close. 3) Road to the Title: We saw some teams make huge comebacks this year like the Clippers and the Bucks. But I don't think that's the norm in the playoffs. And bracket placement plays such a big role which means the regular season can matter. You have some teams who are truly ascendant during the playoffs that just can't truly turn it on in the regular season (or get injuries) and then are in a bad situation in the playoffs. Even if they make it past their first round matchup, they may have needed 7 games whereas their next opponent could have won with a sweep. That makes it a lot harder to keep the endurance up in that next series and moving forward. But overall, I think it will be less likely to see dynasties like we did over the past 10 years. |
|
|
|
Post by Timberwolf on Jul 30, 2021 2:19:04 GMT
Baseball trade deadline is looming. A flurry of trades are happening.
Most notable: Anthony Rizzo from the Cubs to the Yankees and Max Scherzer from the Nationals to the Dodgers. 😲
More trades to come. Deadline is the 30th, I believe.
|
|
|
|
Post by OrochiGeese on Jul 30, 2021 8:21:48 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Timberwolf on Jul 30, 2021 8:28:32 GMT
The Washington Wizards are just a few pieces away from being a good team. They already have Bradley Beal and *had* Russell Westbrook. I was a little confused at this move. But I can understand it as a move for the future for Washington, at least, because the Lakers sent a package of players and draft picks to Washington in exchange for Westbrook.
It sounds like Los Angeles wants to win another championship NOW before LeBron retired. That's my thinking anyways.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zealot on Jul 30, 2021 8:48:43 GMT
The Yankees acquiring more power hitters that have high strikeout rates is classic Yankees.
|
|
|
|
Post by OrochiGeese on Jul 30, 2021 9:05:13 GMT
The Washington Wizards are just a few pieces away from being a good team. They already have Bradley Beal and *had* Russell Westbrook. I was a little confused at this move. But I can understand it as a move for the future for Washington, at least, because the Lakers sent a package of players and draft picks to Washington in exchange for Westbrook. Yeah, I guess Washington is building for the future. But like you said, I thought they were like one upper midcard player and some role players away from having an even stronger run in the East. It's too bad this team is being dismantled because they played with a ton of heart. It sounds like Los Angeles wants to win another championship NOW before LeBron retired. That's my thinking anyways. Yeah, I think Lebron's recent injuries have taken more years off him than would have naturally occurred. I really thought his original plan was to stay until Bronny got into the NBA but I don't see that as a reality now, at least not "this" Lebron playing at a high level. If they find a way to prolong his career by letting him play off the bench for another few years, he may be able to hold out. But his "main event" championship window may not last another two years. And the older players get, the more their injuries begin to worsen and breed new ones. |
|
|
|
Post by jameshilliv on Jul 31, 2021 8:46:32 GMT
Michael Jordan was asked if his Bulls could win Lebron's Lakers. He said yes, by a few points. When they asked why only a few points he said most of us are almost 60 now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Timberwolf on Jul 31, 2021 11:45:42 GMT
I'm a Bucks fan as y'all know, but Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time. No question about it.
|
|
|
|
Post by El Marsh on Jul 31, 2021 16:43:01 GMT
I don't think Kareem gets nearly enough credit but in my mind it's 1-2, one or the other.
|
|
