Well less talented of course without Giannis but obviously way more talented than anything he ever had here. That team has some good players Middleton, Portis, Beverly, Beasley, Lopez. with Lillard can win games. They have a problem though. The Pacers are pretty good. This could end just like last year. Giannis out the first few games last year with a back injury was tough to come back from. Bucks need to take care of home court and give him as much rest as he can get.
The problem isn't that Dame is a bad defender, the problem is that there are times (pretty often, unfortunately) when he does not even try. It's even more disturbing that an Oakland tough guy DECIDES to be a cream puff on defense.
Damian Lillard owes Terry Stotts like $400 million dollars for what Terry's offense did for his career.
Windhorst on McAfee seems like a super solid source and not someone that would just say whatever would get a rise out of the partisan crowd. The fact that McAfee's show is filmed in Indy and they love to play to that, the fact that Windhorst talks about Caitlin Clark getting buckets and the fact that the McAfee show notoriously doesn't know shit about basketball makes this what a bunch of other reports have been... hate. "Dame doesn't want to be in Milwaukee." hate! "The Bucks are way worse with Dame than they were with Jrue." hate! This shit is amateur hour or more accurately TMZ Sports. Due to the injuries to Giannis and I guess Dame this series isn't a gimme but also... gimme a fucking break!!! The playoffs are different from the regular season and this shouldn't be the only playoffs the Bucks are looking at. They have a three or four season window with Giannis and more so Dame being at their peak... this is the first of those seasons so win or lose this series doesn't tell the tail of Dame in Milwaukee. Typical Pat McAfee sensational bullshit and typical repost of said bullshit!
Is there anyone who has kept track of how many times Windhorst has been wrong? The pacers are a good team and the Bucks will be without their best player so he might get this one right? Look for a split in the first two games. Then look for Giannis to came back and a split in the second two. This will be a good series to watch.
We should be rooting against the Bucks because if they melt down and Giannis asks out, those picks are worth a hell of a lot more.
Hmmm I don't know about that - we want them to fall apart around 2027 and stay there up to the 2030 draft. I don't think it helps as much if they fall apart this early. That would give them a chance to rebuild/retool before we get anything from them. We want them to follow the Brooklyn Nets path - where they win some playoff games the next few years and continue to try and win at all costs. Then they fall apart wither zero options to improve just in time for us to use their picks for the next Tatum/Brown.
28-29 is a ways out. Im wanting Dame to win a ring with Giannis. By 28-29 they probably both be out of Milwaukee.
Always thought if we really are interested in bringing Dame back here eventually that having those 3 Bucks assets gives us more leverage to steer him here vs any other NBA destination. Were certainly a year or two away from that point, but its just a nice small aspect of the trade for those who do want to eventually see Dame play again as a Blazer. When Dame has an expiring supermax contract and the Bucks have zero use for him they might be totally glad to get just one swap back for him, or even just part of a swap. Then we can dump Thybulle/Grant/whatever future overpaid contracts Joe gives out in a trade.
Actually with Portis stepping in at 4 and Dame running the offense through him mostly, Bucks could be dangerous. If Middleton and Lopez show up and I think they will Bucks will be tough.
Just read an editorial about how the Bucks are done with Dame time and may move off him this offseason. Not sure how much water it holds but seems Dame's not thrilled living in Milwaukee either. Something about hiring Doc Rivers that seems to push guys out the door.
Will be hard for the Bucks to get good value, without picks they have no option but trying to contend with Giannis now. Miami would probably give up Rozier and Herro - but I'm not sure they'd even throw in 2 picks or Jacquez. Very glad that Cronin sold when he did.
