Yeah they started 1-6 and have gone 9-3 since.
They do have talent. What they lack is young impact players.
Bucks 2024-25 Season Thread
- Thread starter Voyageur
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They do have talent. What they lack is young impact players.
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Voyageur
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They traded away their picks for guys who could no longer contribute. As an example, two #2 picks for Crowder, who just took up space, but they hung on for two years because Horst didn't want to look bad in making the trade, by cutting him. So many dumb moves, nearly as bad as the Bears sideline decisions in games.
Oh man I forgot they gave up two 2nd round picks for an aging and ineffective Crowder. (Is Crowder still playing, somewhere?)
Overall though you nailed it - they traded away draft capital for guys so they could "win now". That rarely works. Same is true in the NFL. Teams that get additional draft picks by trading aging and expensive veterans almost always do better - just look at the Lions. (Although that trade - Stafford for Goff and a bunch of picks worked out well for both teams as the Rams won a SB.)
weeds
Fiber deprived old guy.
Bucks did something today. Moved to the NBA CUP final on Tuesday. Of course, Trae Young looked like a Hall of Famer as he always does when the Hawks play the Bucks.
Trae Young does elevate his game against the Bucks, always. He is a very good player, but against the Bucks, he's at a HOF level. (But that hair. How to explain that hair? And now with the patchy beard he looks like he lives on the streets.)
The NBA Cup is weird. The East has two dominant teams in the Cavs and Celtics, and a few more I would have pegged as much more likely than the Bucks to get this far. Last year the LAL won the Cup. It does add a level of interest this time of year, and certainly helps to sell a few more tickets. MLB should consider it.
OKC is the other finalist - not much of a surprise. It's good fun, and good for the Bucks who started the season so poorly.
weeds
Fiber deprived old guy.
I can't believe it that the winners get $500,000 per player - a half-mil on top of your regular season salary for playing a game you have to play anyway. I phrase it that way because it's not like a real playoff game...it's part of your regular 82-game season, isn't it? Nice gig if you can get it.
I think that the championship game is not considered part off the regular season. All other games count as regular season games.
And yeah, I think all players on the winning team get $500k. Both teams in the finals have already won $200k/player for getting to the finals.
Rich guys getting richer. That's the way of the world, eh?
Pokerbrat2000
Opinions are like A-holes, we all have one.
The Bucks just need to tell themselves that every game is for the cup!
They are 11-1 all time in NBA Cup games.
They are 11-1 all time in NBA Cup games.
weeds
Fiber deprived old guy.
They got 200K for winning last night AND ger another 500K if they win Tuesday? The lower on Tuesday gets anything? A coupon to Wendy's for a Baconator? A hearty "Thanks for playing. Here's your ribbon now off with ya"?
Pokerbrat2000
Opinions are like A-holes, we all have one.
No, I think by winning last night, they are guaranteed $200K+ per player.
Here's a breakdown of the prize payouts:
• NBA Cup champion: $514,971
• Player on losing team in championship game: $205,988
• Players on losing teams in semifinals: $102,944
• Players on losing teams in quarterfinals: $51,497
I watched the game and thought one of the commentators said the Bucks all left the court $200k richer. And then yeah, the winner on Tuesday gets $500k/player. Trae Young got a coupon to Cuts for Less.
As for second place on Tuesday - I'd go with the Wendy's Baconator coupon. Who doesn't like bacon? I think it's unconstitutional to not like bacon. Even vegetarians like bacon, probably.
weeds
Fiber deprived old guy.
Cold be. They're a wiley bunch.
weeds
Fiber deprived old guy.
Bucks clobbered the Thunder for an additional $300k. Middleton was sick and didn't play.. good game that doesn't count ... but still...
Thanks for clarifying the payout. Winning a semifinal gets each player $200k. Winning the final gets em another $300k for $500k total.
I didn't know Middleton was out. They throttled OKC and actually won a game with defense. Well good for them. I certainly didn't see this coming a month ago. They've just made the season a lot more interesting.
Pokerbrat2000
Opinions are like A-holes, we all have one.
The Bucks are finally playing some decent ball. I have to admit, I haven't watched an entire Bucks game in several weeks. I mainly watch the "highlights" of cherry picked games. So I won't make any comments on what has changed, but I doubt it is just Middleton finally playing.
Let's hope they continue the momentum and we can all talk about just how good this team is and what a job Doc did to finally bring them together.
Their next 2 games might tell us just how far they have come, or haven't. On the road against the #1 team in the East (Cavaliers) and at home against the worst team in the East (Wizards).
Let's hope they continue the momentum and we can all talk about just how good this team is and what a job Doc did to finally bring them together.
Their next 2 games might tell us just how far they have come, or haven't. On the road against the #1 team in the East (Cavaliers) and at home against the worst team in the East (Wizards).
weeds
Fiber deprived old guy.
Helluva Christmas bonus huh? Better than leater goods.
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Voyageur
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Let’s hope the players realize that their defense was what won this game. When they play with intensity on defense, they create offensive opportunities, because other team is pressing to get take aways. Doc also finally let Conny back on the floor and his defense was lights out.
AmishMafia
Cheesehead
I appreciate the bucks, and they did play good defense. But what won the game was OKC couldn't hit an open 3 to save their lives. First half they were 1 for 17. 2nd half the bucks bucks were letting them shoot the 3 and they were still missing.
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Voyageur
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I read a comment attributed to one of the coaches that indicated that the open looks OKC had were not from their sweet spots. They were forcing that defensively. How much of an affect that would have, not certain.
Both you and Amish are right. OKC was definitely off, an understatement. 1 of 17 in the first half is a combination of bad shooting, good defense, and good luck (for the Bucks).
I just don't believe it's an accident that OKC, with that many playmakers, only scored 81 points by chance. They did have a terrible shooting night, but the Bucks' D deserves credit as well.
It will be interesting to see if/how that continues into the rest of the season. I think great D wins games in major sports, well the NFL and NBA for sure. When the Bucks switched traded Holiday for Lillard, they traded defense for offense. That didn't work out well last year.
AmishMafia
Cheesehead
Not sure about the "sweet spot" thinking. Seems an NBA player should be able to hit 3's more consistently from spots other than his favorites.
I fully admit i am a casual NBA fan and don't know much about the finer points, strategies, etc.
I really like Holiday and sorry we traded him away. I heard we have sent Middleton in place of Holiday. I thought that was a big mistake. I loved Middleton for years. Most clutch Buck ever. But he is well past his prime and often injured. With Holiday on this team, we would be that much better. I hope Middleton makes a comeback and we go on a championship run, but I don't envision him contributing much.
Pokerbrat2000
Opinions are like A-holes, we all have one.
Surprised that nobody has thrown around: "Game was played in Vegas, it was fixed!" 
The game against the Cavaliers tonight was going to be a good test for the Bucks and their sudden progress. However, it sounds like Lillard is out with a strained calf, so who knows.
The game against the Cavaliers tonight was going to be a good test for the Bucks and their sudden progress. However, it sounds like Lillard is out with a strained calf, so who knows.
Yeah Middleton is just wearing down. He is injured - well it seems like he's always injured. The Bucks are just an old team by pro-sports standards.
And I wasn't a fan of trading Holiday either. Holiday was the heart and soul of the defense, the counterpoint to Giannis' command of the offense. I knew the defense wouldn't be as good without Holiday, but didn't expect the collapse we saw last season.
And Holiday is just an all-around good person with a great family. He was very active in the community and really seemed to like it here. Miss him for sure.
