Bucks 2024-25 Season Thread

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'm going to be tuning into the Cavs VS Bucks game on Sunday night. While you can't put too much into one game, I think this game will be a good litmus test for the Bucks and their progress. The Cavs have won all 3 previous meetings this season, while the first 2 games were close, the last one wasn't.

I am not tying to overhype the "New Bucks", but I think they are playing much better. More importantly, their bench seems deeper and that's allowing them to give less minutes to the starters.

I still think they will probably bow out of the Playoffs pretty quickly (Round 2), but their progress is good to see. Getting Portis back after his suspension could be seen as another positive. Bobby P. will be well rested and I am guessing, wanting to prove himself to the fans and organization.

 

[Voyageur]

I'm going to be tuning into the Cavs VS Bucks game on Sunday night. While you can't put too much into one game, I think this game will be a good litmus test for the Bucks and their progress. The Cavs have won all 3 previous meetings this season, while the first 2 games were close, the last one wasn't.

I am not tying to overhype the "New Bucks", but I think they are playing much better. More importantly, their bench seems deeper and that's allowing them to give less minutes to the starters.

I still think they will probably bow out of the Playoffs pretty quickly (Round 2), but their progress is good to see. Getting Portis back after his suspension could be seen as another positive. Bobby P. will be well rested and I am guessing, wanting to prove himself to the fans and organization.

I agree on the value of this particular game. It will give us some indication on how well they might do down the road. We have to be cautious not to take too much positive away from it as a win though, because it is a home game, and the Cavs have a 7.5 game lead on the Lakers, so they're giving players a little more rest than they did while fighting for a spot in the post season. The Cavs are at full strength. Absolutely no injuries to deal with.

One thing about this game. The Cavs obviously don't want to let the Bucks up off the mat at this point in the season. The last thing they want them to have is hope that they will finish strong and be highly competitive in the playoffs. It's there, as a possibility, because there's a lot of talent on the Bucks at this point in time.

It would be easy to over-hype the new Bucks, no doubt about it. I find myself wanting to do it. No doubt about it Kyle Kuzma is a huge step forward over Middleton. Khris was a great player, but father time and injuries have taken their toll. Porter can be a phenomenal player out there. Amazingly good. He has one problem. He has serious anger issues. You can see it at times on the floor. He might even have the capability of being a super star, but he just lacks that self-control to make it happen. I sure hope he's in counseling. He really needs it. The guy can be a force out there on both offense and defense. With a good attitude he'd be a great multiple year signee. I think he's only 23 so still growing into the game.

 

[Voyageur]

So much for the resurgent Bucks and this season. They just don't have the firepower or coaching to make it to the top. They put the hands in Lillard at critical times when he's not up to the task like he was when he was 6 to 8 years younger. Somehow the Bucks need to trade him during the off season and regain some sort of draft capital. At this juncture of the season you do not lose to a sub-.500 team on your home court and talk about making a playoff run.

It's time for a sell-off. Get draft capital, clear cap room, and use that money to rebuild with two or three second contract players who can make a difference out there. We have guys who are younger, Kuzma 26, and Porter 23, who could be long term additions. With trades, use the picks to add some seriously strong talent, and then put the hammer down with a couple of high priced second contract free agents who can make a huge difference. It's all about finding ways to clear cap in a way that they can make these splashes.

Right now, we're destined to be nothing more than ushers at the wedding. We won't even be bridesmaids.

 

[Heyjoe4]

So much for the resurgent Bucks and this season. They just don't have the firepower or coaching to make it to the top. They put the hands in Lillard at critical times when he's not up to the task like he was when he was 6 to 8 years younger. Somehow the Bucks need to trade him during the off season and regain some sort of draft capital. At this juncture of the season you do not lose to a sub-.500 team on your home court and talk about making a playoff run.

It's time for a sell-off. Get draft capital, clear cap room, and use that money to rebuild with two or three second contract players who can make a difference out there. We have guys who are younger, Kuzma 26, and Porter 23, who could be long term additions. With trades, use the picks to add some seriously strong talent, and then put the hammer down with a couple of high priced second contract free agents who can make a huge difference. It's all about finding ways to clear cap in a way that they can make these splashes.

Right now, we're destined to be nothing more than ushers at the wedding. We won't even be bridesmaids.

Yeah losing a game at home to the Magic after a 4-game win streak shouldn't happen. It's a long season though, and all teams experience a loss like this. As long as they don't become common, I don't get too upset about this stuff.

The Bucks are a playoff team. They will probably get to the second round of the playoffs, but I can't see them getting further. Unfortunately, for a rebuild to work, Giannis will have to be traded. That just sucks. Just way too many bad, bad personnel moves the last few years.

 

[Voyageur]

Yeah losing a game at home to the Magic after a 4-game win streak shouldn't happen. It's a long season though, and all teams experience a loss like this. As long as they don't become common, I don't get too upset about this stuff.

The Bucks are a playoff team. They will probably get to the second round of the playoffs, but I can't see them getting further. Unfortunately, for a rebuild to work, Giannis will have to be traded. That just sucks. Just way too many bad, bad personnel moves the last few years.

Well said brother Joe!

 

[Heyjoe4]

Well said brother Joe!

Thanks V. Geez 2021 seems like decades ago. Too bad really. Had they kept Holiday and moved on from Middleton a little earlier, the picture would be different. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

 

[Voyageur]

Thanks V. Geez 2021 seems like decades ago. Too bad really. Had they kept Holiday and moved on from Middleton a little earlier, the picture would be different. Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

That's exactly what should have been done. Holiday didn't cost them a 2nd championship.

The loss to the Cavs last night was an indication as to just how far off they are from having a chance to even get close to winning a championship. In a game that they had to show what they had, they left it all in the Lockeroom. You could see it on Doc's face. He knew exactly where they stood and knows that they don't have much of a chance going very deep into the playoffs. It's over for the Giannis era. It's been flitted away by Horst and his parade of coaches who aren't up to the task.

When Giannis and Lillard are gone next year, and they should be, the seats are going to start being empty in larger numbers week after week. It's going to stay that way until Junior Bridgeman can mount a campaign to buy the team outright and run it like the winner it should have been over the last few years. In the NBA, there's only one winner every year and the Bucks had only one of those rings when they should have had at least 3.

 

[weeds]

That's exactly what should have been done. Holiday didn't cost them a 2nd championship.

The loss to the Cavs last night was an indication as to just how far off they are from having a chance to even get close to winning a championship. In a game that they had to show what they had, they left it all in the Lockeroom. You could see it on Doc's face. He knew exactly where they stood and knows that they don't have much of a chance going very deep into the playoffs. It's over for the Giannis era. It's been flitted away by Horst and his parade of coaches who aren't up to the task.

When Giannis and Lillard are gone next year, and they should be, the seats are going to start being empty in larger numbers week after week. It's going to stay that way until Junior Bridgeman can mount a campaign to buy the team outright and run it like the winner it should have been over the last few years. In the NBA, there's only one winner every year and the Bucks had only one of those rings when they should have had at least 3.

Junior passed away today at 71

Louisville's Junior Bridgeman dead at 71

According to multiple reports, Bridgeman suffered a medical event at a luncheon at the Galt House in downtown Louisville. He died several hours later.

spectrumnews1.com

 

[Sanguine camper]

Sad to see the news of Bridgeman's death. I was a huge Bucks fan in his era. He was a terrific player for a long time.

Any chance that Junior would save the Bucks is now toast. I for one am fine with the organization being completely gutted and rebuilt. New coach, GM, trade everybody but Portis.

Like Dan Devine in the early 70's, Horst's squandering of draft picks will set the franchise back into the wilderness like the Packers were in the mid to late 70's.

 

[Voyageur]

Sad to see the news of Bridgeman's death. I was a huge Bucks fan in his era. He was a terrific player for a long time.

Any chance that Junior would save the Bucks is now toast. I for one am fine with the organization being completely gutted and rebuilt. New coach, GM, trade everybody but Portis.

Like Dan Devine in the early 70's, Horst's squandering of draft picks will set the franchise back into the wilderness like the Packers were in the mid to late 70's.

I feel terrible about this. Junior was the man who was in line to turn the Bucks around, make them a team to be reckoned with, if he ended up putting a consortium together. He was a good man, who used the wealth he developed to help others along the way. It was so sudden.

I feel like Milwaukee lost a legend. Someone who really cared about the team, the players, the city, and the people of the city.

He was one of a kind. RIP Junior. You always gave your all, on and off the court. You were one of those players that stuck around and signed them for kids all the time. I can remember once, a long time ago, going into a restaurant in the suburbs of Milwaukee with my Cousin who was a Lieutenant on the city police department, for dinner. There was just the two of us. His wife and my wife were at some kind of a party in the area. Junior was sitting at a table near us, and while he was eating, people came up and asked for autographs and he'd smile and sign them, interrupting his meal. The smile never went away. He was cordial, and nice, saying something kind to everyone. I'd been around top players for another NBA team in my work and at dinner where they were, and I never saw any of them that would sign autographs when they were eating. Junior was different.

My Cousin asked if I'd like to meet him, and I told him no. I didn't want to interrupt his dinner any more than it had already been interrupted.

Over the years, I've been close to a lot of professional athletes. Some are great people, others, not so much. I have a fond respect for those who treated others with dignity. They deserve respect.

RIP Junior. You won't be forgotten. In addition to your number hanging in the rafters in Milwaukee, they will honor you even more. It's the least they can do.