Ohhhh he went cool story bro on him
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An okay point? Durant is arguably one of the greatest closers in the history of the game.
Harden has never played on a team where he's the number 2 or even 3 option in crunch time. He's always shouldered the load. He had the Rockets 1 game away from the nba finals playing against the best team ever assembled.
If you play basketball, you understand how much easier it is to close when you get to go against 1 on 1 coverage instead of having all eyes on you every single play. Why do you think Lebron only won when he went with D Wade? He joined forces with the best closer in the game at the time after Bryant. And he went to 4 straight finals and won 2 rings. Lebron couldn't win a ring when it was just him vs. 5 GS warriors players when Irving was hurt. Irving comes back the next year, and not even that great of an Irving, just a soliid all star version, and Lebron wins a ring.
The NBA is all about who can get their own shot when the going gets tough in the playoffs. The only hesitation I have about this team is that they haven't played games together. Harden is arguably a better basketball player than Giannis by himself. The Bucks big 3 vs. the Nets big 3 is laughable in terms of talent and skill. They are smoked at every position.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
Agree with pretty much all you said. Also, Milwaukee gave up the THIRD most 3 point attemps to opponents on the season, and gave up the SECOND highest 3p% to opponents. That's a terrible recipe defensively against this Nets team. Brook Lopez is a huge part of their defense but he drops back heavy in the pick and roll and encourages jumpers. Against guys like KD, Harden, Kyrie, that's not going to work. They are literally 3 of the best off the dribble shooters EVER to play the game. Whoever is defending them would need to go over the screen and stick to their hip to take away step backs, etc. Otherwise it's open jumper for them anytime because Lopez ain't coming out to the perimeter. And Joe Harris surrounding that is just unfair. Nets' worst shot typically is a decent/good shot for other teams. They generate GREAT looks at an insane rate. This is by far the most offensive firepower a team has ever had, especially with how the coach plays them (pace and space, pick and roll, small ball).
On the other end, Nets don't have some great single answer for Giannis but they will sag off him and make him take more jumpers. In the last two games he played the Nets, he took 8 threes and 12 threes. I don't really trust his jumper especially as you get deeper into a series/playoffs. In crunch time, Giannis with the ball in his hands often doesn't produce good offense. Which means he's better served off-ball as a screener. To me that significantly reduces their ceiling in crunch time as the Jrue and Middleton have to do more ball handling than normal. And Jrue and Middleton vs. Harden/KD/Kyrie in crunch time is not close.
IMO Bucks probably need to go up 3-1 to win the series as I think they are more prepared coming into series (clicking + experience together). I don't think that happens though. If it's 2-2 after 4 games, I think Nets will probably be playing their highest level by that point and it'll be tough for Bucks IMO.Comment -
Nets in 6.Comment -
It's round 2 of the playoffs.
James Harden will dissapear soon. Irving is still living off that game 7 shot. Kd will then have to win it by himself.Comment -
Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
A guy who averaged 28 7 and 11 in the first round is just going to "disappear?"
Seems you're not thinking unbiasedly. You don't want to apply your "loser logic" to the Bucks and Giannis, who have never won anything before?
Harden came within 1 game of the finals playing against what is undoubtedly considered the best squad ever assembled. He did that as the number 1 option, and all the attention on him. You can say he's going to struggle a bit but disappear? Harden isn't suddenly going to average 13 pts a game and 5 assists for a series. That would be considered "disappear."
There's a difference LB between the pressure he has now, and what he did before when he couldn't deliver.
James never won anything on his own. He won 2 rings with Wade when that pressure was allieviated.
Remember when people were telling me the Bulls (best defense in the league, best rebounding team in the league, MVP on their team, scrappiest team) would going to kill the Heat in the ECF? And the won game 1 and everyone said the series was over.
Bulls lost the next 4 games in a row.
This kind of reminds me of that right now, with everyone on this thread trying to be smart thinking they found "the better team with more heart."
I will never forget all the posters who were on the Bulls in that series. 90% of this forum.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
I won't be able to back Bucks unless it's say a do or die game 3 at home down 0-2... Nets may play a sloppy game in that spot
if Bucks steal game 1 i will probably be jumping on the Nets seriesComment -
Laker Your handicapping has been way off you cannot be trustedComment -
Me too, pretty much.
Sometimes I'll take a big dog and sell back at times through the series.
But not often.
When I realized many of my future bets were with the intent of hedging some assumed matchups I realized I wasn't buying them for the edge I used try to calculate, I was buying them for potential future value that I would sell back anyway.
Not a good long term strategy, lol.
I do it in golf with discretionary funds too, more than I'd like to...lol.Comment -
True but no team has had three players blow it up like this when it comes to scoring in the playoffs in a really long time.
I wouldn't be surprised if Nets advance here.
You might win some of those Milwaukee spread bets you make, as the public is likely to push that line out of whack.
But when it comes to the moneyline LT, keep your head on a swivel.
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I don't think it's ever happened before. There's never been 3 perennial top 5 NBA scorers on one team before. James Harden led the NBA in scoring every year for like 5 years. Now he's the number 2, sometimes even number 3 option on that team.True but no team has had three players blow it up like this when it comes to scoring in the playoffs in a really long time.
I wouldn't be surprised if Nets advance here.
You might win some of those Milwaukee spread bets you make, as the public is likely to push that line out of whack.
But when it comes to the moneyline LT, keep your head on a swivel.
GL Bucks backers with Khris Middleton.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
Close to never happened, they tied a record.
Durant, Irving and Harden combined for 104 points. That was an NBA playoff record for three teammates.
Havlicek, Jo Jo White, and Dave Cowens set the record in 1973.
In 1986 Dominique Wilkins, Randy Whitman, and Spud Webb also tied the record.
That's what I was thinking of specifically when I posted it.
Nets could prove to be a different animal when backed into a corner, if backed into a corner.
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Oh. Yeah I was referring more to have 3 guys who can each essentially lead the NBA in scoring on their own if they played on shitty teams like Beal or Curry. And they definitely would, we've seen it with KD, with Harden year after year, and with Kyrie briefly when he was more or less solo being a top 5 scorer. Spud Webb lol.Close to never happened, they tied a record.
Durant, Irving and Harden combined for 104 points. That was an NBA playoff record for three teammates.
Havlicek, Jo Jo White, and Dave Cowens set the record in 1973.
In 1986 Dominique Wilkins, Randy Whitman, and Spud Webb also tied the record.
That's what I was thinking of specifically when I posted it.
Nets could prove to be a different animal when backed into a corner, if backed into a corner.
Anyway we'll see what happens. The people who are betting against the nets are saying "harden is a loser." No one on the bucks has ever won shit last time I checked.Cause Sleep is the Cousin of DeathComment -
Yeah, the sum of those other trios I mentioned overall nothing like the trio we have today.
I just hope as the playoffs advance everyone is healthy.
Tired of losing some of the best ballers to injury here in the playoffs.Comment -
Has anyone mentioned the fact that Donte DiVincenzo is out for the rest of the playoffs? That matters. It's one less weapon in the Bucks' arsenal against an opponent they're gonna have to trade punches with for 48 minutes.Comment -
Yeah Eddie, but what do you know about Box Fighting?
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Divencenzo is significant to Milwaukee's chances, not betting anything here. Milwaukee or nothing. My preseason sixers future is toast along with embiids meniscus. Can't even hedge in the eastern conference finals like I was planning on with themComment
