Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Bucks scored an important victory over the Sixers.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Benny Sieu/USA Today.)
I swear that I didn’t mean to post consecutive entries on the expense of the Philadelphia 76ers. But it so happened that the Milwaukee Bucks beat them at their tail end of a back-to-back and I want to talk about the Bucks for a bit.
I’m also guilty of this but when we talk contenders in the East, we always mention the Sixers and the Nets. I mean, it’s pretty easy to talk about them as they have been 1 and 2 for most of the season. We’ve also talked about Miami being worse after their Finals berth. There’s a lot of Boston chatter because they had regressed from last season. And we’ve mentioned New York quite a bit as they’re in the playoff mix and they currently have an 8-game winning streak.
In the middle (well, not really, they’re #3) is Milwaukee. Compared to the last two seasons, when they had the best mark in consecutive years, we’ve barely whispered about the Bucks. And in those two years, Giannis Antetokounmpo won the MVP award. Even off the court, we talked about Giannis possibly bolting Wisconsin for greener than Green Bay Packer postures.
It didn’t happen after they dealt for Jrue Holiday. They were also ready to acquire Bogdan Bogdanovic except their deal was illegal since he was a restricted free agent. And while this wasn’t a blockbuster signing, Bobby Portis has been aces off the bench. Giannis saw those as winning moves so he stayed. And of course, Giannis is probably way more loyal than people give him credit for.
Anyway, getting Holiday changed the dynamic for the Bucks. But a combination of things (adjustments, teams getting better, schedule) put Milwaukee mostly in third and fourth for most of the season. And that’s okay. We know that Holiday is a more superior player than Eric Bledsoe, who was concentrated on in the postseason. Holiday is a decidedly more respected player on both sides and that just opens up avenues for Khris Middleton and Giannis. Also, Holiday has been an outstanding defensive perimeter player, which people seem to gloss over, sometimes. In the long run, Milwaukee could be a team that’s way more ready for primetime than in the last two years.
And we’re blinded by Philly and Brooklyn right now.
Giannis isn’t playing any differently. He hasn’t regressed and you can make the easy argument that he should be on track to win his third straight MVP award. But once again, it’s easy to switch the narrative to someone who hasn’t won it yet.
Giannis and the Bucks are more dangerous than ever and it’s in the other teams’ own peril to overlook the deer.
Bullet Passes
Jaren Jackson, Jr. made his return on Wednesday with the Grizzlies. On Thursday, Anthony Davis made his return to the Lakers after missing 30 games. The Lakers did lose against Dallas but in the long run, Davis (and then later, LeBron James) will be well-rested for the postseason.
The Suns only scored 86 points against the Boston Celtics. Chock that one up as a schedule loss for this was their third game in four nights. I mean, they played the Bucks, Sixers, and Celtics in that stretch. ON THE ROAD.
Josh Jackson is the second leading scorer on this Pistons team. I suppose he’s recovered okay from his first few years. Hopefully, he can continue to improve.
Right now, the Magic are 18-41 compared to the Pistons’ 18-42. The Pistons currently have the third worst record in the league, which means they have the same odds as Minnesota (16-44) and Houston (15-44) for the first pick.
Chicago needed that win against Charlotte but they’re still a half-game behind the Wizards for the 10th spot. In the meantime, the Hornets have fallen to 8th after looking great at the 4th spot a few weeks ago.
Rest in peace to former Kentucky Wildcat Terrence Clarke, who had his life taken away by a car accident at 19 years old. Such a tragic accident and he had an entire life ahead of him. So sad. All the prayers to his family and friends.
NBA Scoreboard
Apr. 22, 2021
Watch This Play
Miles Bridges just keeps doing this.
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
Nikola Vucevic did not stand a chance.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.