Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the playoffs now!
The Nets have been incredibly dominant against the Bucks.
So I have said all season that the Nets are extremely talented and that I might have been underselling them. And man, did it show up in this game.
The Nets simply whooped that ass. And I have never seen this Bucks team look so lost, so outclassed, and so inept.
A few things I was afraid about the Nets are their health (which has already lost them James Harden but somehow, it didn’t affect them), their defense (23rd in defensive rating in the regular season), and their chemistry (if only because so many players have bounced in and out). Well, Giannis Antetokounmpo has had trouble going inside and maybe that’s the reason the Bucks have AVOIDED going inside, which should be their strength. The Nets picked them apart in every way possible that they didn’t miss a beat on ball movement without chief distributor Harden. And the Nets have been using their “next man up” mentality.
I mentioned that the Bucks seemed inept. I have no idea why Mike Budenholzer continued to use the same strategy that lost them the first game. The Nets ran over their defense. They went away from what worked early in Game 1 of this series and against Miami. And the playing time factor didn’t matter here because the Bucks were down by as many as 49 points.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets put on a show. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant took turns burning the Bucks. Joe Harris and Landry Shamet were making outside shots. Mike James and Bruce Brown helped set the table. BLAKE GRIFFIN WAS DUNKING.
If Milwaukee wants to save this series, they’d better make a conscious effort of attacking. Yes, Blake has been reawakened by the Nets but a younger Giannis should be able to overpower or even drive around him. They’d better change the match-ups around and go away from the zone. Don’t settle for midrange shots. And play better in general. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have not had great days at the office.
The good news is that this was still one game and the Bucks are only down, 0-2.
The bad news is that the Bucks are down, 0-2.
Bullet Passes
Suns vs Nuggets was turning out to be gangbusters in the first half. Those guys ran a track meet. Nikola Jokic was like a majestic and elegant stallion. Facundo Campazzo was scrappy. Deandre Ayton continued to show his massive improvement and held his own against Jokic. It was such a well-played first half.
Jokic, Aaron Gordon, and Austin Rivers took control in the early part of the third, leading Denver into a 9-point cushion. But Mikal Bridges kept the Suns in it with his timely buckets. As the Arizona crowd got louder, the Suns clamped up the Nuggets. What followed was a backbreaking 16-0 run. After that, Chris Paul did Point God things in the fourth. He was a perfect 6 for 6 in the quarter, scoring 14 of his 21 points. The Suns won going away.
We all felt this would go either way although the Nuggets missing Jamal Murray was felt here. Campazzo and Rivers have had big moments in the playoffs, as well as Monte Morris but they’re going to have to be extraordinary to keep up with Paul and Devin Booker. And Ayton (20 points and 10 boards) keeping up with Jokic (22 points, 9 boards) is a massive win for the Suns.
Tom Thibodeau has officially won NBA Coach of the Year. Here’s the voting breakdown.
I mean, people are going to argue about everything that involves voting. Monty Williams did garner more first place votes. But hey, Thibodeau took what was essentially the same team from last season and got them to the postseason. That deserves credit.
Oh, yeah. Clippers are going into Utah. I should make a prediction on this, right?
Mike Conley‘s health is key for Utah. In the meantime, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George could be peaking at the right time. And the Clippers can outshoot the Jazz in three-pointers. While this Jazz team hasn’t been too deep into the postseason, neither are the Clippers.
I’m going to assume Conley is healthy here for most of this series.
I’m also going to assume the Clippers, even with having Kawhi, haven’t been too great in the moment. They should’ve vanquished the Mavericks easily. Maybe they think they’ve gotten through the worst of pressure.
I… don’t think so.
PREDICTION: JAZZ IN 6.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
June 7, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
EAST
#5 Hawks lead #1 Sixers, 1-0.
#2 Nets lead #3 Bucks, 2-0.
#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.
WEST
#1 Jazz are going to play #5 Clippers.
#2 Suns lead #3 Nuggets, 1-0.
#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#4 Clippers defeat #5 Mavericks, 4-3.
#2 Suns defeat #7 Lakers, 4-2.
#3 Nuggets defeat #6 Blazers, 4-2.
Watch This Play
Griffin got into his car, went back in time, and got his hops back. HOW BIZARRE.
BLAKE ON GIANNIS. OH MY. pic.twitter.com/GOKC3pdYs8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 8, 2021
EVERY TIME I LOOK AROUND, IT’S IN MY FACE.
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.