So I went to the Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat Game 5 of the First Round matchup last night at Fiserv Forum. I had a tough time falling asleep after the game. I’m going to pull a Aaron Rodgers & go to a darkness retreat after this Bucks series.
Fans of Wisconsin sports teams can’t have nice things.
I’m sick to my stomach, especially about last nights game. I’m sick to my stomach thinking about how Mike Budenholzer kept Brook Lopez off the floor at the end of regulation giving Jimmy Butler a good at-rim chance, although was a clear push-off by Butler & should have been an offensive foul. Then didn’t use a timeout to advance the ball. Or in overtime either, no timeout as the Bucks were struggling to get a good look as Grayson Allen dribbled out the clock on their season.
Even Giannis admitted there weren’t enough adjustments to the way they defended Butler – no rest for Jrue, no doubles, no different looks. Nothing new to contain Bam Adebayo facilitating the fourth quarter.
Or how about in Game 1 when Giannis got hurt & played only 11 minutes but the Bucks did nothing to get Lopez interior touches on offense? They lost & it took until Game 2.
Or in Game 4, Butler is going off & they didn’t change their defensive coverages at all. Didn’t switch or blitz him once.
Because Mike Budenholzer adjustments happen too slow or not at all. Just like always.
Giannis couldn’t hit free throws, Jrue Holiday was inefficient offensively again, blame goes around for the loss. And the Heat played great this series.
But in general, bad coaching blunders limiting superstars just makes me sick.
It’s interesting how these last few games felt like the Toronto series in 2019, even down to Giannis & Middleton only playing 37 & 36 minutes respectively in regulation. Budenholzer cost them a chance at a title that year, and, I would argue, last year as well, including this year.
Hopefully an embarrassingly early exit like this prompts some real shakeup rather than the organization being able to brush it off after another Eastern Conference Finals trip.
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