Expect the unexpected. Cliched? Yes. Accurate of these NBA playoffs? Absolutely.
I can’t even wrap my head around what happens each day in these playoffs. From day to day something new and weird and unexpected happens. I mean it started from the beginning of these playoffs when the Lakers started as the 7th seed and the Warriors lost at home to Memphis to lose out on the 8th seed. We then saw blown leads, injuries, chippy play, and an unexpected final four of Phoenix, Clippers, Milwaukee and Atlanta.
After last nights Suns loss when the shorthanded Clippers, playing without Kawhi and their starting center, rode a hot shooting wave and lousy Phoenix game to take the series back to LA. That should have been a sign of things to come.
After seemingly figuring out Atlanta in Games 2 & 3, by using length, pressure, and getting timely play from their supporting cast Milwaukee looked poise to take game 3 and head back to Milwaukee ready to punch their ticket to the Finals. But a funny thing happened on the way to the cashier for all bettors—The Bucks no-showed the first half of their game against Atlanta.
Yes, much like the Clippers did in game 4 and the Suns did in game 5, Milwaukee showed no sign of urgency or killer instinct in starting off the game and Atlanta seized momentum and belief of the first half, while Milwaukee was bricking every shot when they were not busy turning it over. The Bucks scored 38 points in the first half. 38?!?!?!?!
Oh and the best part of all of this—Trae Young was not even playing. Yes, the leading scorer, assist man, and star of the Hawks this postseason run did not even suit up to play. That would believe many, and it did, to think the Hawks were toast, I know I did, before the game started. The only problem is that nobody told the Hawks that. And Nate McMillan knew what Milwaukee would be thinking when they saw Atlanta with no Trae. They were going to take their foot off the pedal so he wisely(He also had to) put in Lou Williams into the starting lineup who responded in Trae like fashion with 21, 8, and 5 in 35 minutes. He had 10 points the previous two games.
But the Bucks not only lost the game in horrifying fashion they also may have lost Giannis for an extended period of time after he “hyperextended” his knee, which if that is the case then that is the best case scenario after looking like he may have suffered something more gruesome.
Okay, I don’t want to add fuel to the fire or piss on someone while they are down, but this was all avoidable had the Bucks come out ready to play and taken care of business from the jump ball. Instead, they played down because Trae was out, had literally no offensive momentum and thus no defensive intensity and waited to turn on the “switch”. Only the switch short circuited when Giannis went out and now the Bucks might be left with two passive players they paid a boatload for in Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.
Both guys shot 6-17 and combined to go 2-14 from three. When their team need them most they put up a goose egg, again, proving they just do not have it. And now that Giannis is gone which one of them will step up? One? Both? Neither? Well, I put my money on neither and I see the Bucks turtling like they just jumped into icy waters. The Hawks were able to punch the Bucks in the mouth and in the process found length and depth with Cam Reddish and rookie Onyea Okongwu, the latter played brilliant defense on Giannis, using his length and body to keep Giannis at bay during the first half.
Once Giannis went down it was a wrap. This series might be, as well.
Two days ago the Suns and Bucks looked like they were on a collision course for the finals. Now both look more vulnerable as they grasp to stay afloat in the Conference finals.
The saying goes if you want to make god laugh, tell him about your plans.
Well, God must be laughing pretty hard watching the NBA playoffs.