24 Comments

Wiseman minutes. Note: I am not saying he should be the starter. I am saying, he should log his first 4-6 min to start the game. And there is a difference.

a. You want to get him minutes with both 1st and 2nd units BEFORE the playoffs.

b. With the first unit, he has an even more limited role, whereas with the 2nd unit, they keep talking about organizing some of the offense around him.

c. What we don't want is Looney picking up 2 early fouls. Let Wiseman give us an idea of how the game is being officiated before Looney comes in. Let Wise get the first 2 fouls.

d. It also shortens the game for Looney by a real 15-20 minutes. This gives us a better Looney for a 42 min-game vs a more worn down more foul carrying Looney in a 48 minute game.

e. it alters the opponents offensive game plan as they will likely look to exploit Wiseman early which the Dubs can exploit in their own way. It's a chess move.

So, I am not saying the Wiseman should be the starter. All I am saying is that there are many good reasons to have him play the first 4-6 minutes of the game.

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Mar 14, 2022·edited Mar 14, 2022

Final note (really!): the Bucks were not on a long road trip, they were at the start of a long road trip. They did have a weird pogo away/home/away/home before facing the Warriors, but they had two whole days off before the game at Golden State. So, no excuses, we just beat 'em.

(EDIT: I see others made this point below)

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Side note, I'm disappointed Giannis never said: "Andrew, you may be an All Star, but to me you're just another brick in the wall"

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"I think it's OK to foul Grayson Allen"

While that is true, this wasn't a foul. You might recall it was officially ruled NOT A FOUL after a lengthy review when Steph was hit in the hand/arm after the shot was released sometime earlier this season. This is considered contact that didn't effect the shot and therefore not a foul. I also recall a colorful "hot stove" moment that still makes me fume, but that's a story of a different official and player for a different time.

Personally, I think that's BS, you can really jam a guy's fingers if you smack him in the hand after a shot every time; but if it's not a foul (after lengthy official review) when it happens against Steph... eff Ted Cruz Jr.

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When you mentioned the idea of Holiday following Steph to the bench, my sick imagination kicked in to come up with a silly play. I wonder if it would be legal.

Steph's defender loses sight of Steph for just a moment so Steph steps off the court and sits on the bench while a couple guys stand up on the sideline to hide him. The other 4 guys on court play 4 on 5 just keeping the ball moving. Steph's defender wanders around looking for him, and at just the right moment, the standing players move aside and Steph steps on the court to take a pass and shoot a wide open 3.

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I laughed out loud watching Portis' and Holiday's panic reaction when they say Poole wide open with the ball above the arc.

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Mar 13, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

Eric, in March, the Bucks have played two road games, one of them was in Chicago, an hour down the road. They also hadn’t played since Wednesday. They may not have prepared themselves to attack Poole, but it wasn’t because they’ve been on the road and unable to practice or something.

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Mar 13, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

When Draymond (and Wiseman) comes back I'm wondering if Kerr won't experiment with some hockey line rotations for the rest of the regular season as he tried for a while his first year as coach. I'd kind of like to see Curry, Moody, Wiggins, Kuminga, Looney with Poole, Thompson, GPII | Iguodala, Green, and Wiseman as the "2nd line". Both rotations would have a nice mix of veterans and young guys, play makers, shooters, and defenders and putting the guys coming back from injury in the 2nd line keeps their minutes under control. Of course Poole and Thompson would hate it and you wouldn't use it in the playoffs as it takes your best players off the court too long.

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Mar 13, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

You don't seem to be a big fan of "Ted Cruz Jr."

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Mar 13, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

May I present for your consideration...JFK...Jonathan 'Freight-train' Kuminga

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Mar 13, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

jona-THANK-U-minga

That is all.

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