BucksCap: Bucks Pack It In & Get Ready For Playoffs

Milwaukee Bucks have lost again in the bubble. This time, it doesn’t feel like a big deal. Bucks are wrapping up their season, and they have nothing to play for. Some people can look into the fact that Toronto’s second unit is better than Milwaukee’s but again, that’s grasping for straws. Others can point out that this Bucks team looked sloppy through the whole bubble and this is a continuing trend. There is nothing wrong with the Bucks, rather, they’re a team who wants to get to the playoffs versus actually playing meaningless games.
Instead of doing ‘Player of the Game’ and things that are accustomed to the recap, let’s talk about this team right now. Think there are people who believe this is a sign of things to come. I don’t believe that for a second. Maybe that is my optimism on full display or my ability to understand that these games weren’t for the Bucks. They were for teams like Portland, Phoenix, Indiana, Miami, and that’s why they all played as hard they did. Los Angeles Lakers finally woke up last night with a win against Denver, but they’ve been just as bad, if not worse than Milwaukee.
The most important things in these final two games against Washington and Memphis are the Bucks know who plays in the playoffs and who does not. My guess is that Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez will sit tonight then Giannis Antetokounmpo will play if his tooth feels better. Bucks might need Middleton and Lopez if Wes Matthews and Pat Connaughton can both not go due to injury. Washington has yet to win in the bubble, and while these games truly don’t matter, Washington is a second-rate team. The Bucks bench should be able to dispose of this Washington team. If Mike Budenholzer is still putzing around with his playoff lineups next week then this has been a failure.
One thing that stood out to me from this game is Ersan Ilyasova is unplayable in the playoffs. Ersan looks slow and tired. Any time he is in the game, the opposing team should see free points. Bud loves him, and I get that yet Ersan is hurting the Bucks. He played limited minutes in games not named Brooklyn or Toronto, so, maybe that’s already been decided that he is not a playoff guy.
Bucks are going to be okay. I know this sucks, but it’s part of having a good team. They don’t care at the end of the year because there is nothing to play for. You can laugh at me if this all turns out to be a disaster.
Charlie.