BucksCap: Fourth Quarter Meltdown Puts Bucks On the Brink

Milwaukee Bucks are on the brink. They’re one game away from being swept out of the second round. While many people thought Miami could beat Milwaukee, no one expected a 3-0 cushion. Not a soul. Milwaukee didn’t either. Bucks looked like they were going to add a ‘1’ to their name before things fell apart in the fourth quarter. Miami won that quarter by an eye-popping 35-9. Milwaukee had the worst scoring differential for the fourth quarter in NBA history. Bucks did not hit one outside shot in the fourth. All of these things equated to one of the worst losses in Bucks’ history.
The first thought seeing all these numbers is saying ‘I bet you can’t blame Bud for this.’ Oh I can and will. Once again, Mike Budenholzer stuck to his ways and once again, they lost because of it. Budenholzer would rather be fired than try to adapt with what’s going on with his team. He refuses to change. Giannis was on the bench when Miami made their run in the fourth quarter. Does the fourth become a steaming pile shit if Giannis out there fore the whole quarter? Probably not. Middleton also had some bench time in the fourt quarter. It’s evident that Bud is making his final statement. A coach putting himself over the team is not a surprise to me at all. It’s just disappointing.
Despite an ankle injury, Giannis Antetokounmpo had some moments especially in the third quarter. He still settled way too often. Antetokounmpo needs to have the mindset that when his three isn’t falling to not shoot it versus putting it up. The confidence is admirable, but it is not winning basketball. Some could contend that Milwaukee didn’t do enough off-ball to free up Giannis. Again, the coaching staff made some slight tweaks but they didn’t stick with it.
Bucks are now down 3-0. It is a shitty feeling. Giannis still showed confidence after the game. It was his own version of the 2004 Boston Red Sox, ‘Don’t let us win one.’ And I still think that’s true. If the Bucks win one, could they make this series? Yes. Bucks have fallen to one bad quarter in each game. Game 1’s second quarter. Game 2’s first quarter and game 3’s fourth quarter. Bud is likely not going to pull his head out of his ass. Players almost need to channel their Pedro Serrano and go ‘Fuck you, Bud, I do this myself.’
Some might want the Bucks to be to be put out of their misery, but I’m not that guy. Never will be. Let’s fight until the end.
Charlie.