The Bucks have their backs against the wall
Miami defeated Milwaukee in Game Four of their first round conference match-up 119-114, taking a 3-1 lead.ย
Milwaukee is in trouble.ย
With new ownership having arrived, Brook Lopez (FA), Joe Ingles (FA), Jae Crowder (FA), Wesley Matthews (FA) and Khris Middleton (player option) more than likely gone, this team will look very different next season. This, of course, is a huge oversimplification, but this series was simply not what anyone predicted it would be.ย
That is also, for sure, the nature of professional sports. Milwaukee has traded away almost all of its draft assets and capital to make a championship run, right now. But due to poor coaching and poor play, Milwaukee might become one of only five number one seeds to lose a first round playoff match-up in the NBAโs history.
When you go โall-inโ, you might also lose. It seems while the Bucks have played a good hand, the Heat have played a better one.ย
Related: Game One Preview
Who doesnโt play is telling
Why didnโt Jae Crowder play in Game Four? If the former Sun and Heat forward was brought in to play lockdown defense, Game Four and Jimmy Butler would have been that moment. Instead Milwaukee got nothing from him. So far in the series he is 3-13 from the field. In his defense, he was not brought in for a gaggle of second round picks to score; he was brought in for his defense.ย
But this distinction looms large: โCrowder: DNP-Coachโs Decisionโ
Crowder is a free-agent at the end of the season. This might not end well.
Jevon Carter played for a brief second to avoid the DNP- Coachโs Decision distinction. But he also did not really play. Could he have slowed down Butler? The thought here seemed to be that Holiday is your โride-or-dieโ guy. But in this game, in this moment, his late turnovers were extremely costly for Milwaukee. Time will tell if that was a bad move on Coach Budโs part.
Related: Should Bucks fans worry after the embarrassing loss to Boston?
Brook Lopez deserves a player of the game award
That is about as great as he has played in his career. To score 36 points was amazing in itself and should have just about guaranteed a victory. But to also have 11 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals was excellent. He was the player of the game for Milwaukee.
But Jimmy Butler had one of the greatest playoff performances ever. So Lopezโs effort will be overshadowed but it shouldnโt be. Lopez is a free agent at the end of this season. If he leaves this should be the game fans remember!
Related: Bucks should 100% win ifโฆ
Whatโs Next?
The two teams face-off against one another, again, on Wednesday Night. We will have the in-depth Game Five preview here. You would expect Milwaukee to play wellย
For shell-shocked Bucks fans this is going to be a big test. When you go โall-inโ, sometimes you can lose. For a team and a franchise that has had success but rarely at the Championship level, to be in this position feels normal. The Bucks have been a team for 55 years; they have made the playoffs 35 times.
All-time, the Bucks are 2,340-2,103. (.527%). So they have won more games than they have lost. Conversely the Kings are 2,702- 3,221 (.456%) or the Hawks areย 2,892-2,964 (.493%) all-time. The Bucks have enjoyed success.ย
What fans of the team continue to hope for is that in a few weeks, everyone will remember that one-time the Heat almost upset the Bucks. Right now it feels all-together very possible.
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