What We’ve Been Missing
The roar of the crowd. The high-fiving strangers. The aura of walking out of the concourse and into the vast Fiserv Forum in front of you. The simple feeling of being with a group of like-minded people feeling the electricity through your body.
We all missed this, and now it is back.
As my girlfriend and I got to the parking garage, I could envision all of it. It did not really hit, though, until we made our way inside. It had been 546 days since I had last stepped foot in that building, and I could feel that was probably the case for many there as well.
So, About Last Night
The Fiserv Forum crowd was given the opportunity to make noise early, as Jrue Holiday’s three forced a timeout by Brooklyn and a frenzy amongst Bucks fans. It only continued from there, however. Even when the Nets would respond with a run, the energy of the crowd would carry the Bucks. Sudden rises in applause and cheering would surface, showing the Bucks that the fans were in their corner.
The players were feeding into it, too, particularly P.J. Tucker and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Tucker, who’s become a quick fan favorite in Milwaukee due to his tough style of play, threw his hands in the air in a “make some noise” motion at one point. Thanasis, on the other hand, bounced up and down at the free-throw line block upon his first entrance into the game.
I have had the privilege to be in attendance at some arena-shaking Bucks moments in recent history. From the game 6 rally against Toronto in 2017 to Delly’s quarter-ending scoop shot against Boston in 2018, Bucks fans have never been afraid to come unglued. However, at least when it comes to Fiserv Forum, Giannis’ dunk to put the game on ice last night was possibly the loudest I have heard it. The exultation that went through the crowd at that moment was incredible. Bucks fans knew that this thing was going to a game seven.
With all luck, in just a matter of around 24 hours, we will be able to experience more raucous moments at Fiserv Forum yet in 2021.
Man, oh man, does it feel good to be back.
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