Not saying they should give up, but they really need to get some better help around them (boy that sounds familiar). The last 3 years for Damian have included incredible scoring seasons but also nagging injuries (including the not so nagging injury that required surgery), and he has a lot of miles on his legs. At least 2 years in a row of Achilles issues/strains, is not a good sign. Last year he tied his 2nd worst shooting % (non injury year), 2nd lowest 3pt FG% (non injury year), lowest PER since his 2nd year (not counting injury year)...had arguably the best helper he's ever had (to take the stress off of him) so he should've had an average or above average season for him. He did not. Yeah, he has to deal with changes (moving across the country, getting a divorce, the fear of his penis falling off), but he still ended the season with an injury concern that could keep him out of the rest of the this series or potentially finish what little chance they had to finish the season strongly. And he played the fewest minutes per game in his career, which should've lowered his chances to injury. But he's getting old, and for the Bucks to just rinse and repeat this roster as it for next year, is more likely going to lead to the same results.
Almost $49,000,000 next season at age 34. In a pivotal game 3, he shot 6-20 while Kris Middleton carried them. Dame wasn't even the best guard on the floor. It's a harsh reality, but Father Time is undefeated. Hopefully he doesn't suffer a debilitating injury and can come back and finish his career in Portland on a much lower salary. The Bucks have very solid players still with Dame, Mid, BP and Bro-Lo, but you can just see Indiana seems fresher, younger, and just a step quicker. Bucks have the experience, but without Giannis, it might not be enough.
The sad truth is, and I think most of us Blazer fans know it (either now, or all along), his window closed a while ago. He'd be better off being the 2nd or 3rd best player on a team with 4-6 solid players (not like a stacked team, but a solid team). Instead, in Portland he languished away as the by far best player on a team with 1 decent player, and now he's the 2nd best player on a team with a superstar (who still can't shoot outside of 15 feet), and a modicum of talent around him. In a way, it's too little, too late.
The bucks failing, with an MVP candidate and all-star player + support roster next to dame, should put to rest any claims Cronin should have been more aggressive in trying to put everything around dame with the meager assets retained from the NeO regime. Like it or not, Cronin has played it like a champ, he gave it a try with Grant next to Dame and when it was clear that's not even close to enough, he stripped it down for a painful, but necessary rebuild.
Look at Minnesota. Had they given up after a disastrous first postseason of the twin tower experiment, they wont be where there are now. With a legit chance to win it all
He played it like a champ -- really ?? Blazers had there worst season ( in a long time ) and even failed at making the young guys better for the most part how is this -- playing like a champ ???? We have a HC who should not be a HC in the NBA and a owner who not sure what the hell she really wants and a GM who even IF better then I make him out to be is getting NO help from the owner and the HC. This team needs another top 3 pick and an act of god and something else for this team to be on the right track. It's such a mess I am not even sure WHO to blame at this point cause the blame is so fruitful and can be hung on SO SO many people it's not even funny. I feel sorry for Dame but at least he is out of this shit show of a franchise that I still love but can also be honest about the state it's in atm BTW -- Hello and going to try and be more chill towards others
Since this was the first real year of the rebuild post Lillard I'm willing to give things more time to see how things shake out over the next few years. Rebuilds take time but I see some encouraging signs with some of the young guys. I'm anxious to see what parts they can add through the draft and trades during this off season.
Like most teams that need one more piece, and get that piece, they are suffering for the loss of what they paid to get that piece. We have to face facts, you can’t (without tons of collusion) make a champion through trading. The missing piece can’t be Dame-level; you end up paying too much for him and change the delicate balance too much to fully recover.
Hey, are the Bucks still paying Mike Budenholzer? Cuz if so, then there's no harm in canning Doc Rivers and begging Bud to come back. You're already paying him, you just have to admit you were stupid to fire him.
Have to admit that it’s a little hilarious that Dame and Nurk will both be unceremoniously knocked out in the first round.
i wouldn't be surprised if Giannis is starting to get injured more often in the future. His athleticism will start to decline in the future and he wont be dominating. We have their unprotected picks from 28 to 30
Well that was the point. They won't do that. players will go there to win. They will tweak the roster this summer and move forward.
Same reason you're seeing so many injuries in baseball as well. I know I'll sound like the old guy but in our day it was one sport at a time, fall was football/soccer, winter was hoops and spring was baseball. Now I see my friends kids playing baseball, hoops and flag football all at the same time and pretty close to year round. Seems like tackle football is the only sport that hasn't figured out how to make itself year round to take even more $$$ from parents.
