The weird and wacky world of basketball! We truly see it all the time now, a great example would be the Bucks. Another one would be the Suns, this is so strange that it is not funny.
If you didn’t listen to our podcast, then you probably didn’t hear about the prediction I made about Giannis and the Bucks.
I predicted that the Bucks were going to have a dunk-fest, mainly Giannis, on the Nets. Sadly, it was the complete opposite. Please share to me how the Nets, who don’t have Dinwiddie, KD, or Kyrie, can beat the Bucks?
Throughout the whole game, especially early on, the Bucks were trailing to the Nets. LUWAWU-CABARROT and Temple combined for 45 points! The Nets, despite horrible roster, are 2-1. The only loss they had was at the hands of the Magic.
Take this into perspective; the Bucks have Giannis, Bledsoe, Middleton, and Korver. But they still couldn’t win, this hasn’t been a pretty sight for the Bucks as they lost back-to-back games. One against the Rockets and now the Nets.
The Nets, who lost their three key players, have been playing their second team/rotational players and winning. On top of that Jamal Crawford came back to the league for his debut as a Net in the Bubble; sadly, it ended short with an apparent hamstring issue.
What are the next two games for both of these teams?
For the Nets, they have to go up against the Celtics. This is happening today on ESPN for anyone that wants to watch. Even though the Nets are riding on the hot-wave of momentum, the Celtics should not lose. The Celtics have Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker. That’s a pretty stacked team, just by looking at those three players.
Now, I will say, there is no advantage here. Meaning this, that both teams are going to be playing back-to-back games. In the sense of yesterday and today, now the Nets are on a two-game win streak while the Celtics aren’t. If the Nets come away with this win, then this is a team to look out for. Because that would make them 3-1, imagine that.
Finally, to the Bucks. On the sixth, the Bucks will be playing the Heat. This could be a tough matchup, but I still have to believe that Giannis and his team will prevail against the Heat. If the Heat doesn’t have Jimmy Butler back, it’s over. Giannis, Middleton, and Bledsoe will run wild in Miami. The Bucks need this for a confidence booster and to get on the path of success.
The underdogs pouncing viciously!
I’m not kidding when I use that phrase, the Suns are the ultimate underdogs and have been pouncing on their prey (meaning opponents). The Suns yesterday, closed out an epic game against the Clippers. Where Devin Booker hit the game-winner, winning it 117-115. Booker was explosive from the arc, Ayton was finding his rhythm, and Rubio made things happen passing wise.
The Suns have earned their third win in the Bubble, which makes them 3-0. They are undefeated in the Bubble, this is a miracle unto itself. The eighth seed is wide open now, how? Because teams are losing, the Grizzlies lost Jaren Jackson Jr to an untimely injury, and the Suns just past the Kings with this win today.
If they make it 8-0, which is a higher probability then what it was a month ago, they will be in the playoffs. They have been showing us that without the fans, without practicing for several months, and with a tough schedule; they have been showing us that they are hungry to win. Suns beat the Clippers and the Mavericks, two big-time teams.
With fate, luck, and whatever else is on their side; this could be the Sun’s year in 10 years to reach the playoffs. The talent has been meshing together nicely, players been scoring holding their grounds, and no crucial errors have happened yet. The Suns have the favor on their side, with all this moment they should be able to beat the Pacers this upcoming game.
What do the Pacers need to do to stop them?
This has been the team climbing up the ranks in the Bubble, this is a team that nobody can sleep on. The Pacers need to focus their attention on Booker, he has been having the hot-hand lately. The Pacers need to trap him, not letting him create his own shots, and especially when driving. If they fail then Booker will be getting all the attention and leaving DeAndre or Rubio open for the easy basket.
This certainly will be interesting on how the rest unfolds, it feels like everything has been swapped. Like the Bucks are playing like the Suns and the Suns like the Bucks. Either way, the Bucks are in the playoffs. Have one of the best records in the league, and the Suns are fighting for a spot. The underdogs have now put themselves on notice. The radar is beeping fast, can teams respond quick enough?
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During an episode of Run It Back, Bobby Portis has gone on the record publicly saying he won’t give the Milwaukee Bucks a “hometown discount” and take less money than what he can get on the open market.
Despite him saying this, Portis has remained constant in wanting to remain with the Bucks and not leave in free agency.
“Obviously, I would love to be back in Milwaukee,” Portis said. “I’m not saying I don’t want to come back to the Bucks—I would love to—but I just want to be compensated fairly, man. I’ve taken a lot of team-friendly deals to be here. We’re at a point now where I feel like it’s time I get compensated—fairly—to my peers. That’s all I ask for.”
The 30-year-old has a $13.4 million player option he can opt into, however, many around the league are expecting him to opt out to be able to secure a long-term contract. Plus, beyond the years, wants a bump in his pay to better financially compensate his contributions he brings to an organization.
In 49 games last season, Portis averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. The 2024-25 season saw Portis suspended for 25 games due to violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Milwaukee Bucks have not been informed by Giannis Antetokounmpo that he wants a trade. There’s a strong belief he will remain apart of the team heading into next season.
This update comes a month after reports indicated Antetokounmpo was more “open-minded” about leaving the Bucks to go to a new team like the Toronto Raptors or Brooklyn Nets.
“There’s a reason we haven’t because Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone overseas to travel with his family,” said Brian Windhorst on Get Up when asked why there haven’t been any updates. “He has made no trade request to the Bucks. He has made no trade hint to the Bucks. The Bucks are proceeding with their offseason as if Giannis is going to be with them. And there’s no significant trade talks right now.
“The plan is for Giannis Antetokounmpo to be a Buck. Now, he can change all that with a simple request, but that request hasn’t happened. And it’s no clear that request is going to happy anytime soon.”
Giannis is not set to become a free agent until 2027.
According to multiple reports, spearheaded by Marc Stein, it’s looking like no deals for Kevin Durant will materialize until teams are given full confirmation on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is leaving the Milwaukee Bucks or not.
There is a strong feeling that teams would rather get the younger, less injury-prone, superstar in a blockbuster deal. Per numerous reports, teams who have interest in Durant also have significant interest in Giannis.
As it came out a couple weeks ago, for the first time in his career, Antetokounmpo is becoming more open-minded to leaving his Milwaukee franchise. A bombshell all into itself.
While Milwaukee is looking to keep their franchise player, Phoenix is wanting to do the exact opposite.
ESPN’s Shams Charania says this summer’s offseason will be one of the most explosive, headline-making offseason’s in league history.
