The Bucks paid a high price to get Jrue Holiday last November, but he has silenced any doubts about whether he was worth it, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Holiday delivered 27 points and 13 assists Saturday night and had a game-changing steal in the final minute as Milwaukee closed in on its first NBA title in 50 years.
Holiday said he was “in the right place at the right time” as he took the ball away from Devin Booker on a play where Phoenix had a chance to take the lead. Holiday pushed the ball up court and delivered an alley-oop pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo that virtually sealed the victory.
“I saw it in Portland, when he was in New Orleans and we got swept in the first round,” Pat Connaughton said. “Just the way he defends on a nightly basis and the way that he’s able to do it in different ways. He’s physical, he’s quick, he’s strong. He’s got a lot of things to him. And he’s got quick hands. First-team All-Defense play. It was a Defensive Player of the Year (play). It just kind of shows we’re built on defense.”
There’s more on the Bucks:
- Antetokounmpo was dehydrated after the game and had to be treated for cramping before he could conduct his post-game interviews, according to Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press. Giannis played more than 40 minutes and posted 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.
- Antetokounmpo said it was hard for him to play without his brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who missed Saturday’s game after being placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, per Marc Berman of The New York Post. “It was extremely difficult for him not to be here to cheer for the team,’’ Giannis said. “He gives the team a lot of energy and the team feels it. As much as it hurts, we still got to do our job and I Facetimed him after the game.’’ Berman pointed out that Giannis hugged his brother for about 15 seconds before the start of Game 4, but his COVID-19 tests have presumably been fine.
- The Bucks’ success is erasing the “super-team” narrative that has surrounded most of the NBA champions of the last decade, notes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Rather than relying on free agency, Milwaukee slowly built a contender around Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, who have been with the franchise since 2013.
Despite the injuries that have affected the Bucks series (the Bucks lost a starter as well to injury), they have shown grittiness and resilience that undoubtedly comes from their past playoff experiences.
Holiday definitely cooled off Booker last night and it will be interesting to see how much he guards him in game 6. Another game from MIL’s big 3 like game 5 and the Bucks have it.
Bucks are one win away from winning the first nba title In the 2020s and first since Kawhi and the raptors
The turn around for the Bucks is when Giannis went down. They discovered that the defense was good enough to win without their best player. It made the other players step up and be the best they can be.
Nah, that’s crazy. The Bucks led the NBA in defense the last two years…Jrue was the 1st team All-NBA Defensive PG, Brook was a 2nd team All NBA defense last year.
The Bucks had 3 of the top 4 rim protectors just last season. They knew they could defend well before Giannis went down. That wasn’t any turning point OTHER than Giannis knee bent the wrong way and the man is putting up 40 in the Finals instead of coming off surgery like Kawhi(no shade on Kawhi…to be clear).
But nah, people who watch the Bucks KNOW how good they are defensively…even without their young stud DiVincenzo.
So Holiday is proving me correct that defense does matter a lot. Without Holiday on the Bucks they lose to the Suns. Holiday has slowed down Booker. This is why Portland should be concerned with getting defense if they want to improve.
Holiday “ slowed down Booker?” I guess that is why he has had 40 points the last two games.
Do you watch the game? They were continuing switching to get Holiday off of Booker. If you are a coach you attack the weakest defender on the court not their best. Tucker and Holiday are good defensive players.
Tucker can’t guard Booker…he is too short and slow, last night that precipitated the Holiday switch.
I mean…he’s not a great defender on him…but without our other stud defender in DiVincenzo, who’s the option? Middleton? Nah, I trust Tucker getting up and making Book work for it and Patty C making him work for it so you don’t wear out Middleton.
We need just ONE more Middleton game on Tuesday. And if Jrue keeps attacking like he did Gm5, it’s a wrap!
If the best defender gets screened off the ball, then that supports the idea of Not having a weak link be more important.
Yep-Derp
Dude…Booker is shooting 25 pct when Jrue’s on him this series. They just happen to be putting Jrue on Paul because he can disrupt the entire offense defending the point.
But yeah, he ABSOLUTELY slowed down Book. Not saying Book can’t get his if Book’s on him…IDK how it’s go for a whole game. My guess is 30 points but ~25 shots to get there.
Obviously having someone like Holiday, who defends the point of attack (defends both guard positions), can play pick and roll defense, guard some wings, especially with other defenders around him that can defend multiple positions, is a big deal. These are things I’ve long talked about here, but most people only care about individuals and counting stats to understand why Jrue Holiday is at least a top 25ish player in this league
Phoenix has used their versatility and their roster extremely well all season, only to stop doing it in the NBA Finals…Milwaukee figured out after game 2 to stop using Brook Lopez as much, and Phoenix just has made it easier for them, in what was already a tough matchup (said they were one of the matchups I was worried about, although I didnt think Milwaukee would be there), by continuing to use Ayton too much, while Milwaukee uses Portis to spread the floor, uses Giannis at the 5, or goes to big lineups, with multiple floor spacing bigs…as I said, losing Saric was a big deal, but Kaminsky should play in this series. Phoenix is kind of doing similar things to what the Heat did in the first round, and they’re relatively similar teams
Also want to point out that was a clown show hero ball possession by Devin Booker. There is zero reason the ball shouldnt be in Chris Paul’s hands in that moment, and as it was happening, I called the turnover. He was the only one playing with poise for them a significant amount of the end of that game, and that’s not even talking about why those are his moments his entire 16 year career. That being said, the game arguably should have been tied there b/c Chris Paul got robbed of an and 1 on the previous possession, and there were 3 or 4 other extremely unfortunate calls against Phoenix from the end of the 3rd quarter through the end of the game that really big swings. Meanwhile, Khris Middleton continuing to prove he is one of the best 2 way players in the league, which has been true for a while now.
LOL…get outta here! “b/c Chris Paul got robbed of an and 1 on the previous possession and there were 3 or 4 other extremely unfortunate calls against Phoenix.”
You gotta be kidding me, right? LOL…Crowder would be the biggest flopper in the NBA if not for his teammate Chris Paul.
I can name about 5 missed calls, particularly the first two on Jrue that were pathetic and in the first ~3-4 minutes of the game, the “foul” on the Crowder 3…I mean…c’mon. If ANYONE got the calls, it was the Suns at home. This is a hilariously bad take!
It was already preordained. #BucksInSix
Bucks were lucky to get by Nets. Don’t like their coach and they played like woozies that series. Giannis since his injury. Has played smarter and more consistent. Even his assists are more meaningful. His posting is the difference in this series. Did not do this against Nets or Hawks. I see a different better player. They’ve made the stops when needed. Giannis block and Holiday steals. His picking up Chris full court is a great move. Been saying it for the longest. If Knicks pick up Dre full court we win gm1. Still not a fan of this coach. But last three gms the Bucks are a different team. Still don’t think their bench is great. But neither is Suns. Bucks have put pressure on Ayton their only big. And it’s worked. Finally Bucks have woke up. They are playing smart and as a team. Their best players are all showing up. Gm 5 was an impressive win. They are looking good right now. For Suns to win in Milwaukee. Ayton has to have a big gm. Suns should go to him more on offense and post. Suns have been exposed as having no other big. I would attack with Ayton more. He’s talented enough to have a big offensive gm. Then Booker and Chris all can have easier gms. Be strong to close out gm. Stats said Suns are only team to lose in Finals that shot so well. 91% FT, 68% 3PT, 55.2% FG. Bucks made 2 more FG than Suns, shooting and making (50-87 FG). Suns (48-87 FG). Suns broke down in end. Youth ???? Gotta give Bucks credit. Great game, great series.
I kinda disagree about the Suns bench…I think Payne and Cam are REALLY nice young players. The Bucks have Portis, Pat Connaughton and that’s pretty much it, but without Donte DiVincenzo…one of the best young perimeter defenders in the league and probably their 2nd best ball handler on the team, so that hurts their depth. Saric certainly hurts the Suns depth.
But I think you’re absolutely right about the Bucks…particularly since the Brooklyn series. I have NEVER been more down on a coach than I was on Bud coming into this series…but he made a couple of huge adjustments, putting Jrue on CP3 for 94 feet and grinding him down, AND Giannis is just making MUCH better decisions. It’s not showing up in his stats all that much, but his passes are much crisper, he sees “the wall,” and he’s getting rid of the ball quicker than he had in the past and putting his guys in catch and shoot situation instead of having to take a half step, catch, gather and then shoot out of rhythm.
That’s really been THE big difference in Giannis in this series as opposed to the Nets series or even going back to the Raptors series.
As a Bucks fan…I’m hoping they get one more win first and foremost, but I also think a Title and the Bucks will play looser in the future. Hopefully they are lucky with injuries as I thought this would be DD’s big breakout, but they got SO lucky with Giannis.
But winning that first ring, that can make teams more consistent and looser. If they would have or do blow this lead…then I don’t think Giannis ever wins one. If they do manage to get this one…then I think they’ll have a chance. Gonna be a dogfight, especially if a guy like Dame ends up in NY or Harden and KD are healthy(I’m not worried about Kyrie).
Or even Boston. They’re too good with Brown and Tatum to keep getting blown out. THAT’S the team that makes the most sense to make a trade for Dame. Jaylen Brown is a stud defender and a 25 PPG scorer who can shoot and who do it all. The type of guy they can rebuild around(or Tatum, but I think he’s just a little better, so they’ll likely keep him).
But man…that’s all for another day. It’s a GREAT time to be a Bucks fan right now!
Can’t believe Gino won’t drink water…what a diva! Too good for water? Well, look what happens, pal.
You might be a freak but sometimes you’re a human…like the rest of us!!
Electrolytes is what dehydrates you faster. Water is good too.