2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

[ProfessaPackMan]

A matchup that nobody saw coming at all. But y’all will still watch and enjoy no matter who’s playing.

[inkcil]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Hawks in 6. Shock the basketball-watching world.

[itsmb8]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Bucks in 5. Jrue slows down Trae and Giannis unleashes complete takeover mode. They meet Phoenix in a thrilling NBA Finals matchup nobody expected but everyone enjoys.

[illwill10]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

I like Bucks in 5. They have multiple bodies they can throw on Trae. Who is going to guard Giannis. It's not going to be a situation like in Philly, where Atlanta only has to guard 3-4 players on defense at times. If Middleton can be consistent and they get something from Jrue, they should be able to take care of business.

Also the health of Bodgan will play a factor. Bucks don't have someone on the starting lineup that ATL can take advantage of on defense

[Vni]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Bucks in 6.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Bucks in 5 but hoping to see ATL pull off another upset.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Theoretically this should be a good matchup for Milwaukee to work out their shooting demons. Trae and those shooters make me nervous on the defensive end though. Trae's in between game and passing abilities could destroy our drop defense. We'll see. Hard to imagine we'll ever have a better chance at reaching the Finals than this but this team doesn't instill the most confidence lol.

Edit: The other thing that makes me nervous is that if we continue starting Tucker, Trae is going to be able to just chill in the corner with him on the defensive end and then roast Brook on the offensive end unless his floaters stop dropping.

Also, Jrue is really the only guy that seemingly has any chance of defending Trae. I'm not even sure what we can do once Jrue is in foul trouble, which he'll almost certainly be at some points in this series. I kinda wonder if the next best option is putting Giannis on Trae and have him go under screens and just hope Trae can't hit 3's over Giannis' length.

[ehh]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

I have trouble trusting the Bucks in any playoff series and I don't think ATL has played particularly great in either of their series so far. I'm going to go with the team with better shooting and the better playmaker. Hawks in 7.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Bucks in 6. I think Atlanta will scare them and take a game or two before Coach Bud gets around to making adjustments on Trae Young.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

I just don’t see Atlanta being able to do much against Bucks’ half court Defense.

I feel like for Atlanta, their best bet is to push tempo and get in transition for their buckets. There is no player on the Bucks where you don’t have to worry about because they don’t want to shoot the ball for some reason.

If this goes 7, it’ll be due to Bucks losing some key players missing games due to injuries.

[ehh]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

I feel like for Atlanta, their best bet is to push tempo and get in transition for their buckets. There is no player on the Bucks where you don’t have to worry about because they don’t want to shoot the ball for some reason.

Yeah, this will certainly be ATL's biggest test so far, even if the Bucks haven't looked great. The Knicks stink and Philly had the issues you mentioned.

[illwill10]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Yeah, this will certainly be ATL's biggest test so far, even if the Bucks haven't looked great. The Knicks stink and Philly had the issues you mentioned.

And no one they can pick on defensively like Curry. If Bogdanovic isn't healthy, it makes the bench even worst. You can't rely on Lou Will and Gallinari as your primary scorers off the bench. Outside of Trae, there's not the one other guy you have to pay extra attention too. Bogdanovic was a non-factor last couple games. So, you can put Middleton on Huerter and there won't be that size mismatch. You can either have Giannis or Tucker on Collins.

I don't see it going past 5 barring injury, total meltdown, or Trae going supernova

[cima]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Bucks in a sweep. Slight work

[ojandpizza]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

If Jrue does to Trae what he did to Dame a couple years ago this is a sweep.

If he doesn't though.. Hawks are due for some good shooting games and Milwaukee just loves giving up as many threes as the other team wants to shoot. If Lopez is stuck on an island trying to stop these newly found automatic Trae floaters this will get interesting.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: 2021 Eastern Conference Finals: (3)Milwaukee Bucks vs (5)Atlanta Hawks

Theoretically this should be a much better matchup for Forbes to be playable. I think I'd actually consider starting him in place of Tucker who doesn't really have an obvious matchup to help out with in this series.

I'll be shocked if Bud makes that change; I think he likes the communication and tone that Tucker has instilled in this team. But theoretically, if Tucker is starting, Trae will almost certainly just chill in the corner on defense with Tucker. If Forbes is in his place, Trae either has to chase Forbes around the court and potentially tire himself out, or try to hold up with Jrue, Middleton, Giannis, or Brook outmuscling him everywhere.