The Bucks Are One Win Away From a Title | The Bill Simmons Podcast

[@joeelia6306]

at this point im willingly exposing myself to an unhealthy amount of giannis propaganda

[@razkable]

my thing with giannis is in 2015 curry had a lucky injury filled run and got much better..same for lebron after 2012 and kobe in 2000...her can get to another level

[@ckq]

@@razkable stop that. What injuries? A lot of people said they'd be first round exits and they swept the Heat. The Nets took a risk and the Bucks came back from 2-0 to silence the doubters. Then Giannis got hurt badly in the ECF, and the Suns are healthy. Terrible narrative

[@redbone_5259]

@@ckq Nets took what risk? Harden was the most durable NBA superstar in the last decade and now he pulls his hamstring and is hobbled. Kyrie rolled his ankle after landing on Giannis' foot. Both were mere coincidences. Also, it's pretty clear that Suns aren't the best team from the West with everyone healthy. It's okay to say that Bucks had a lucky run my dude, it's not a narrative. There have been multiple such championship runs in the past as well, and it doesn't take away from Giannis' or the Bucks' legacy. And although Giannis is already (arguably) a top-5 player in the league, you'd be a clown to suggest he has a complete game and doesn't need any improvements. There is another level for him to reach.

[@axelvazquez9385]

@@redbone_5259 yeah you could say that about anyone

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

Giannis propaganda is one of the few kinds of healthy propaganda. A good kid who stuck with his team and his fans.

[@Timothylaing]

Love Joe House working from the attic/loft next to the ironing board 🤣

[@liptoncherry2436]

It’s wild how Giannis came back from that injury.

[@martellusbennett8840]

"injury"

[@mmageek]

House is owning the "podcasting is my hobby" setup.

[@WhelmedButReady]

LMAO for real

[@jennycraigadventures3314]

This the most IDGAF background view we’ve seen of someone’s home on these Ringer zoom vlogs. 😂

[@PaddyMcNulty]

My thoughts exactly. I dig it.

[@dj44640]

Giannis has cut down his ill-timed turnovers by a ton! Averages 1.5 turnovers only. Does not run into people for example which was a really big problem

[@razkable]

last 4 games giannis is avg. 35 ppg 12 rebs 6 assists 1.25 stls 1.25 blks and only 1.25 turnovers on 62% fg with only 11 fouls taking 54 fts and not taking many mid range or 3 pt shots....hes basically shaq at his peak with better handles

[@dj44640]

@@razkable yeah. And numbers aside he seems to be playing much more maturely - no stat can show u that but he is so composed and making the right play 90% of the time

[@benjaminbaron737]

i guess the knee injury made him more careful

[@pancon5]

Yes, the running into people thing was frustrating, one more, let's goo

[@vlassischatzis8574]

@@razkable and better court vision. He is having historic playoffs

[@tombystander]

Giannis is now a top 33 player of all time even though he was only 86% himself after that game 5 performance

[@alecedwards9413]

Na he’s top 12 easy

[@austin5944]

@@alecedwards9413 no, you're both wrong. Top 20 yeah probably, 12? No. He'll need 2 or 3 rings for that.

[@mertekren5745]

LOL

[@RASTAGOOB]

For now he’s top 25 after this ring

[@LaskInHD]

Are you blind? He was clearly 94%.

[@AceTheCap823]

man his mid range game is actually pretty solid….and it’ll get a lot better from here, those jump hooks from 7-10 ft, turnaround post jumper from 10-15 ft, one legged Dirk fadeaway from 13-16 ft, and 15-20 ft pull up mid range jumper are lowkey turning into go to shots of his….and he’s only 26 and will get better

[@squadup22]

This is a great point, every team is so focused on not letting him get to the rim so these shots will always be there and with his size and length, his shot will never be effected by defense. He will keep getting better with these shots.

[@AceTheCap823]

@@squadup22 💯

[@EdWarner]

Giannis Is Neo from the Matrix in NBA world. Saving us from NBE National basketball entertainment.

[@rogb7770]

Podcast is at its best with Joe House and Simmons together

[@zigguratjones6458]

So what if the MVP award IS a durability award? You gonna try and tell me a guy playing 30 more games than another guy is impacting his team less?

[@holstorrsceadus1990]

Like I should vote for the guy who regularly rested and coasted into the playoffs over the guy who showed up every day and carried his team there?

[@mrfathed3129]

The other storyline I don't ever here people talk about is that the Bucks are one one the last teams seemingly built around tough defense. So much of the NBA seems to be moving in the direction of "we're going to light you up offensively, see if you can keep up." And the Bucks specifically targeted tough minded defenders like Jrue and PJ. I almost see this as the last hurrah for the "defense wins championships" mindset.

[@BoredTime101]

Lakers last season

[@jackiehall458]

Common misconception defense still wins championships in all sports. Sure GSW was the greatest off ever but man they’re d was on point too Klay Draymond Iggy Livingston KD Harrison Barnes same thing with Toronto and LA and now the Bucks I think it’s the bloated regular season in the nba that makes people think this. I mean soccer players get whole weeks off to recoup and it doesn’t cause nearly the same wear tear can’t expect these dudes to go all out on both sides 81 games plus the playoffs which leads too players slacking in the regular season

[@apostolostvable]

Defense and rebounding still matters because playoff basketball is slower paced and more physical.

[@daniellee0111]

i appreciate joe calling bill out on his homer bullshit from time to time

[@NMac30]

Was waiting to hear your take on this game, Bill! Ps Need more “Rewatchables” episodes pronto!

[@Nolaughingmatter23]

Oh man CP3 wont sleep well for the rest of his life.

[@joe5333]

Great vid. Rooting for Giannis this year! and Stockton and Dominique are over Gervin in top 10 guys to never win a ring.

[@WhelmedButReady]

I dunno if he was putting them in that specific order

[@joe5333]

@@WhelmedButReady he didn't mention them at all, just stated a top 10. I would've said Stockton instead of Gervin

[@reyallenfranco]

If the bucks win, this PJ Tucker achievement of beating every one of his co-starters during his time with the rockets in each round of this playoffs is pretty cool. Ariza - Miami Harden - Brooklyn Capela - Hawks CP3 - Suns

[@adolka]

Damn I forgot abour Ariza n capella. Thsts a pretty cool fact

[@1311Lucky]

I love when Joe House shows up on the pod

[@SumpaX]

about the "what if" Durants toe didn't touch the line... that is one of the main reasons I am so happy for the bucks, because next year I am sure we are back to the big markets going to the finals and that has more to do with the people putting these teams together than giannis "not being good enough".

[@IknowMoreThanYou]

KD thing is rubbish as a narrative It's not a what if. HE WAS NOT AWARE AND HE SHOT A 2 INSTEAD OF A 3. that's on the player's awareness, not a twist of fate

[@SumpaX]

@@IknowMoreThanYou That was never the narrative, what it was is that against an injured nets team the Buck's gameplan came down to literally hoping that Kevin Durant will miss his 3-pointer on the last possession.. in a game 7. And I am really happy it worked out because I did not want the nets in the finals, I am sure we will see them for at least the next 2 years coming out of the east.

[@IknowMoreThanYou]

@@SumpaX LMFAOO It wasn't HOPING. They played tough defense on him in key moments and it paid off. I mean HE IS still Kevin Durant lol

[@IknowMoreThanYou]

@@SumpaX Also I get the feeling that now that Giannis has a taste all he's gonna do this summer is improve. WHEN not IF he gets that mid range and 3 down it won't matter WHAT anyone including the nets do anymore.

[@mrmacross]

@@IknowMoreThanYou I thought Budenholzer almost blew it. That was a situation where I think it was predictable that KD wasn't going to pass the ball. The best guy to defend Durant in that situation was Giannis. Now maybe Giannis was tired, but Giannis is one of two guys (AD the other) that KD can't both 1) comfortably shoot over and 2) easily dribble-drive passed. But it worked out. I think BKN wins the East next year, but I was rooting hard for MIL. It was a great playoff run to watch.

[@kartikchaudhary2484]

John Stockton not being in the list of greatest to not do it is disrespectful

[@JPW3]

Love Simmons but his complaints about "super teams" are ironic.

[@apples2481]

​@@missioncodez It's ironic because the Celtics have been trying to build a superteam for the last decade but they've had trouble getting players to want to play in Boston. Their plan after 2017 was to trade for AD by offering up Tatum/Brown and some more assets, and pair him with Kyrie and Gordon Hayward. But AD wanted to go LA instead of BOS and Kyrie left in FA for BKN. That's why Bill is so happy that the two guys that spurned the Celtics for other superteams ended up having some bad luck and their teams ended up not winning.

[@Weaponator18]

"I always enjoy the ingenuity, loyalty *the fact none of my best players could leave in free agency because it didn't exist for the first 13 championships my franchise won" Seriously, how does Simmons not consider the 60s Celtics a super team again? I prefer the way the Bucks built their team too by comparison. But no franchise has been a bigger beneficiary of super teams than the Celtics.

[@WhelmedButReady]

@@Weaponator18 Respectfully, I gotta say that's a BS take. The teams were less than a dozen in the 60s. Having the majority of HoF talent dispersed mostly to Boston was pure luck of the draw. And they still didn't "choose" to go their destinations like players can today

[@WhelmedButReady]

@@apples2481 While I agree about the ironic super team aspirations on the Celtic's front office, I think to say that Bill only enjoys those teams going down cuz he's a salty homer isn't giving him enough credit. He's old school, most fans don't like super teams. It's not like it's a unpopular take.

[@apples2481]

@@WhelmedButReady I definitely understand it isn't an unpopular take but again there is some irony in him complaining about superteams. His favorite team has built several different dynasties and holds a disproportionate amount of championships primarily due to them putting a bunch of HOF caliber players on one roster. Now with player empowerment, the Celtics have taken a back seat because players have chosen to team up on different franchises but do you think he would be complaining if Kyrie resigned with Boston in 19 and KD joined him and Tatum? Ultimately, people don't really hate superteams, they just hate that their favorite team isn't the one putting them together.

[@broaddusmarines]

This is just me, but a ring puts Giannis in the Kevin Garnett/Dirk Nowitski range on the all time list, and he has not even hit his peak yet. That’s frightening. I don’t know too many players that were back to back MVPS and probably finals MVP. As much as it stinks for the Barkleys, Malones, and the Ewings, but rings mean something for your legacy. Just ask Peyton Manning.

[@danielgalea8499]

Don't you factor in level of competition though? Dirk had to beat LeBron / Wade / Bosh, KD / westbrook and Kobe, Howard, Gasol, Nash.....the Bucks have played injury plauged Nets and 1 man bands in Atlanta and Boston.

[@kheldaryt]

@@danielgalea8499 Don't you factor in level of competition though? - no

[@IanJacobyandcompany]

@@danielgalea8499 giannis beat bam, Jimmy, harden, KD, Kyrie, Trae, and possibly book and cp3

[@IanJacobyandcompany]

@@danielgalea8499 they didn’t play Boston, weirdo.

[@danielgalea8499]

@@IanJacobyandcompany those are good players but nowhere near comparable to the guys I named.

[@JamboNo5_]

Love the Ted Lasso goldfish reference 👌🏻

[@kz1000ps]

ｇｉａｎｎｉｓ ｉｓ ａ ｇｏｌｄｆｉｓｈ

[@d204b207]

theres the missing chromosome

[@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx]

And bills daughter played soccer

[@onyx9857]

Clif Paul has as many rings as Chris Paul

[@Uplike747]

I got as many rings as Stockton Barkley and cp3

[@sharpshooter2430]

@@Uplike747 combined

[@Uplike747]

@@sharpshooter2430 Goated

[@NBAalaChilena]

I call dem cp0 rings

[@nocuh]

The only way for me to enjoy this any more would be seeing both Lopez bros together on this team

[@praclarushtaonas7232]

Unfortunately ain't happening again... he signed an 1-year contract with the Wizard for 7M. He won't settle for anything less than 5M this year... the Bucks can't afford that kind of money. They couldn't even pay Bobby more than 4M... and they also need to resign Pat.

[@mantgrta9728]

@@praclarushtaonas7232 you ruined his dream

[@nocuh]

@@mantgrta9728 haha I’m sayin this team, on its run in these finals

[@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx]

Suns are definitely missing Saric, but let’s be real; if their opponents had not had injuries they probably wouldn’t be here in the first place

[@panagiotisatmatzidis9972]

..and bucks Donte DiVincenzo, a starter.

[@jordantaylor3570]

Love how the bucks defence doesn’t get any credit . Maybe he can’t penetrate the d because he being guarded by a 6-4 best guard defender in the world and has giannis and brook protecting the rim it’s like a defensive super team

[@Andorski]

*Simmons:* Making fun of Lakers getting a chip via a big trade. *The 2008 Championship Celtics:* 👁️👄👁️

[@austin5944]

🤫 shh, the Boston sports fans brain is very fragile, you may break it

[@ericpeters0n]

They're just mad LAL is now the title leaders. ;)

[@Andorski]

@@ericpeters0n Lakers and Celtics are tied at 17, but Lakers winning 6 since the turn of the century is a flex that Simmons can't get over. 💪

[@msdabrenn]

@@ericpeters0n the LA Lakers only have 12 titles

[@Andorski]

@@missioncodez We'll make sure to engrave that on the Larry O'Brien chief.

[@Kalinbuggs]

CP3 is really going to get the “he’s hurt” excuse and it’s pathetic maybe he’s “just not that GUY”

[@brenlenjinkens6502]

Personally i think if he wins this ring giannis is a top 4 power forward of all time. He would be better than Garnett or Barkley as you can argue that as a player his offence is better than garnetts and his defence is better than Barkleys and he would have lead his team to a championship as a no. 1 option which is something they’ve both failed to do.(I know Barkley faced prime Jordan but he never made it to the finals again with a fairly stacked team in a pretty mediocre western conference.)he wouldn’t have reached the upper echelon of duncan, nowitzki and malone yet but if he wins even more rings he has a case at passing nowitzki and malone.

[@TRENTBLOVE30]

Where can we watch this in full?

[@zechwilson5934]

Almost every analyst was talkin down on Giannis having success unless he’s the 2nd option or until he gets a real jumpshot so idgaf what alot of these folks say.

[@evanchantan15]

It's disappointing how Bill Simmons started a meta discussion on what a Bucks win means for the NBA at large (small market, homegrown star, stayed with the team, etc.) and this just flies right over this other guy's head and he replies about durability and war of attrition? WTF? They were supposed to talk about 2010 Lebron-decision-esque scales of magnitude and this other guy just totally ignores that and goes on a tangent about something generic, pedestrian, and ad nauseam at this point. Just talk to Ryen Rusillo, man, this other guy's just not gonna cut it.

[@trvspvrk]

No House slander, relax he was telling the truth

[@michlo3393]

If Milwaukee pulls this off, what's the over/under on the: "Suns only got to the Finals because EVERY SINGLE TEAM they played to get there was missing one of their two best players" narrative? Asking for a friend.

[@mtmd1042]

True story. But I'm glad MKE is poised to win, because Giannis deserves it, and if BKN is healthy, their prospects are dismal.

[@jasonl7937]

Oh it’s coming and they already complained about how they rushed the season and the effects it had on the players.

[@prateshramjohn]

Either team winning has great storylines but my takeaway looking into the future for the bucks has me a bit worried. Most people agree that nba players peak between 28 and 32. The buck's 'big 3' remain under contract as a group till 23-24. By then Middleton is 32, Jrue is 34 and Giannis is 29. Let's assume winning the title leaves these 3 untradeable and buys coach Bud 4 to 5 years of job security, the Bucks will have a max of 2 years to retool the roster post 'big 3' while in giannis' prime. Will the greek freak finish his career with 1 title?

[@jayjones9225]

Giannis and the Bucks are very likely to win the finals being up 3-2 and going home, but I wouldn’t lock it in just yet Bill

[@kostisflevarakis6693]

Cp3 cannot penetrate because he is old. Not because of injuries

[@kaad7]

Lakers "rigged" the title lmao Bill Simmons is incapable of putting together one unbiased episode.

[@kf4778]

Bill is STILL upset AD did everything he could to not go to Boston. No free agents want to play there. 😭

[@sagemodzel]

@@kf4778 let's be honest; Boston has had a culture problem for a long time and it's gonna take a while for players to trust Boston as a city and an organization again

[@WhelmedButReady]

I mean, "rigged" is a strong word. But they did team up. The best SF and PF in the game on one squad. They were next to unbeatable when healthy. Ask anyone in the bubble

[@apostolostvable]

LOL no one was accused of tampering despite the ENTIRE 2019 season being LeBron/Rich Paul/Davis vs. Pelicans/NBA. What's even funnier is that because of a technicality the Bucks were penalized for "tampering" with Bogdanovich by announcing a sign & trade, and it didn't matter.

[@hyperactive9148]

Is this on apple?

[@dionysise5008]

Giannis about to end the super teams.🙏

[@frankmaitland2569]

Most important Title since 2011

[@freebirdiii]

How did Bill just put Russ over Stockton?

[@jcmaybenot]

Everybody keeps going 32/13/6 on 60% shooting. Let's also talk about his steals/blocks/TOs. Dude is destroying the Suns on both ends and really backing up his talk about possession at a time.

[@the4thsj179]

House's background is like "I'm House and this is my house"

[@stevenorth101]

What about Jrue Holiday shutting down Paul?

[@skillz0122]

It's not just Gannis who's grown in these "What if" scenarios, the Suns have too. Phoenix evolved as a team as they advanced through the playoffs, but If AD plays then they lose in the first round.

[@dullestpenguin4151]

They switched Holiday from Booker to Paul and it changed the whole series.

[@ShadesOfSepia]

I hate this KD foot narrative!! By saying his foot is too big you are taking the blame of him when it's 100% his fault he stepped on the line!

[@etoradamaley4713]

Yeah. Anyone who's played basketball knows that you look down at the line through your periphery and make sure there's hardwood between your SHOES and the LINE. NOT YOUR TOES, WHICH YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH YOUR SHOES, AND THE LINE

[@ShadesOfSepia]

@@etoradamaley4713 not to mention it was because the best perimeter defender in the league crowded him. Fricken shoe size man cmon 🙄

[@apostolostvable]

Or the fact that in OT he missed all his 6 attempts.

[@88smjls]

Ewing was horrific in that finals Hakeem ate him alive.

[@tmalecki1521]

Every single box score I’ve checked has said the Suns shot 19 threes, not 21. So not sure where he got 21 from

[@ariley162]

Yeah I think it’s hard to give giannis so much praise when you saw how much better Brooklyn was then them. I get people usually get hurt but for them to basically have 2 stars get hurt and it go to OT game 7 just feels somewhat of a mirage.

[@LaskInHD]

Is Booker a superstar or not?

[@a.e.a.]

He's getting officiated like one lol. But seriously anyone who drops multiple 40 point games in the finals is a superstar without question.

[@RiloXRi]

I think he's like a westbrook type of player where he can put up great stats but he doesn't necessarily help the team win. Even tho Westbrook is way better at getting assist cause Booker it feels like never passes

[@LiamborninDC]

I would say Elgin Baylor got closer than CP3 out of the guys without a ring.

[@greyklopstock7155]

Uhhhh, suns only attempted 19 threes. Which was why they lost. With the way they were shooting it, they should've shot WAY more threes. Where was that team that shot 40 threes in game 2? If you're shooting 60% from three, AT HOME, you guys got the green light. They spent almost the entire second half going two pointer for two pointer. 3s get you back in it, they extended leads.

[@mrmacross]

After game 2, the Bucks found a way to eliminate easier corner 3s for PHX. I think PHX fell in love with midrange jumpers, but they didn't have the same open looks they had in game 2.

[@greyklopstock7155]

@@mrmacross yup, the bucks found a way. Didn't help that the Suns fell in love with the midrange like you said. Also, the fact that giannis made pretty much all of his free throws in game 6 made a huge impression on me. The guy was simply incredible. Giannis is the best big in basketball, and I don't feel like it's very close other than jokic. He's more skilled and resilient than AD, he's faster and a better passer than embiid, he's a better defender than jokic. Really impressive stuff from him.

[@silenciothequiet3471]

I can't believe they throwing shade at Jokic's MVP award because he stays healthy never mind him keeping his team afloat while starters to injury. Weren't they making fun of how unathletic he is? No wonder no one can take these talking heads seriously..

[@hardlywatching]

okay. is House in his attic/storage room? 😁

[@omgitsbamboozle7393]

DeAndre Ayton will never win number one pick status. The Suns fucked up, they should’ve drafted Luka Dončić

[@holstorrsceadus1990]

Watch Chris have to visually check his handles. His hand is messed up.

[@luissalazar8618]

I hate when bill says players don’t realize obvious things

[@Ayush999ful]

Right now Bill cashing his bet money for sticking to Bucks in 6😂

[@scottipippen6554]

Bill..let Joe house speak aswell! I love when Bill spins his narrative, but boy, he speaks a lot..lol

[@abhi2013roy]

it’s his podcast

[@johnblackman9720]

House - that's not a surf board behind you. It's an ironing board. And no one believes you iron anything.

[@razkable]

are we sure the nets will be healthy?..or the 76ers will improve?..i am not..the clippers will not be better...doubt lakers will be...to me the suns are overrated...the nuggets and bucks both could make the finals next year ..thats my bet

[@ariley162]

Lol I mean the nets literally almost won with only one of 3 healthy. Even if they have just 2 healthy they smash bucks so yeah I’ll bet 2 of 3 can stay healthy next year.

[@kailbastow6963]

There’s exceptions to the team with the best player winning the finals… you mean like essentially 7 of the last 10 years with lebron 🤣

[@NBAalaChilena]

Cp0 rings will cp0 rings

[@samdaman105]

Bro they talking a lot like its over but if anyone can choke now....

[@theccqua]

someone watches ted lasso; be a gold fish

[@razkable]

the 2013 spurs were not better then the 2013 heat..the heat played around and the refs screwed them vs the pacers while the spurs got lucky and played a grizz team in the west finals due to russel westbrook's injury in round 1 vs the rockets meaning the young grizz got past the thunder who the spurs thus easily swept that was not ready for the moment so the spurs got 5.5 days off while miami went 7 games due to bad foul calls on lebron so they had no time to prepare for game 1 which flipped that series late in the 4th in a close low scoring game....

[@davincerica7232]

Be carefull Joe House...

[@tommyo.3535]

Ah yes, the big toe effect

[@chrisludwig4729]

I wish I could get Bill Simmons with only other NBA experts. I couldn't care less what Bill's group of mediocre childhood friends think

[@squadup22]

Man all these talking heads are horrible. Only people worth listening to is Shaq, Kenny, Charles, and Ernie.

[@RickGeeMPS]

Joe House is a podcaster who wears headphones yet can't hear all his popping Ps and other plosives? Where is Nephew Kyle?