PODCAST: Bucks-Pacers Preseason Finale Reaction

That’s it! We are done with fake basketball! No more Summer League! No more International competitions! No more Pro-Ams! No more preseason! On to the real stuff!

Before we get a chance to discuss real basketball next week, Frank and I discussed the Bucks’ preseason finale against the Pacers immediately after it happened late Wednesday night.

Download MP3 Audio | Subscribe via iTunes | Subscribe via RSS

Here is a quick rundown of what we discussed:

Giannis and Jabari! It wouldn’t be a recap unless you discuss the Bucks’ two young stars in length, whether they played good or bad, but we’ve really only had good to discuss this entire preseason. Frank mentioned their gaudy preseason numbers in the preview for the Pacers game and both players put up numbers once again Wednesday night.

Giannis and Jabari’s contrasting styles. While watching the game with friend of the website Alex Boeder (check out his 26 Bucks Predictions for this season) last night, we started to discuss the differences between Antetokounmpo and Parker. The one thing that really stuck out as a major difference between the two was their willingness to search out contact. It seems like no matter how Antetokounmpo gets to the basket he finds a way to draw a foul and, at times, it seems like Parker actively does what he can to avoid drawing fouls. Can both styles be effective? Is one style worse than the other?

Dellavedova’s fit in Milwaukee. Throughout the preseason, I have talked about the importance of Delly’s secondary playmaking and last night head coach Jason Kidd decided to get in on the action.

“Being able to play with him on the second side - not having him start the play, but having him finish the play - he’s making a lot of the right reads. Getting guys some easy shots and he understands how to play the game the right way. His performance tonight - again playing 25 minutes, shooting the ball when he was open - you know, just being Delly. His fingerprints were all over that game.”

Stars vs. the Bench. With 5:48 left in the preseason finale and the Bucks leading 93-91, coach Nate McMillan took out Jeff Teague, Al Jefferson, and Lavoy Allen to make way for the five guys on the bottom of the Pacers’ roster. Jason Kidd took out Malcolm Brogdon and John Henson for Antetokounmpo and Dellavedova to add to a lineup that already featured Parker and Greg Monroe. The Bucks went on a 9-0 run and sealed the game. It didn’t seem like an okay thing to do to me, but Frank seemed to have little problem with it. How about you?