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Despite the vitriol unleashed at the inaugural edition, at least some folks clamored for the continued opportunity to display their ignorance. So: Welcome back to Milwaukee Bucks Trivia!
Before we dive into the questions, let me briefly unload some of my thoughts about the upcoming season. Brew Hoop regulars will find this similar to the frippery that Riley offers at the beginning of the MMMR.
Today’s topic: I am skeptical that winning a championship puts to rest the days of “Never Trust the Bucks.” My skepticism can roughly be organized into three areas: the last year, the last years, and Ben Simmons.
First, although the Bucks deserve plaudits for their incredible playoff run, winning the championship should not condone how we did so. In almost every round, and in almost every game, there were moments that Bucks looked downright terrible. The wet dream of the Heat series started with a nail-biter that, had it gone differently, may have led to a Bubblier outcome. The subtitle of this article says it all about the Nets series. We were a Khash Money Supernova away from being down 3-1 against the Hawks. And we limped into the first Finals appearance that this franchise has earned since 1974. This played out against a backdrop where Trae Young, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving missed games, not to mention nearly everyone in the Western Conference, as we stayed relatively health. It also came after a season that we finished third in the conference after the 76ers (!) and the Nets.
Second, and perhaps less importantly, the Bucks experienced embarrassing exits in the two previous years. The Toronto series was painful; I still can’t watch Jurassic Park without thinking about it (although the Deer District cushions the blow). The Heat series was somehow worse. Had this past season ended differently - if KD (if I can call him that) had only slightly smaller shoes and / or feet - these wounds would still be licked by Bucks faithful. Occam’s razor’s holds that, all else being equal, the simplest explanation is the most likely. Explanation #1 is that our players and Coach Bud are now playoff-clutch. Explanation #2 is that we got lucky one out of three. I’ll take the latter.
Third, and perhaps least importantly, Ben Simmons. Let me unpack. Most were anticipating a conference finals between the Bucks and 76ers last year, dubbed by BrewHoop as the Battle of the Sorriest Franchises. The 76ers did us one better and promptly lost before they even got to the finals, and in an oh-so-delicious way. The Young Socialite has spent the summer doing who knows what, as the rest of us have feasted on the dumpster fire that is the 76ers offseason. If he arrives back in Philly, he will be surrounded by doubters, haters, and wherever Joel Embiid is on that spectrum. The 76ers will likely quagmire their way through the regular season, and given the state of the Eastern Conference, a 3-6 seed is probably in the cards. That might put them up against the Bucks in the conference semi-finals. In that series, Simmons and the 76ers would be up against a team that is in many ways their better half, and against a star that had the audacity to sit on their court. How big of a win would that be for Simmons and that franchise?
Most readers (including myself) can offer qualifiers to these points (especially the last one), but the point is that, as we bask in our championship’s sun, we are forgetting to put on sunscreen. As much as “Bucks in Six” is engrained in our DNA, “Never Trust the Bucks” is too.
Without further ado, good luck! You’ll need it. The answers are in the comments below.
Question #1
Poll
Why is Milwaukee called Cream City (or, as it has in the past, Cream City of the Unsalted Seas)?
This poll is closed
-
2%
A: A historic lack of diversity
(8 votes) -
3%
B: An unfortunate spill at a cream factory
(10 votes) -
87%
C: Buildings made of cream-colored brick
(255 votes) -
6%
D: Milwaukeeans’ penchant for cream soda
(19 votes)
Question #2
Poll
Luc Richard MBah a Moute was a man of many talents. What wasn’t he?
This poll is closed
-
49%
A: Nicknamed "Moute Kicks Boute" in college
(142 votes) -
20%
B: A prince of Cameroon
(60 votes) -
19%
C: A recipient of an egregious Bucks contract
(56 votes) -
10%
D: A defensive stalwart
(29 votes)
Question #3
Poll
Unlike other NBA stars, Giannis is vaccinated. What reason did he give?
This poll is closed
-
90%
A: It was best for me and my family to stay protected.
(248 votes) -
3%
B: It was best for me to avoid being able to taste things, like smoothies.
(9 votes) -
1%
C: It was best for me to beat my brothers and be the first to get vaccinated.
(4 votes) -
5%
D: It was best for me to win another championship for the city of Milwaukee.
(14 votes)
Question #4
Poll
Alright, get out your calculators. Back in ‘05 - a bad year for bad contract - the Bucks threw money at Bobby Simmons. How much money did he earn per point scored as a Buck? Note: He had injury trouble and we parlayed him into Richard Jefferson (woo?),
This poll is closed
-
30%
A: N/A; He never scored as a Buck
(78 votes) -
6%
B: $10,000
(18 votes) -
26%
C: $20,000
(69 votes) -
36%
D: $30,000
(93 votes)
Question #5
Poll
The season starts next Tuesday! Holy cow. Any idea who we play first?
This poll is closed
-
90%
A: Brooklyn Nets
(234 votes) -
4%
B: Miami Heat
(11 votes) -
0%
C: San Antonio Spurs
(2 votes) -
5%
D: Indiana Pacers
(13 votes)
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