Biggest game of season tonight

[CBAreject]

No drama. Just facts. We need to lose to Milwaukee tonight. This is clearly the most important and most straightforward game of the season.

A loss to Milwaukee puts us all alone as 3rd worst. Finishing there would give us roughly a 25% better chance at a top-3 pick (47 vs. 38).

Not only must we worry about catching Milwaukee, but we must also realize that the 5th spot is only 2 wins ahead of us. We must lose these dangerous games against Mil and Bos to solidify 4th at the very least. Smoove alone could pull out a few of these. Woody needs to realize the importance of these 4 games with Mil and Bos.

First things first. Tonight we know what we must do. Lose. Make it respectable if you want, but please do not f--- around and let T Lue hit a buzzer beater for a fluke W. A win in this game would be absolutely inexcusable.

[gutz]

I totally agree. IF the Hawks win any of these remaining 7 games they are complete morons. With JJ, Speedy, Childress and now Zaza it looks like all out for the rest of the season there is ABSOLUTELY no point in trying to win any game. Woody should shut down Smoove the rest of the year too and just let the bench players and rookies get PT. Injuries have derailed this team ALL year and there is no point in winning one meaningless game when it could cost you a top 3 pick. Just lose at this point Hawks! Hawks fans understand! We need Oden!

[exodus]

In their last game the Bucks started

Boykins

Bell

Ilyasova

Patterson

Gadzuric

It is going to be tough for the hawks to lose to that lineup.

Unfortunately for the Bucks the Celtics had the ultimate weapon to use against their tank efforts, Sebastian Telfair. He guaranteed a Celtics loss. The Bucks were powerless against him.

[DavidSomerset]

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Tonight we know what we must do. Lose.

A win in this game would be absolutely inexcusable.

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[Yeti]

Quote:

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In their last game the Bucks started

Boykins

Bell

Ilyasova

Patterson

Gadzuric

It is going to be tough for the hawks to lose to that lineup.

Unfortunately for the Bucks the Celtics had the ultimate weapon to use against their tank efforts, Sebastian Telfair. He guaranteed a Celtics loss. The Bucks were powerless against him.

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God I love this. Both teams trying to tank and not be too blatant about it. They may have a worse lineup, but having Woody as coach ought to do it for us. Even if he deliberately screws up to lose the game, nobody would know the difference.

[CBAreject]

We do have the worst fans in the NBA. I say that because so many are still hoping for meaningless wins at the expense of any hopes to ever contend. I say that because so many want to ensure that we "give Phoenix a lower pick" rather than give ourselves the best chance at a star player.

How can you people sleep at night if your goal is "30 wins" and no chance at improvement thereafter? How can you think yourselves morally superior to those who would rather just lose out and have a *chance* to contend in 2-3 years?

[Popeye]

We are going to win tonight unforunately.

[CBAreject]

I fear you are right. These 4 games against Boston and Milwaukee could spell disaster (and I am NOT exaggerating here).

[lunar]

not really, this is just how fans of losing teams cope with the last parts of the season. they're just trying to make something positive out of an otherwise inevitably negative situation.

boston, memphis, milwaukee, indiana, and other teams that are theoretically out of the playoffs are doing the same thing. it doesn't make them bad fans. just weak-hearted.

[BusBoyIsBack]

This game is not as important as people are making it seem because of what happened on Wednesday.

Because of Wednesday we can actually afford to beat the Bucks and still land the 3rd worst record.

We will only be 1 1/2 games out as opposed to 2 1/2 had they not won on Wednesday.

[DrReality]

Quote:

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In their last game the Bucks started

Boykins

Bell

Ilyasova

Patterson

Gadzuric

It is going to be tough for the hawks to lose to that lineup.

Unfortunately for the Bucks the Celtics had the ultimate weapon to use against their tank efforts, Sebastian Telfair. He guaranteed a Celtics loss. The Bucks were powerless against him.

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On lineup alone your right, but don't forget we have Woody on our side. He negates some of our advantage on the lineup.

[DJlaysitup]

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This game is not as important as people are making it seem because of what happened on Wednesday.

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Agreed BBIB...while a loss tonight would be great, it won't be the end of the world if we win.

Another positive, Boston is pretty well solidified in the #2 spot, so they may want to win a game or two for looks at the end of the season. We may be able to lose to them, meaning, if we win tonight we can then turn around and lose-out.

But yeah...a loss tonight would be a giant step. GO BUCKS!

[DrReality]

We are at the bottom of the power rankings . . . for what it's worth.

HOLLINGER RANK RATING RECORD MARGIN SOS REC (L10) MAR

25 BUCKS: 5th 14th

Nxt 3: @ATL (Fri), NY (Sat), ORL (Mon)

26 TIMBERWOLVES:

Next 3: @NY (Fri), NOK (Sat), TOR (Mon)

27 PACERS:

Nxt 3: @CHA (Fri), BOS (Sat), @PHI (Tues)

28 BOBCATS

| Nxt 3: IND (Fri), @MIA (Sun), MIA (Tues)

29 MEMPHIS

| Nxt 3: GS (Fri), @ORL (Sat), SAC (Tues)

30 HAWKS:

Nxt 3: MIL (Fri), @PHI (Sun), BOS (Tues)

[exodus]

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This game is not as important as people are making it seem because of what happened on Wednesday.

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Agreed BBIB...while a loss tonight would be great, it won't be the end of the world if we win.

Another positive, Boston is pretty well solidified in the #2 spot, so they may want to win a game or two for looks at the end of the season. We may be able to lose to them, meaning, if we win tonight we can then turn around and lose-out.

But yeah...a loss tonight would be a giant step. GO BUCKS!

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One of the guys on the RealGM board says a key part of his strategy for losing tonight is to "give the ball to Shelden in the high post and let him create".

[SmooveTheFuture]

As long as Marvin and Shellhead Williams both play and get touches we are guarnteed a loss. These guys are the reason this franchise blows right now.

[Lascar78]

I think we might actually have gotten more from Shelden if we did let him get set up touches on the offensive end. He probably could have done ok eventually and gotten his confidence up. Right now he gets zero touches and feels like he doesn't belong.

Anyhow it's not like we're at full strength either though. I would not be surprised at all with a blowout win either way.

[gsuteke]

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This game is not as important as people are making it seem because of what happened on Wednesday.

...

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Agreed BBIB...while a loss tonight would be great, it won't be the end of the world if we win.

Another positive, Boston is pretty well solidified in the #2 spot, so they may want to win a game or two for looks at the end of the season. We may be able to lose to them, meaning, if we win tonight we can then turn around and lose-out.

But yeah...a loss tonight would be a giant step. GO BUCKS!

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One of the guys on the RealGM board says a key part of his strategy for losing tonight is to "give the ball to Shelden in the high post and let him create".

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Post of the day!

[Guest Walter]

If they play JS with a sore back 35+ minutes I'll

It's time to see some serious tankage. No single game is this important from here on out save perhaps our game with Indy.

W

[Hoosier]

That is exactly one of the points I have made here about Sheldon, but no one else can see it. I think he can become one of the better post-up players on this team. He is one player that would thrive in a more structured environment, under a competent coach. And he is methodical, but some of the best post-up guys are just that.

As for his defense....he's a 1st year player, that will come as well.

[exodus]

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That is exactly one of the points I have made here about Sheldon, but no one else can see it.

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The big problem i see with Shelden in the post is his poor hands. Tough to be effective if you can't hold onto the ball.