On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks hosted the Houston Rockets for what we thought would be a high-octane MVP showcase between Harden and Giannis. It would only be so in the first half, as an energized Bucks squad steamrolled the Rockets in a big-time showcase of their will and depth, 94-108.
Giannis had a 19-4-4-1-1 line on 7/15 while Eric Bledsoe played like a worthy right hand man. He put up 23-3-7-1-2 on 9/19 with some stellar James Harden defense to boot, but Bledsoe's stat line doesn't do it justice. He was a game changer for the Bucks at key moments that were either momentum-takers or momentum-keepers.
But the big question of tonight was answered in a swift, anti-climactic manner. Who would emerge the better man after the top two MVP candidates took the floor? It could've been "Exhibit B/C/D" for James Harden in his MVP case over Giannis, but the dramatic clash of the titans never materialized. Take a look at the Rhythm of the Game for a narrative recap and Takeaways for afterthoughts.
Rhythm of the Game
Milwaukee stumbled a bit at the outset, allowing Houston to garner a 25-20 first quarter edge. It could've been jitters from being the undeniable NBA watch of the night, but something had to change with Milwaukee's execution. It wasn't a cold, calculated approach that got the Bucks back in this, but a fiery roar from the crowd that rewarded the team from multiple hustle plays and floor dives.
Eric Bledsoe had 7 points and 4 assists, but the stat line didn't do justice on the impact he was having tonight. One of the main factors in Milwaukee's downfall last postseason was having a hell of a year for the city, and now that played in once again versus the Rockets.
Bledsoe was AMPED, which made the crowd feed right off him. There was one big play where he stole the inbound after playing full court defense and flipped it up for an unexpected layup, then capped it off by staring menacingly at James Harden chest to chest as he complained about some bullshit to the ref. Let me tell you, this midwestern crowd was INSANE!
It undoubtedly felt like an NBA Finals game just judging by the sound. You felt the energy emanating from your screen! Houston was going to get swallowed whole if they didn't do something about this! If you just paid attention to the crowd you would've thought they were up twenty after being down fifteen, but the Bucks only had a five-point lead at the half, 53-58.
It was the third quarter where the Bucks began to pull away. Milwaukee jacked up a barrage of threes that converted at over a 50% clip in the quarter, good enough for a nineteen point lead at the end of the third! The Bucks settled down after some antsy initial possessions, but they still brought that same high energy from the first half! I was honestly jealous. This was a team that was talented, but also executing and giving it a 100% effort! Not even the Warriors fulfill all three categories! 71-90 with twelve minutes to go.
Eight minutes went by, and the Bucks still held a near-twenty point lead over the visiting Rockets, 85-102. Now was the time for a miracle to happen if there ever was going to be one. The two biggest factors blocking their path to a miracle were The Greek Freak and the sturdy frame of Eric Bledsoe. The game was practically over at that four minute mark though. Bucks win convincingly, 94-108
Takeaways
The Milwaukee Bucks defended the shit out of James Harden. They basically neutralized a ton of his favorite moves like driving left, getting to the line, and sticking to him like glue on his three attempts. It all led to a 9/26 shooting night with an eye-gouging 1/9 from three. This game can be a template for any team taking Houston on in the first or second round. Here's a possible blueprint for defending Harden, but only few teams like the Bucks have the proper length to throw at him. Average defenders are still vulnerable to get cooked
As for the game overall, the first half was a firework show, but the second half was an anti-climactic Bucks route. Not a good watch from an entertainment standpoint, but if you're a Bucks fan this is just another emboldening win in a season full of them. This win only furthers my personal, temporary Bucks fandom in the 2019 NBA playoffs.
Giannis and the boys are still young and unproven. They still haven't won a first round series. They're one of the last few good teams with a sense of purity about them. Uncorrupted by the influences and repercussions of NBA success. They're all but guaranteed to make it to the second round at least, but I don't think you're satisfied with the year unless you earn an NBA Finals appearance....or maybe Eastern Conference Finals.
Giannis didn't even have a big game statistically, but it feels like he won the MVP battle in a landslide. Yes, his supporting cast came up huge, but when the game was still undecided the Greek Freak felt like he had things under control more than Harden. However, if this happened to be Game 1 of a seven game series, I think James would come back after this and make all the necessary adjustments to have a monster Game 2. They know how to win on the road in the playoffs. They took the Warriors to seven.
This could be a potential Finals preview though. I have a hard time imagining Golden State falling victim to anyone, but if they do it'll be to themselves. If they happen to implode from within, I still pick Houston to come out of the West. The Eastern Conference is still a toss up, but I'm really high on Giannis and the boys this year. I'm picking Bucks Warriors to be our NBA Finals contenders....and I hope to God the Bucks win.
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