No Kings tonight, so I turn on the Bucks/Mavs game. I’m watching and I’m like, wtf is this? Where’s the ball movement? Are they ever going to even run a play? Every single possession is just Giannis dribbles down the court, takes it iso into a triple-team, shoots anyway or passes for a catch-and-shoot. Other side, Luke and Kyrie take turns calling for a screen, dribbling to the basket, and putting up a wild shot. Each side literally has one play that they run the entire game.
These are supposedly two of the elite title-contending teams. And the thing is, it works for them. Giannis runs into a triple team on every play and beats it most times. Why wouldn’t they do what works? Luka and Kyrie take turns running the same pick and roll every time, and it works until it doesn’t (and then they blow the game, a tale as old as time). But it’s just so boring. The Bucks made their run at the end and the crowd is into it and I’m so bored that I turn it off. I was even rooting for the Bucks!
Am I ruined for basketball now? Do I need 6-8 passes, off-ball screens, and intricate plays to be entertained? What’ve these Kings done to me?!?
Or maybe we’re just that lucky. The other best teams in the league are basically unwatchable. That sounds better, I’ll go with that.
Maybe so, and I have a friend that’s a big Pacers fan, but I have difficulties rooting for them. For no fault of their own, I find myself rooting against them merely to win a media storyline that I couldn’t care less about, and it infuriates me.