Wendell presents a similar problem. We are starting Goga and Black for Wendell and Fultz respectively. These are two guys that require a certain amount of touches. Yet we are replacing them with guys that end up funneling touches to Paolo, Franz and Suggs and we are seeing huge benefits.

Perhaps we needed this stretch of games to see them gel and when Fultz and WCJ come back it will be even better. On the other hand, maybe we need to keep feeding our ‘big 3.’

I mean, the lesson is that all games matter.

We can make all kinds of excuses, but the fact remains that we got spanked by the Nets.

I mean, beating Boston was great, but I haven’t seen the media mention the stretch we just had.

We shellacked the #1 offense Pacers in Indiana, then smoked the Raptors. We followed that up with beating the reigning NBA champs and then beat the Eastern darling Celtics.

I still can’t believe it even when I type it out…lol

Yes and no. There will be games (especially in the playoffs) when teams will be able to score regardless of what we do. This is where we need guys to step up and score and why some of us have been saying we still need more shooting.

All that being said, if we can maintain near all-star like play from Franz, Paolo, a healthy Harris and near 6thMOTY play from Cole, then maybe we don’t need a ‘swing for the fences’ like trade (ala Levine). Perhaps we can go with a smaller-scale move to simply supplement what we have.

Let’s be clear: the defensive performance of this team has been nothing short of staggering. However, the biggest result of this has been it’s affect on our offense.

We rank 1st in steals and 9th in transition scoring. Also, our bench boasts 2 guys in the top 15 of total points scored off the bench.

Wanna know how to offset a team that needs more shooting? Just dominate defensively and get easy buckets in transition. Our offense is predicated on our defense.

The real question is when we face a team that is able to get their offense regardless, cuts down on the turnovers and plays defense on us well, do we have enough firepower to simply grind a win out.

Hopefully we can advance in the in-season tourney and see some really meaningful ‘playoff-like’ games to see how our team responds.

I mean, it was an objective fact the he started a bit slow but I also don’t think anyone on this board was worried.

Frankly, the start was even less concerning for me because his defense has been really good and that’s where I wanted to see the biggest improvement.

Ceruti needs another “Magic Minute” after this Denver game.

Down 9 points in the 4th quarter and comes back to win!!! It kind of proves Russillo’s point that the 4th quarter stuff was sort of clunky but not a massive problem.

Young team trying to figure it out.

Can we now start contemplating a reality in which Fultz comes off the bench?

He doesn’t provide that much more scoring or defensive prowess. Plus Black and Suggs are nightmare fuel for opposing backcourts.

Fultz + Anthony + Harris off the bench is just crazy.

I don’t think his splits will be sustainable but GOD DAMN, the first 6 min of the game tonight against Toronto was epic. The dude was everywhere all at once. Puts his arm around the ref to discuss a no-call then proceeds to get the ball off a miss free throw and literally flies to the rim for a layup and 1. I was literally cursing at the screen that he was the first sub off the bench.

All that being said, don’t know if ‘breaking out’ is sustainable unless he maintains a 35% 3 point %. Nevertheless, he is establishing himself as another ‘untouchable’ core piece.

Fultz is quickly becoming the odd man out.

Can we just contemplate how last year as a rookie Paolo’s defense was a red flag and we fell apart defensively without WCJ. Now this year, without WCJ, this team just completely decimated the #1 offense in the league and then systematically dissected Toronto tonight.

I mean, you can talk about Suggs, Black and Isaac’s one-on-one skills, but team defense is absolutely a coaching thing and we are absolute monsters!

Ghost of Tsushima…Just unreal opening like nothing I have ever experienced in gaming.

For anyone reading this, please don’t spoil it for yourselves and look it up. Do yourself a favor and just play this stunning game.

What this points out is that our starters are the problem. While I agree with some of the other posters that Franz and Paolo have been somewhat of the problem, I don’t think it’s a slump.

We start 2 guards who can’t shoot and the defense can key on Franz and Paolo whenever they want. The can slag off the perimeter and pack the paint which is why our FG% is horrible.

Last year, Paolo was a rookie and no one understood Franz yet. This year, everyone knows Franz can be that guy (from the WC) and it’s easy to push Paolo off an aggressive style with no perimeter defensive requirement.

This just proves we need shooting and spacing in our starting lineup.

Exactly.

I really feel that Fultz is the problem. We get infatuated with his flashy play, but he just does not fit well with Franz and Paolo. It kind of reminds me of the days when we were all waiting for the Oladipo as PG experiment to work out or the AG turning into the #1 guy.

We continue to work Fultz and I think it’s actually hurting our other guys. We should turn the PG and SG spots over to Suggs, Cole, Black and Jett to see if ANY of them can turn into complimentary players for Franz and Paolo. Then we trade if it’s not working out.

Some of the no-calls were absolutely crazy. Suggs got hacked numerous times. It was really quite shocking.

I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect 36-38 considering he was no where near that in college.

If he can get to 33-34, and up his fg% to 48-50, then I will be ecstatic.

The Bucks are struggling right now. If we are who we thought we were, then this win shouldn’t be surprising except for maybe how it actually happened.

I’m concerned that our fg% was dog doodoo resulting from Goga, Isaac, Anthony and Ingles combining to go 5 for 23. Those are a lot of guys to struggle at one time. We made up for it by shooting really well from 3, but I don’t know how sustainable that is (please, please, please let this be who Suggs is now).

The Bucks, on the other hand, shot really well from the floor and really bad from 3. Watching the game again, it actually looks like this was intentional on our part as we had guys selling out on the closeouts multiple times. I also think that being without Lillard really shows the flaws in how that team is constructed.

Overall, really good win heading into group play.