Clippers are without Kawhi, and Phoenix is limited IMO -- younger team with CP3, who has historically struggled on the big stage. Definitely would be tough for a Giannis-less Milwaukee to beat either of those two, but definitely not out of the question.
Reality is none of these teams are great. Big part of that is all the injuries. Any of the four could win the title and it wouldn't be a shock
It is tough to say because there are so many moving parts. Capela got hurt (I shut the game off so found this out 5 mins ago), Trae is out.
But normally the Bucks are around -8.5 at home with Trae, if Trae/Capela were in and healthy then yeah I think the line would be around PK in Milwaukee. Obviously even if Trae goes into game 5, he's going in banged up so not really apples to apples.
Or vice versa, tonight Bucks were -9 on the road with no Trae and if no Giannis/no Trae I'd expect Hawks to be favored.
I mean in the context of this particular series, every series/setup is different.
This is easy to say now, but none of the guys that have gotten hurt surprise me much when taken 1 by 1.
Giannis works so hard on both ends and in transition, nothing he does on the court is easy. Every bucket he gets he works for and he's everywhere on defense. Then he pushes in transition and he's almost 7 feet tall. All those long strides, I've been expecting him to die for awhile.
Embiid torn meniscus and he played through it. He's like 50/50 to be healthy any given postseason. Body just has issues.
Irving and Davis have been getting hurt forever and AD had a really short offseason, neither 1 of those is very surprising at all. Irving has been hurt during the postseason 4 of the last 7 years.
Harden has been healthy his whole career but he has also had an unreal workload the last 6 years and never gets hurt. He turns 32 in a few months, not surprised he finally had an injury either.
Kawhi play seemed flukey, can't say too much on that.
Young stepped on a refs foot, that is also just a flukey play.
I actually don't think the shortened offseason has that much to do with it, although I can't prove it. I just think the modern game you just gotta move so much with all the pace, bodies can give out easier.
Giannis works so hard on both ends and in transition, nothing he does on the court is easy. Every bucket he gets he works for and he's everywhere on defense. Then he pushes in transition and he's almost 7 feet tall. All those long strides, I've been expecting him to die for awhile.
Embiid torn meniscus and he played through it. He's like 50/50 to be healthy any given postseason. Body just has issues.
Irving and Davis have been getting hurt forever and AD had a really short offseason, neither 1 of those is very surprising at all. Irving has been hurt during the postseason 4 of the last 7 years.
Harden has been healthy his whole career but he has also had an unreal workload the last 6 years and never gets hurt. He turns 32 in a few months, not surprised he finally had an injury either.
Kawhi play seemed flukey, can't say too much on that.
Young stepped on a refs foot, that is also just a flukey play.
I actually don't think the shortened offseason has that much to do with it, although I can't prove it. I just think the modern game you just gotta move so much with all the pace, bodies can give out easier.
