Game 5: Milwaukee Bucks 91 Philadelphia 76ers 87 Grades & Reactions

Reactions: The Good

• Before going any farther I’d be remiss if I didn’t give Jabari Parker his due props. Less than one year removed from an ACL tear (once thought of as the kiss of death to athletes), his name echoed through the Bradley Center as a part of the Bucks starting lineup. He’s put an all-world effort into returning a bigger, better player than when we last saw him play. His frame is indeed bulked up and though he didn’t look particularly explosive you can be certain that will return. The fact that he’s willing to do the dirty work on defense is indicative of the sort of player he is–selfless.

Here are Jabari Parker’s first points in 324 days.

• Parker was joined returning to action by another 2014 first round draft pick–Tyler Ennis–who missed the start of the season due to shoulder surgery. He provided eight quality minutes, behind Bayless and Vasquez. His only two points stopped a scoring drought at a time when the 76ers threatened to turn a slight advantage into a demoralizing margin. It should be fun to see how Jason Kidd uses Ennis as the season progresses.

• Behold! The bench lives! Led by Greivis Vasquez’s 11 points and +20 (+/-) margin the Bucks bench was not the sore spot it had been in previous contests. Far from it. They outperformed the 76ers bench in scoring, 28-20, but more importantly began to show signs of being a viable option at Kidd’s disposal.

Mandatory Giannis Antetokounmpo vine. He was ridiculous again.

• The defense is beginning to round into form. Part of what made last season’s unit so effective was craftiness and ability at double-teaming the ball on the baselines. This required guards to slide down to the post to deny an open basket on the weak side while trusting the defense to rotate back in case of a three point attempt. Late in the game against Brooklyn the Bucks used this trap to force a turnover from Brook Lopez. They used a similar look often against the 76ers. This play in particular sees Johnny O’Bryant receiving help on the baseline from Greg Monroe to stop Hollis Thompson’s drive. That left Jerryd Bayless one-on-one with Nerlens Noel. Thompson can’t possibly squeeze a pass through the double team. When the ball kicks out Bayless returns to the wing and Monroe shifts back to Noel. That’s beautiful defense and a sign that Monroe is beginning to understand the Bucks defensive philosophy.

Next: Reactions: The Bad