Grades and Reaction to Milwaukee Bucks 103-102 Loss to Denver Nuggets

Nov 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) has his shot blocked by Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson (31) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

• Some would call it luck. Others would call it the result of quality basketball. No matter how you swing it the Bucks first half was an impressive display. Everything was going right. They shot 28-40 from the field (70%), 8-11 from three (72.7%), and out rebounded the Nuggets 15-13. They played fast, hard, and with a little bit of luck (they hit three shot-clock expiring threes), were able to open up a big lead. That’s the version of the 2015-16 Bucks that fans have been waiting for.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo’s quality start has whipped fans into a frenzy–the likes of which we haven’t seen since Brandon Jenning’s 55 point game so long ago. Strong as his play has been he’s never been the sort of player to take critical shots late in the game. Even optimistic fans understand that crunch-time Giannis is likely a year away at best. But hold on to your horses, because here is the young star making a tough shot in heavy traffic (he was hammered, too) with :17 left in the game.

• To the surprise of everyone (except maybe a select few from this website) Johnny O’Bryant has emerged as a quality contributor. His progress from where he was at his rookie season has been encouraging beyond standard levels of hyperbole. He’s playing great right now. No way around it. He was one rebound shy of a double-double. Beyond the numbers he’s shown an impressive amount of maturity as well–hitting a go-ahead jumper with 1:21 left to play. Who woulda thunk it?

• Love him or hate him you have to respect the way Jerryd Bayless willed the Bucks back into the game. Down 93-80 in the fourth quarter, and with seemingly all hope fading away, it was Bayless who scored ten straight Bucks points to give the Bucks a fighting chance. He would go on to score fourteen fourth quarter points and for my money should have had the ball in his hands with the game ending. But alas, I digress.

• Mandatory Giannis vine. This time denying Randy Foye the easy fast break layup.

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