MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 22 (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks are nearing a return to regular season action with opening night set for October 19 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Before that star-studded matchup arrives, we rounded together the Behind the Bucks Pass staff to get opinions and thoughts on the team’s triumphant title run and eventful offseason. With that out of the way, enjoy!
The Milwaukee Bucks finally ended their 50-year title drought this past season. What was your favorite moment from the championship run?
Dalton Sell (@sell_dalton): Obviously, winning the championship was the greatest moment from the run, but winning that Game 7 on the road versus the Brooklyn Nets was such a roller coaster ride of emotions that it needs props. It seemed like the odds were against the Bucks for most of the game, with there having been some questionable calls and everything seemingly tipping in favor of the Nets. With the Bucks trailing at the half, things did not look good, but that second half was just insane. Jrue Holiday coming to life and knocking down shots in the clutch, Kevin Durant’s unbelievable game-tying shot, and Brook Lopez’s shot-clock violation are just a few moments that stand out for various reasons. Of course, the game would fittingly go to overtime, and once that final buzzer went off, it just did not seem real. What a game. What a series.
Bradshaw Furlong (@omgbradshaw) My favorite moment from the Bucks championship run had to be Game 5 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks. The whole fanbase was still in shock after losing Giannis Antetokounmpo and expecting the worst to happen (or at least I was). But the way the Bucks responded by having one of their most complete team performances and seeing everyone contribute without their superstar really felt like a turning point for them. A lot of people probably wrote the Bucks off after Giannis’ injury so it was nice to see the rest of the roster show that they’re just as capable.
Jake Maier (@JakeJMaier): Although there were many incredible moments during the title run, my personal favorite was the overtime victory in game seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Winning a game of that magnitude against the Brooklyn Nets was definitely a game to remember. There isn’t a moment in sports bigger than a game seven. Combining that moment with overtime, it doesn’t get any better than that. There were so many moments in the game where the Bucks were seemingly out of reach, but they continued to fight. That tenacity gave them the opportunity to secure their second franchise title.
Donny Chiarel (@donchiarel): It was easily the return of Giannis after the horrific injury against Atlanta. I remember literally searching for deep breaths when he came back against Phoenix. To see him will his way back in not only showed his physical ability, but his will to win. Excuse me, someone might be cutting onions in the next room.
Alexander Koch (@AlexPKoch28): My personal favorite moment was Game Seven of Eastern Conference Semifinals when Milwaukee knocked off Brooklyn. The reason why is because the Bucks didn’t win a Game Seven since 2001 and they never won a road Game Seven in their franchise’s history. Watching Giannis knock off arguably the best player in the NBA at that point in time in Kevin Durant was so satisfying. All the talk surrounding major media outlets saying that Giannis couldn’t win it all with the roster that was presently constructed was put to rest after that series victory. I was at my workplace when Milwaukee won that game, and I guess you could say I was glad I was the only one at my work that night.
Lucas Valind (@RealLucaso345): I believe the obvious choice for favorite moment has to be Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Everything about that day felt different than any of the other days that I’ve been a fan. I drove down to Milwaukee and watched it with 65,000 other people in the Deer District. The place was absolutely electric. I’m not sure if I will ever forget that day.
Franco Luna (@BucksGotNext): Khris Middleton’s Game 1 buzzer-beater over the outstretched arms of Duncan Robinson. It was just the very first game of the playoffs with none of the eventual success guaranteed, but I think as early as then there was already something different with this team. That jumper exemplified the maturity and the shift this team had taken. Up until that moment, the Bucks were still very much viewed as something of a failure in a loaded Eastern Conference. Pundits expected the team to just roll over again like they did in the past. But this season was different, and I think Bucks fans started to really sense it after that play. They refused to duck the Miami Heat and refused to coast through the regular season with the same system as that of the past two years. There was something about that one moment that told me this was a different Bucks team and that things would be different this time around. It was right.
Adam Zippan (@AZip70): The Jrue Holiday steal from Booker in game 5.
Tyler Schickert (@tschicket13): It’s tough to choose just one, the steal and slam, Middleton’s game sealing layup and game winner in the opening round, Giannis’ block on Ayton. So many great moments but I have to go with the overtime period of game 7 against the Nets. So much drama being a game 7 and against the heavily favored superteam and for Middleton to hit a clutch shot, Brook Lopez to redeem himself with a huge block on KD after committing a terrible turnover at the end of regulation, I was in shock after that win.
Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion): I’m definitely a bit biased here because I was there, but Game 7 in Brooklyn was my favorite moment. I think that was the most intense and crazy game I’ve ever experienced, and it seemed to be the moment where everyone really believed they could win it all. As great as games 5 and 6 of the Finals were, I think Game 7 was my favorite game/moment.
Michael Wood (wood4_michael) The summer of 2021 will go down as one of the greatest summers in the history of sports in the city of Milwaukee. Personally, living out of state, but being able to come to Milwaukee, watch Game 5 in Fiserv Forum, hang out in the Deer District, and just see people of all backgrounds, interests, bias, etc. come together for the run was extraordinary. Favorite moment of the run, though, by the team would actually have to be the dismantling of the Miami Heat. People forget: multiple news outlets and Bucks fans alike were picking the Heat in an upset — just like the bubble of 2020. To see the team, after Khris Middleton’s game winner in Game 1, completely embarrass the Heat in sweeping them 4-0 announced to viewers and fans alike: this run through the playoffs was being orchestrated by a different Bucks team.
Milwaukee Bucks Roundtable: Thoughts on title, free agency, trades, more - Behind the Buck Pass
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