@boltz, I also agree with you on Bucks versus Nets. We saw a few very brilliant individual performances but not enough team chemistry. Giannis Antrtokounmpo was the pick of the players for the Bucks. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving played well for Nets but in the end that was not enough.
They lack defense. A big one. Not in the painted area but where the players are gaining momentum which is outside. That's why Giannis can break their defense so easily when he starts pressing the turbo mode.
Plus, Giannis is also upgraded now, he is loaded with different options to be offensive because of the shooting addition.
Yes, Nets lack defensively big time but second half Giannis was beast. What a rightful nickname he has, Freak. He also said in the after game press conference, that in the second half he was just being best of himself, not much of a team player. Don't get me wrong, I don't personally like him or his type of playing but I respect him a lot. He is so effective and probably the only guy who is impossible to defend in the league right now. Doncic, Jokic, KD, Lebron etc. all are amazing players but they are more defendable. Giannis is unstoppable. So, in my opinion, Nets actually played better than expected. Even though they lack team chemistry hugely. But they might have a better chemistry soon.
It was really challenging for them to stop Antetokounmpo. Actually, they couldn't stop him at all. This was an explosive performance from him. And @danherbias07 is right about the defense being nonexistent whenever he was on the ball. It was interesting to see the way he was making points that were practically impossible for most people, but not for him, of course.
Giannis was unstoppable throughout the game. He was a freak show. He basically single-handedly brought his team the win. Moreover, I know that he played solo plays a number of times, but as long as he provides results for his team, I do not think anyone should complain about him.
Los Angeles Clippers cannot win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That's twice in a row already even though their roster is packed with stars.
I just don't understand what is missing on that team. Even without Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, they are still a decent team who should be able to win.
Their offense can come from any player, Wall, Powell, Covington, Kennard, PG, Jackson, that's a lot of offensive players and yet they are having a hard time against OKC.
Their next game will be with Pelicans, I doubt they can win that too.
Los Angeles Clippers were not able to put together a convincing performance in this game. Zubac, Powell, Jackson, and Wall all had a decent outing in this game. In the end, that wouldn't have been enough.
In this context, I am not making a statement based on the fact that the team has players on it. I am saying this in the sense of the performance of the players. Although the team does have competent players on it, there needs to be a boost in the performance of the players.