It would be very easy for Bucks fans to cry foul about the end of the Bucks-Lakers game last night, which featured a very questionable blocking foul call on Andrew Bogut near the end of the game. But as SB Nation’s Bucks blog Brew Hoop writes, the Bucks had their chances and have nobody to blame but themselves for not sealing the deal against the world champions.
Brew Hoop: The Bucks Had Their Chances
Lessons in what not to do when you have a champ on the ropes.
Do not step into the lane before the basketball has touched the rim on a free throw.
Do not miss free throws.
Do not hold out your best with everything on the line.
Do not allow champ’s best two knockout chances.
Do not not score for the last 1:23.
Do not let the champ bring the refs.
To expand: The Bucks were whistled for two lane violations in regulation, leading to two extra points. They missed two free throws in the final minute of overtime. They had defensive ace Luc Mbah a Moute planted on the bench when Kobe Bryant planted the game-winning shot at the buzzer. They let the aforementioned Bryant two chances from his same sweet spot, once in regulation and again in overtime. They led 106-100 with 1:23 to go and didn’t score again, missing all three field goals and both free throws. And they just couldn’t get a call all along.
So all you can do now is cling to the implication of all this: The Bucks had the champs on the ropes.
And oh, how they did.
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