Bucks Stock Market: Brook makes everything better
Milwaukee got their first win in Utah since 2001!
The Bucks Stock Market is a fictitious market run by the GSPN crew that tracks player stock “movement” following the conclusion of every game. Here’s the spreadsheet logging the game-by-game results.
Tonight was the night that Bucks fans had been waiting for since the second game of the season. After the many months of “that’s a lot of time out for back soreness”, “wait, he had back surgery?”, and “what type of surgery was it and will he back this season?”, Brook Lopez played for the Milwaukee Bucks! It was such a thrill to see him on the court, as it had just been so long and he felt like a weighted blanket being put on to comfort you during the experience that is watching Bucks basketball. He was also instrumental in this Bucks win, which was the first Milwaukee win in Utah since the days of Ray Allen, Big Dog, and Sam Cassell. Let’s talk movements!
Jrue Holiday📈
Last season, a lot of discourse around the Bucks centered on whether Khris or Giannis was the closer for this team. Well, Jrue Holiday has now entered the chat. The game against the Jazz was another example of Holiday becoming the King of the Fourth, as he poured in 12 of his 29 points in the final period. He hit big shot after big shot, including this ridiculous one from behind the backboard.
Jrue also locked up on the defensive end and accrued five steals to go along with his 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Jevon Carter📈
Full disclosure, I got bullied into giving this up stock. We hosted a Playback room for this game (which you can watch by emailing gyrosteppod@gmail.com / tweeting Ti or myself a screenshot of your five-star pod rating OR proof of subscription to this Substack), and while we were discussing stocks after the game, the majority ruled that Jevon should get an up stock. There definitely was a case to be made for this. He played great defense, knocked down his only shot from beyond the arc, and essentially sealed the game with two clutch free throws. However, he did only have five points. I expect a lot from Jevon at this point! Does the market have to adjust to reflect that? Not initially, in my opinion! This market is supposed to change based on a game-to-game basis, not based on overall perceived market value. I was trying to protect the integrity of this fake stock market, but I guess I didn’t fight hard enough.
(This is all mostly a bit, I thought Jevon played a good game)
Brook Lopez📈 📈📈
We’ve been talking about this for a long time, and it’s finally here. It just feels right to give Lopez multiple up stocks, just like it felt right seeing him out there for the Bucks. He is the anchor of this team, and you could see the defense fall into place on the first pick and roll he defended.
He knows how to play so well in space, which is how he’s able to deter the penetration while still being able to recover to the roller and contest the shot. While his overall game is a bit rusty (understandably), there is still plenty of time to get him acclimated to game action before the playoffs being.
The Bucks continue their west coast road trip when they take on the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 16th at 9:00pm central.