Milwaukee Bucks Point Forward Podcast

The Milwaukee Bucks got burned by a bad call in Charlotte (even the NBA thinks so, although it's still going to fine Doc Rivers for agreeing), but they got some good fortune in a narrow win over Houston, plus a game-winning bucket by newly returned Damian Lillard. The vibes are good, right? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe take a look, discussing Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and bad calls. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 points, the second-best scoring output in Bucks history, and Milwaukee survived Detroit for a second straight win. It was a glorious individual effort, but was it actual progress for Milwaukee, now 4-8 on the season? Jim Owczarski and JR Radcliffe discuss it, from the emergence of Ryan Rollins to the shenanigans of Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart and, again, to the singular talent that is Giannis. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Milwaukee Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe scratch and claw for any shreds of optimism as this team starts 1-6. Perhaps they find a glimmer of hope (or explanation), even with Khris Middleton and now Giannis Antetokounmpo nursing injuries. When will Khris be back? Is something up with Bobby Portis? Is there any scenario where Doc Rivers doesn't wind up coaching the whole season? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

It's only four games, but the Milwaukee Bucks have been really rough to start the season, falling to 1-3 out of the gate. Is Khris Middleton really the primary answer to their woes? What's going on with Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton? Are Giannis and Dame partially to blame? Is it a different vibe than last year, when a slow start portended serious changes by January? Does even this small sample change what we think we know about the 2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at the Milwaukee Bucks' first week of the season, with battles coming against Philadelphia and Chicago. What's the deal with Khris Middleton's injury, and why does Milwaukee always seem to slow-play his return? Could the Bucks theoretically still thrive without him? What's a successful regular season look like for Milwaukee this year? And could the team move MarJon Beauchamp and bring back ... Thanasis? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the infancy of the Milwaukee Bucks season, with the games getting under way Oct. 23. National pundits don't seem to believe Milwaukee is a title contender this year; are they wrong, or has the window closed? What's the status of the Dame/Giannis relationship, and what about Khris Middleton's health? How will the new veterans contribute, and which will truly rise to the forefront? Is Doc Rivers the right guy to lead this team forward? Who needs to truly rise up for the Bucks to take a lunge forward? National writers have seemingly lost faith in a Bucks title run; are they sleeping on what a healthy Milwaukee can do? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

The Milwaukee Bucks went young with their two draft picks, then stayed quiet in the first 48 hours of free agency. What does that say about where the Bucks are headed for 2024-25. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the draft selections of A.J. Johnson and Tyler Smith, plus the free-agent signing of Delon Wright. What's left on the table for the Bucks to accomplish? Does a trade remain a realistic option? Who are some players still available for veteran minimum contracts that fit Milwaukee? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks writers Jim Owczarski and Ben Steele join host JR Radcliffe to discuss the upcoming NBA draft. Will the Bucks keep the players they select, and if so, which players are most intriguing? How does Milwaukee's financial situation play into the picture. Can they trade a veteran and still get better? Ben discusses what he expects for the Marquette University players in the draft. Plus: Can the Bucks really hang with this Celtics team next year? And the return of Darvin Ham. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Snakebitten by injuries, the Milwaukee Bucks saw their 2023-24 season come to an unceremonious end in a 4-2 series loss to the Indiana Pacers. Was it just bad luck or something more fundamental? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski gives a farewell to the season and also looks ahead. Will Milwaukee simply run it back? Is Jon Horst headed to Detroit? What do we make of the coaching carousel in retrospect? Where does Milwaukee need to specifically improve? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Pacers reporter Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star take a look at the looming clash between the two NBA squads in the first round of the 2024 postseason. What's the latest on the injuries? How have these teams changed since their regular-season meetings ended in early January? Who's got the edge? Plus: Predictions and more on Oshkosh, Wisconsin, native Tyrese Haliburton and his budding stardom in Indianapolis. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Lori Nickel stops by to discuss the bigger picture of the Milwaukee Bucks after a chaotic 2023-24 season. Was firing Mike Budenholzer the right move? What about hiring Doc Rivers and quickly moving on from Adrian Griffin? What about the trade for superstar Damian Lillard? How will this offseason look if the Bucks flame out early in the NBA playoffs? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe dive into the first-round playoff series between Milwaukee and the Indiana Pacers. What's the latest on the injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo, and can they win the series without him? How will this moment impact the overall perception of Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard? What's changed since Indiana took four of five against Milwaukee in the regular season? Will tensions be high after some emotional regular-season battles? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Milwaukee Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the Bucks' woeful skid toward the postseason with a series of losses at the time of year teams want to be peaking. Is it a mirage, or have they really lost control of the season? What does this mean for Doc Rivers? For Damian Lillard? For the possibility that a championship window is closing? They break it all down with four regular-season games left in 2023-24.

Jim Owczarski, Lori Nickel and JR Radcliffe discuss the Bucks at the all-star break, including Damian Lillard's massive weekend in Indianapolis. What's up with all these weird Bucks sound bites in all-star week interviews? Is this team courting some extra drama, and if so, does that means things have gotten a little desperate? Is the Bucks success as simple as Lillard achieving consistency? What do we make of Doc Rivers so far? Also: Danilo Gallinari? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the Milwaukee Bucks' maneuvers at the NBA trade deadline in this edition of the Point Forward Podcast. How will Patrick Beverley fit? What was the purpose of trading Robin Lopez if it doesn't put the Bucks in better financial position? How alarming is Milwaukee's recent play under new coach Doc Rivers, with five losses in six games? What's Jim watching for at the upcoming NBA all-star game? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

The Milwaukee Bucks made a big splash on Tuesday, firing first-year head coach Adrian Griffin and replacing him with long-tenured coach and Marquette University alumnus Doc Rivers. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe to break down the maneuver. Why was now the time to make a change? What did the Bucks get wrong about Griffin in the hiring process? Will a gambit like this work, considering the Bucks had a 30-13 record under Griffin? Is Doc Rivers the right fit for this team? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Lori Nickel and Jim Owczarski join host JR Radcliffe to discuss the slumping Milwaukee Bucks, who have lost 4 of 5 to start the 2024 half of the season and still haven't fully clicked despite a great record. What has to happen for the Bucks to get back on a championship path? What's the latest evaluation on head coach Adrian Griffin? Is it as simple as Damian Lillard getting back on track? Or Jae Crowder returning? Or getting Bobby Portis in a groove?

A wild scene unfolded at Fiserv Forum on Dec. 13, when Giannis Antetokounmpo set a Bucks single-game record with 64 points but then got into a heated exchange with the Indiana Pacers over possession of the game ball. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski discusses what he saw in the Bucks win, what in the world happened and whether or not it ties into the frustration of early-season struggles (albeit struggles that have still come with a good win-loss record). Jim and host JR Radcliffe look back at the reporting around Bobby Portis' challenge of head coach Adrian Griffin following the loss in Las Vegas, and it's another chance to get a progress report on how the Bucks have developed. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe are back to give an early-season progress report on the Bucks. After a shaky start, have they turned a corner? Specifically, has head coach Adrian Griffin rapidly evolved after some early struggles? How has the Damian Lillard-Giannis Antetokounmpo dynamic played out? How much thought and worry should we put into the Khris Middleton return-to-full-strength timetable, and how bad of a loss is Jae Crowder? Plus: Malik Beasley, Andre Jackson, Giannis still taking long-distance shots and the upcoming litmus test with Boston and Jrue Holiday. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the new extension for Giannis Antetokounmpo, one that caught everyone by surprise Monday night. Including the guys who already had a podcast ready to go ... oops. After discussing the elements that led Giannis to stay on in Milwaukee, they look at the season preview as a whole, including the massive acquisition of Damian Lillard. What will Milwaukee's defense look like this year? What questions remain about first-year head coach Adrian Griffin, especially after assistant coach Terry Stotts resigned? What do we make of newcomers Cameron Payne, Malik Beasley and even Robin Lopez? Who's the favorite in the East? The guys make some predictions and get you set for the season opener Thursday. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. Music during segments from SoundCloud, "Pursuit Music Logo."