Down 0-2 and with everything to gain (or lose) the Bucks will head back to Milwaukee having dropped tonight's game, 115-123. Jackson and Morgan hop in the podcast studio to break down the return of Damian Lillard to the starting lineup, stuttering role player play, and what the team can do to course correct at home.

The NBA Playoffs are officially underway for the Milwaukee Bucks, and they've started their journey on something of a sour note. Where does the team go having dropped game one in Indianapolis, 98-117? What worked worst, what worked best, and what can Doc Rivers & Co. do to try and course correct this coming Tuesday in Game Two? Brew Hoop's Van Fayaz & Morgan Ross discuss that and more in this instant reaction podcast.

We've made it two for two now as Tom Lewis of Indy Cornrows (our former sister site at SB Nation covering the Indiana Pacers) joins the podcast yet again to preview Bucks-Pacers. In an exercise largely meant to catch Bucks fans up on where the Pacers stand heading into the playoffs, Kyle and Riley ask the tough questions, including:

• What are the strengths of this Pacers team versus last year's edition?
• Has Tyrese Haliburton taken a leap? Have any Pacers?
• Why is the defense so much better than it was a year ago (on paper)?
• O/U 4.5 techs handed out to Andrew Nembhard and Bobby Portis
• And more!

We appreciate Tom's time and thank him for the insight on where his team is at!

The Milwaukee Bucks 2024-2025 regular season is at a close, so it is the perfect time to sit back and reflect on what we just witnessed. Kyle, Van, and Riley gathered to chat about the team's strong finish to the season and how it sets them up for a first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Everything flows through Giannis Antetokounmpo, but can the team find enough "second guys" to prevail? And what direction will Doc Rivers choose when selecting a closing lineup with so many options on the bench?

Then, it is on to reflections about what they learned about the Bucks/basketball this season, rapid fire questions, the latest stop on Van's Warped Tour, and first-round predictions!

In a special edition of Deer Diaries (A Milwaukee Bucks Podcast!), we're thrilled to host the second-annual Golden Hoof Awards. With votes cast by the staff of Brew Hoop, we've hashed out everything from bench players waiting to be starters, best wins, worst losses, coaching masterstrokes and mistakes, and more beyond! Hardware is on the line. Who will get a chance to speak at the Golden Hoof's podium? Listen to find out!

Music/applause helpfully provided by freesound_community on Pixabay.

What a difference a week makes. In the short span of seven days, the Bucks have sustained a four game losing streak, lost Damian Lillard indefinitely to a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis, and look set to be in a fight for their lives for the East's fifth seed. With instability plaguing the team on the court, Kyle, Adam, and Riley take a step back and assess where things go from here. Is this simply the reality of a team reaching the end of its competitive cycle in the most mundane ways possible?They discuss that, plus rapid fire questions, a review of "Tombstone" and weekly predictions!

In the 200th (!!!) edition of Deer Diaries, we were pleased to be joined by Gale Klappa. Gale is the host of the Bucks+ podcast Courtside with Gale Klappa where he interviews Bucks players, coaches, members of the front office, and figures from the wider basketball world on a weekly basis. Klappa is a longtime fixture in Milwaukee, an avid basketball fan, and also a minority owner of the team.

After an intro into his background, we chat about the continuing ripple effects of the trade deadline moves, Gary Trent Jr.'s late resurgence, and Milwaukee's late-game offense. Then, it is on to rapid fire before wrapping with our newest miscellaneous segment, Gallivanting With Gale.

Back from his own version of, "One, two, three, Cancún!" Kyle Carr makes his triumphant return to the podcast stage with Jack on this edition of Deer Diaries. And just in time for the Bucks to have a pedestrian week!

They begin by discussing the possible big man rotation headaches Doc Rivers will need to tackle - complicated in the short-term by Jericho Sims' thumb surgery. Then it is on to refereeing challenges Giannis and Dame will need to continue navigating. Finally, they chat about who Milwaukee should prioritize re-signing this summer before obliterating (editor's verbiage) the restive Middleton/Kuzma debates.

Things are wrapped up with a NBL Finals capper and predictions as the team begins its West Coast road trip!

Will the Milwaukee Bucks ever be able to break through the next tier of the Eastern Conference contenders? Riley and Jack recorded fresh off the Bucks fourth defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers to take stock of the team's limitations. Can an iso-heavy offense do just enough in the playoffs to get by? Has Taurean Prince proved himself to be a worthy starting two guard stopgap? Is there a shortfall in team smarts, talent, Xs and Os, or a little bit of everything?

We chat all that, plus rapid fire questions, we put a bow on the 2024-2025 NBL season, and predictions!

With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror and the stretch run of the NBA season underway, the Milwaukee Bucks look to have found their way. New additions like Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. have had promising moments, and the loss of Bobby Portis to suspension doesn't seem to have caused much of a hitch just yet. Kyle, Adam, and Riley discuss what the Bucks are up to that has them winning often and against reasonable competition.

All that, plus rapid fire questions, a review of Court of Gold, and weekly predictions!