The Milwaukee Bucks are the 2021 NBA champion. Has it sunk in yet? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe examine Milwaukee achieving the dream, winning a title with a Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Giannis delivers perhaps his signature performance; where does this escalate him in the basketball pantheon? In addition to the takeaways and enduring images from the celebration, they discuss Jon Horst's string of successful decisions, the role of luck, the team's prospects for another title and ... actually, just more Giannis.  Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Milwaukee Bucks Podcast

BUCKS WIN THE NBA TITLE! Giannis is officially a legend

Bucks beat reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe get you set for that incredible opportunity in Game 6 on Tuesday night. Jim looks back at that alley-oop from Jrue Holiday to Giannis. Why was Game 5 different when the Suns took an early lead? Is Mike Budenholzer's future for sure locked down in Milwaukee? Have the Suns been playing a little dirty? Will Aaron Rodgers be there at Game 6 to witness the Bucks take a swing at their first NBA championship in 50 years? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski

Milwaukee Bucks are one win away from the NBA championship (07.19.2021)

Thanks to some 40-point performances from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, plus a block that will live forever, the Bucks battled back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns. Host JR Radcliffe and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Jim Owczarski discuss how the block could ultimately frame the legacy of Antetokounmpo, and is it possible he wins NBA Finals MVP, win or lose? What do we make of Jrue Holiday's continued struggles on offense but dominance on defense? Pat Connaughton has stepped up, Dario Saric's absence is looming pretty large, and who's got the edge in this series now? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken over the NBA Finals (07.15.2021)

The Milwaukee Bucks are facing a 2-0 deficit in the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns; can they get back into the series at Fiserv Forum, starting Sunday? Bucks beat reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at the struggles of Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton on offense, the adjustments that were made (yes, they DID make adjustments) from Game 1 to Game 2 and how Phoenix thwarted them, the dominance but lingering worry around Giannis Antetokounmpo and the concern that the Suns might simply be too much to handle.  Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Bucks fall behind in NBA Finals, 2-0; how do they get back into this series?

Former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Bucks beat reporters Matt Velazquez and Charles Gardner join host JR Radcliffe and current scribe Jim Owczarski to preview the NBA finals and look at the organizational evolution to this historic achievement. They revisit the astonishing 2013 trade for Khris Middleton. Should Mike Budenholzer have been on the hot seat (and is he still there)? What X-factors took a great regular-season team and made it a title-caliber squad? How did Jason Kidd factor into the progress that was made with Giannis Antetokounmpo? Most importantly, can this team beat the Phoenix Suns without a healthy Giannis? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Milwaukee's remarkable evolution into NBA finals team with special guests Matt Velazquez and Charles Gardner (07.05.2021)

They actually did it! Without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee won twice against the Atlanta Hawks and triumphed in the Eastern Conference finals, 4-2, to earn its first NBA finals berth since 1974. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the magic of the moment, the Khris Middleton takeover, the success of Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday, the remarkable contribution from Jeff Teague and how Milwaukee was able to overcome tepid 3-point shooting. But now, with Antetokounmpo's health still in question, can they negotiate the Phoenix Suns for the Larry O'Brien trophy? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski. 

The Bucks did it! They're headed to the NBA finals (07.04.2021)

The lopsided loss to an Atlanta team missing its best player was bad enough. But an injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo has cast a pall over the rest of Milwaukee's playoff future, and perhaps beyond? Bucks beat reporter Jim Owczarski and podcast host JR Radcliffe ask the main question everyone will ask Wednesday morning: Can the Bucks still win the series without their best player? What happened to the 3-point shooting? Why didn't Milwaukee have any success with Trae Young unavailable? Who steps up? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Emergency podcast: Injury to Giannis casts cloud over playoffs and Bucks now tied with Hawks, 2-2

The Bucks are up 2-1 and Hawks star Trae Young is fighting an ankle injury; it feels very, very good to be a Bucks fan right now. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe break it down. If Atlanta were to get back into it, how would they do it? Khris Middleton's signature performance. Bobby Portis winning the heart of Milwaukee. Pat Connaughton big off the bench. Giannis being otherworldly, per usual. The defense slowing Young down after a tough Game 1. Should we ... should we be thinking about making plans for the NBA Finals? Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

The Bucks are up 2-1 and Trae Young is hurt; should we be making NBA Finals plans?

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer Jim Owczarksi and host JR Radcliffe take a look at the Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. Do the Hawks have the horses to keep up with the Bucks? Could this be a Jrue Holiday bounce back? How does a team slow down Trae Young? Let's take one last look at the Bogdan Bogdanovic situation and how a preseason deal for the shooter might have fallen apart.  Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Breaking down the Hawks and Bucks in Eastern Conference Finals (06.23.2021)

Bucks beat reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at a remarkable series win over the Nets, including all the elements of the overtime win in Game 7. The excellence of Durant and Giannis, the way a Bogdan Bogdanovic trade might have precluded bringing in P.J. Tucker, the struggles (but some redemption) of Jrue Holiday, the status of Mike Budenholzer's hot seat, the tightening of the rotation. Did we just get an answer about whether the Bucks can win a title with Giannis as the centerpiece? Is it unfair to say the Bucks got a little lucky? Can you believe this?Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Game 7 thriller sends Milwaukee past Brooklyn in Eastern semis (06.20.2021)

The Milwaukee Bucks have surged back to tie the series with the Nets at 2-2 following a win Sunday. If Kyrie Irving and James Harden remain sidelined by injuries, are the Bucks now the favorite to win? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss big game PJ Tucker, Pat Connaughton, the adjustments from Game 3's rock fight, Jrue Holiday trying to break free from a slump and ... there's a security guard on the court?Then, Owczarski is joined by former Bucks star Ray Allen and his wife, Shannon Walker Williams, looking back at the 2001 playoff run on its 20th anniversary and discussing the ways the couple has gone to bat in the fight against Type 1 diabetes.Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Milwaukee surges back to tie the series, plus a chat with Ray Allen (06.13.2021)

The Milwaukee Bucks were knocked around in the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Brooklyn; as they head back to Fiserv Forum, can we cling to any shreds of hope? Bucks beat reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at what went wrong, examine the most optimistic and pessimistic takes, and ponder the future of coach Mike Budenholzer if this keeps heading where it seems to be going.Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

We're trying not to panic with Bucks down 2-0; are there still reasons to believe? (06.09.2021)

Bucks radio voice Ted Davis and host JR Radcliffe look back at the 2001 Bucks playoff run 20 years later, just as this year's team looks to make a similar run. Ted talks about the lighthearted moment that played into a season turnaround, the forgotten thrills of the Hornets series, Glenn Robinson's Bucks legacy, the star turn of Ray Allen and, yes, the "conspiracy" that still lingers over the Eastern Conference finals outcome. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Ted Davis looks back at the 2001 playoff run, 20 years later

The Milwaukee Bucks crushed defending Eastern Conference champion Miami in a four-game sweep, so does that mean we should start thinking of them differently in their upcoming (potential) matchup with Brookyln? Bucks beat reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look back at the key differences between this battle and what happened in the dreaded bubble, the significance of losing starter Donte DiVincenzo for the rest of the postseason, the resurgence of Brook Lopez and Bryn Forbes and whether or not Mike Budenholzer's job has been secured for 2021-22.Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

Total domination against Miami; have their prospects against the Nets shifted? (05.31.2021)

Bucks beat reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at Milwaukee's fast start in the Miami series; is it as promising as it looks, or does danger remain around the corner? After all, we remember what happened when the Bucks got a 2-0 lead on Toronto two years ago. How in the world did the Bucks go from missing everything in Game 1 to making everything in Game 2? Why have Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo been so limited? Does anything we've seen change the perceived matchup if Milwaukee winds up facing the Nets? Also, some more Khris Middleton appreciation after his cold-blooded game winner in overtime of Game 1.Then, Jim chats with former Bucks star Bobby Dandridge, who discusses his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; after 30 years of waiting, he learned of his induction and kept the news from his own wife for days! Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner and voiced by Michelle Rutkowski.

The Bucks are up 2-0; is it as promising as it looks?

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel beat reporter Matt Velazquez joins host JR Radcliffe to analyze the Milwaukee Bucks.

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Milwaukee Bucks Podcast

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