Milwaukee, WI
Vote in the Brew Hoop Tuesday Tracker: NBA Cup Finals edition
I’ve already written ad nauseam about the NBA Cup in concept and in practice, so I’ll avoid that here and talk about what getting here actually means for this Bucks team. We all know that Milwaukee was pretty much left for dead by the national media after their 2-8 start. Rather than celebrate their return to contention following their 12-3 stretch that followed, the response outside Milwaukee has mostly been just to stop the Giannis trade speculation or takes about the team being cooked. That’s definitely good.
Will tonight’s game, though not counting in the standings, improve their perception around the league even more? A decisive win over the West-leading Thunder probably would do that. It needn’t be wire-to-wire, but they’d have to hold a double-digit lead for most, if not all, of the second half for many to think the Bucks controlled this game.
That’s a tall order against the league’s top defensive unit, who has been near the top of the league for the entire year to this point. So let’s say it’s a W in a close game. I’ll be surprised if Milwaukee is being heralded as “back” or once again regarded as a true title contender by the consensus. A close loss probably won’t change anyone’s opinion of the team, whereas a decisive defeat or blowout will give a lot of fuel to the naysayers.
As long as the margin is within 10 and the game remains close throughout, the outcome of this game probably won’t change many people’s opinions about the Bucks. Maybe we glean some things from how they match up with OKC specifically, but this is a team lacking Chet Holmgren. I don’t necessarily think this game tells us any more about how Milwaukee fares against the current best teams in the league than a matchup with Boston, Cleveland, or New York would. They’re chasing those teams in the standings, after all, so there’s plenty of juice for those games too, just not the same type of juice tonight has.
In this week’s Tuesday Tracker, we get your thoughts on the title game and what it means for your personal perspective on the Bucks. We also revisit two areas of the team where the numbers continue to improve from their early season nadirs: Bobby Portis and the defense.
Poll
Does this 83rd game mean anything to you as a fan?
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0%
Yes, because the winner gets a trophy
(0 votes)
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0%
Yes, because it’s a competitive basketball game
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
How does the Bucks’ performance in the NBA Cup knockout stage impact your outlook for the rest of the season?
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0%
More optimistic that they could win the NBA title
(0 votes)
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0%
More optimistic that they’ll win multiple playoff series, but still won’t win it all
(0 votes)
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0%
No more or less optimistic
(0 votes)
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0%
Less optimistic
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
Do you want the title game to count in the standings?
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0%
Yes, win or lose
(0 votes)
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0%
Only an extra win for the victor and not an extra loss for the loser
(0 votes)
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0%
No, keep it as is
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
Over his last four games, Bobby Portis is averaging 16.0 PPG and 10.5 RPG on .587/.467/.600 shooting. Is he currently in your good graces?
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0%
Yes, and he never left
(0 votes)
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0%
Yes, though he wasn’t until recent games
(0 votes)
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0%
Yes, but he should still be traded this season or in the offseason
(0 votes)
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0%
No, and he should be traded this season
(0 votes)
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0%
No, but he should remain on the team at least through the playoffs
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
The Bucks’ defense ranks 13th in defensive rating (0.1 above league average) per Basketball-Reference and 17th (1.1 below league average) per Cleaning The Glass, which filters out garbage time and heaves. Describe their defense:
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0%
A strong unit that will finish top ten
(0 votes)
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0%
Undoubtedly above average
(0 votes)
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0%
Average or close to it
(0 votes)
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0%
Undoubtedly below average
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Vote Now
Poll
Do you approve of the job Doc Rivers is doing as the Bucks’ head coach?
Poll
Do you approve of the job Jon Horst is doing as the Bucks’ general manager?
Poll
Do you think this Bucks team can win the title as currently constructed?
As always, this poll will be open until midnight Central on Friday, and we’ll post the results later that day. Thanks for voting!
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Jewish community to honor those killed in Australia terror attack at Hanukkah event
MILWAUKEE — To honor those who were killed on Sunday in Sydney, Australia during a Hanukkah event, Chabad of Milwaukee will be honoring the memory of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed, and all those affected at the Hanukkah Festival and Gelt Drop event at Bayshore Mall in Glendale on Sunday evening, according to Rabbi Levi Stein.
“Acts of hate and violence are meant to spread darkness and fear,” Stein said in a statement. “Tonight we are choosing to respond with more light.”
Rabbi Schlanger was among the 16 victims killed during the terrorist attack that occurred at the “Hanukkah by the Sea” event held at Bondi Beach in Australia.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
To honor the memory of Rabbi Schlanger and those affected, Chabad of Milwaukee will be handing out electric tea lights to those in attendance, giving out coins for Tzedakah (Charity), as well as encouraging everyone to do additional good deeds throughout the evening.
CEO of Chabad Lubavitch of Wisconsin, Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, urged the Milwaukee community, Jewish and not, in a statement, “to come together tonight, not only as an act of solidarity with the Jewish people, but as a declaration that all good people stand on the front lines of this moral struggle.”
“This is a moment for Jews and non-Jews alike to recognize that we are on the same side of history,” he said. “History has also shown that when good people stand together, evil loses.”
Chabad will also be increasing security, Stein said, and will also be working closely with local law enforcement to ensure that everyone remains safe and warm during the event.
Rabbi Schlanger’s wife, who was also shot but survived, was the roommate and classmate of Stein’s wife, Leah. “This tragedy hits painfully close to home,” Stein said.
“Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate Chanukah – but to reaffirm that light, goodness, and humanity will always outshine the darkness,” Stein added.
Southeast Wisconsin communities speak out
In a statement sent to TMJ4, Forward Latino, a local non-profit, non-partisan, service and advocacy organization in Franklin, called out to everyone to “join us in a moment of remembrance and prayer for those whose lives were lost, and then to recommit ourselves to standing against hate and bigotry in all their forms.”
“We are confronted with the painful reality that hate and antisemitism continue to be actively and passively promoted, while too few speak out with the urgency such moments demand,” the statement continued. “During this holiday season, a time of faith, reflection, and renewal, we must each look inward and ask ourselves, ‘What can I do to help eliminate hate?’”
The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Whitefish Bay posted a statement on social media thanking the Wisconsin Jewish Security Network, local law enforcement and everyone who works to keep the Jewish communities safe.
“Hanukkah is a holiday rooted in resilience – a reminder that even in moments of darkness, light endures,” the JCC wrote. “At the JCC, we believe the antidote to antisemitism is Jewish Joy, Connection, and Community, and we will not allow hate to silence our traditions or our plans to celebrate Hanukkah with our community today and for all eight nights.”
“Tonight, as we light our candles, we do so with broken hearts and in defiance of hate everywhere,” Co-Chair of the WisDems Jewish Caucus said in a statement sent to TMJ4. “We are resilient, and our community has never, and will never, hide away in response to this sort of violence.”
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Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Admirals fall to Wolves, losing streak now 5 games
(Courtesy: Milwaukee Admirals)
MILWAUKEE – Ryan Ufko and David Edstrom scored goals for the Admirals, but they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at historic Panther Arena.
Big picture view:
The loss extended the Ads losing streak to five games.
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By the numbers:
The Wolves grabbed an early lead when Bradley Nadeau potted his ninth goal of the season 8:21 into the game.
David Edstrom and the Admirals league-leading power-play knotted the score at one with just under seven minutes to play in the frame. With the penalty winding down, Cole Hara’s shot from between the wheels was deflected in by Edstrom for his fifth tally of the year.
However, the Wolves would score two more to close out the frame, including one by Domonic Fensore with just 0.7 seconds left in the first.
Milwaukee would get one back during the second period courtesy of a Ryan Ufko power-play marker. Stationed in the high slot, Ufko took a feed from Daniel Carr and ripped a one-timer over the shoulder of Chicago netminder Amir Miftakhov.
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The Ads pressed for the tying goal and had a 6-on-4 advantage late in the third period, but Chicago’s Justin Robidas scored an empty-netter to seal the deal for the Wolves.
What’s next:
The Admirals will hit the road for their final three games before the Christmas break, beginning Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. against the Wolves. The Ads’ next home contest will be on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Source: The Milwaukee Admirals provided this report.
Milwaukee, WI
Downtown Milwaukee temporary steam outage, We Energies restoring service
MILWAUKEE – An issue at the Valley Power Plant caused a temporary steam outage for downtown Milwaukee buildings on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Steam service interrupted
What we know:
According to We Energies, the gas supply to the Valley Power Plant was interrupted on Saturday morning, causing it to go offline. The plant produces steam for downtown buildings for heating.
We Energies says it has restored service to the steam system and is bringing steam back to customers, but the restoration process requires steam pressure to build back up in the steam system. Once pressure reaches safe levels, steam service can be delivered to customers.
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Customers should begin to see service return over the next few hours, and some are already restored.
We Energies says it does not anticipate any more steam outages, and that this issue is not affecting electric or natural gas service.
Show canceled
What we know:
The Marcus Performing Arts Center says its building has been impacted by the steam outage and, as a result, had to cancel its 1 p.m. matinée performance of The Pigeon Gets A Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!
Ticket holders will be contacted directly to get further information about next steps.
All other shows at the Marcus Performing Arts Center will go on as scheduled.
The Source: We Energies and The Marcus Performing Arts Center sent FOX6 the information.
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