Milwaukee Bucks Point Forward Podcast

The trade deadline has arrived; will the Milwaukee Bucks make some tweaks to the roster to bolster a repeat run? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at Milwaukee's West Coast success, the re-arrival of Greg Monroe, a surprise choice for the all-star team and more, including One Quick Buck with another Olympic tie and What's Making Jim Mad. Music intro produced by Olivia Reiner...

The Milwaukee Bucks just completed a sub-.500 month but notched some nice wins along the way. What gives? Is it effort? Is it a necessary down-shift for a team that expects to make a championship run later? Is it simply still missing Brook Lopez? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and JR Radcliffe look at members of the Bucks Big Three expressing dissatisfaction with recent games, looming trade deadline...

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe spend most of this episode on Grayson Allen. Was the NBA right to suspend Allen for the foul on Alex Caruso? Could the suspension have been longer? How much does his reputation factor into the fallout of the play? How about the Bucks reaction, including the response to the league and an ill-timed GIF? Oh yeah, and the Bucks have won three straight...

Jrue Holiday has been out and the Bucks have lost six of eight; is his return the thing that will jumpstart Milwaukee? Are we sure this team can become great again in the playoffs? How concerned should we be about Holiday's injury. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss that, plus Khris Middleton's recent play, the troubles from the bench and whether any other team can frustrat...

The Bucks caught many by surprise when they elected to part ways with DeMarcus Cousins. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe take a look at that decision, as well as the one to guarantee the rest of Wesley Matthews' contract. Plus: the team's recent slump, a comparison between Khris Middleton and Klay Thompson, Jrue Holiday as Team MVP and a Badgers-tinged "One Quick Buck." Oh, and t...

Jim Owczarski and JR Radcliffe are back from holiday break to discuss the red-hot Bucks; sure the competition is sub-par, but have the Bucks hit their groove? Will Jrue Holiday wind up on the all-star team? Are we sure DeMarcus Cousins is going to be with the franchise beyond this week? Donte DiVincenzo is back (albeit briefly), and are the Chicago Bulls the new team to chase? Plus, a new family c...

The Milwaukee Bucks are decimated by absences in the health and safety protocol; do we have any idea when we'll see Giannis and others again? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss what the Bucks are facing and how the new COVID regulations and roster rules could impact Milwaukee. Call your agent, Brandon Jennings! Will the Bucks keep DeMarcus Cousins after early January? Plus:...

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and JR Radcliffe discuss some breaking news, that Giannis Antetokounmpo has entered the league's health and safety protocol. What does that mean for Giannis, not to mention the other players now in the protocol (Wesley Matthews and Donte DiVincenzo, whose season debut Wednesday is now on hold). What about the Khris Middleton knee injury Monday against Boston? Can the B...

Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing Giannis things, and Khris and Jrue are back contributing at a high level, putting the Bucks within striking distance of first place. Not only that, but Donte DiVincenzo might be back Wednesday. Does that preclude Milwaukee from making a play for Indiana's Myles Turner (or anyone else)? Jim Owczarski and JR Radcliffe discuss, plus the early success of Javonte Smart an...

The Bucks continue on a steady path, but they know now that big man Brook Lopez is out for an extended period of time with back surgery. Host JR Radcliffe and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer Jim Owczarski discuss the fallout, plus a balky calf for Giannis, the return of Wesley Matthews and Donte DiVincenzo getting one step closer to basketball activity. Plus, One Quick Buck looks at another rand...

The Bucks are reportedly bringing in DeMarcus Cousins. Is that a sign the Brook Lopez injury is even worse than feared? Could he provide the edge the Bucks lost when they lost P.J. Tucker? How will they use him? It comes at a time when the Bucks are hitting their groove with seven straight wins, and Giannis has returned to the MVP conversation. Plus: One Quick Buck looks at a Bucks player from yea...

The Bucks returned to their winning ways, but what's with the consecutive big blown leads to backups? Podcast host JR Radcliffe and Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski look at Khris Middleton's return, a winning streak with some trepidation, and intriguing stories with Giannis at the center from unusual places: GQ and Rolling Stone. Is there Brook Lopez optimism? Plus: One Quick Buck who's been in the ne...

The Bucks had a so-so finish to the road trip, but with Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton and Donte DiVincenzo still sidelined, the team remains a long way from its best self. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel take a look as the Bucks prepare to open a homestand. Is Middleton for sure coming back soon? What's the Lopez update? What do we make of Jrue H...

The Bucks visited President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday to celebrate their 2021 NBA title, and Jim Owczarski was there to take it all in. The Bucks reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins podcast host JR Radcliffe to discuss the encounter with the Executive Branch. But what's up with the Judiciary with continued struggles on the court? That's a tortured play on words, but what...

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at the biggest concern of the Bucks' recent three-game losing skid ... a lingering injury that's keeping Brook Lopez off the floor. What can Bucks fans take away from these losses with the roster so depleted? Is Giannis "newfound jump shot" falling apart ... or perhaps not? What's the thought on the new "remixed" City Edition jerseys? Also, O...

The Bucks opened the year with a dazzling win and followed it up with a stinker, although a win in San Antonio had the team 2-1 in the early going. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at the complications of not having Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez available, the sudden emergence of Jordan Nwora and a new contract for Grayson Allen. Plus: One Quick Buck takes a look at an early...

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and podcast host JR Radcliffe look ahead to the 2021-22 season as the Bucks look to defend their championship, starting with a highly intriguing matchup against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday. Has Giannis really taken his jump shot to another level? What tweaks will the Bucks make as they await the returns of Semi Ojeleye...

Whoa, that was fast. The 2021-22 NBA season starts with preseason games on Tuesday already, and the Milwaukee Bucks head into the year as the reigning NBA champion. No big deal. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at how the team will handle the quick turnaround, which new faces will make an immediate impact, the absence of P.J. Tucker and who replaces his...

Host JR Radcliffe is joined by special guest Matt Velazquez, former Journal Sentinel Bucks writer and a student of the salary-cap minutiae, to weigh in on Milwaukee's initial foray into free agency. Bobby Portis is staying and P.J. Tucker is leaving, and both count as surprises. Is it possible Portis staying impacted Tucker's plight? What factors are in play that might have compelled Milwaukee to...

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, th...

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 wi...

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, wi...

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,...

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...

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...