Giannis Antetokounmpo 20-21 Thread

[ZeppelinPage]

Bud was using Giannis a lot more as a screener and roller in that last game and Giannis really excelled.

[TroubleS0me]

not a good look on Giannis
most superstars take on that challenge, especially as DPOY
it took him 1 year to realize he needs to guard Jimmy Buter
& now he watched his teammates get cooked by KD

[Max123]

not a good look on Giannis
most superstars take on that challenge, especially as DPOY
it took him 1 year to realize he needs to guard Jimmy Buter
& now he watched his teammates get cooked by KD

Why would it be better for the Bucks to not use him as a ”free safety” on defense rather than put him on KD which, I think, he is less well-equipped to do than Tucker because of his inability to go through screens well?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[TroubleS0me]

not a good look on Giannis
most superstars take on that challenge, especially as DPOY
it took him 1 year to realize he needs to guard Jimmy Buter
& now he watched his teammates get cooked by KD

Why would it be better for the Bucks to not use him as a ”free safety” on defense rather than put him on KD which, I think, he is less well-equipped to do than Tucker because of his inability to go through screens well?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

hmm really?

He should @ least guard KD a lil more & definitely the 4 QTR

[70sFan]

Giannis guarding Durant is a terrible idea. Giannis doesn't have lateral quickness and he can't go around screens. It's the worst thing Bucks can do.

[ZeppelinPage]

Giannis guarding Durant is a terrible idea. Giannis doesn't have lateral quickness and he can't go around screens. It's the worst thing Bucks can do.

I would be inclined to agree with this.

The problem is that if Giannis is on Durant it would be logical for the Nets to run high PnR with Durant as the ball handler to get Giannis to go over screens (which he struggles with). I don't like the chances of Giannis being able to keep up with Durant while he's going downhill. A lot of the strengths Giannis brings to a defense is from his off-ball defending ability. His more average tools in quickness and fighting over screens is some of what a defender needs to stop Durant.

I think the better tactic would be to hard hedge and even double Durant to get the ball out of his hands, as Harden is not really that effective right now. Get Pat Connaughton on Harden and let Jrue help instead.

And as a sidenote, it baffled me as to why Jrue was on Harden in the 4th quarter. It was obvious that Harden wasn't able to do much with his hamstring, and Jrue could have been used to help stop Durant with his length and on-ball guarding ability. Instead he kind of just sat towards the side while the action ran through Durant and a screener.

[TroubleS0me]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: This Bucks team won’t win a title

ohh

[feyki]

Giannis seemed really smart in the last game. Maybe he learned to how he play with the best way. Could have seen b2b finals appearance if he had that mentality in the last two years.

[JulesWinnfield]

Biggest game of his life tonight. He’s had an excellent series, but regardless of the numbers the optics of losing a series to a depleted Net team will lead to the questions about him as a number 1 option on a title team only enhancing. This is just what the media and fans do. He stands to be in the crosshairs more than ever. 2019 was their first year at the deep end of the pool, and they largely got a break for losing to Toronto after being up 2-0. Last year the criticism started to ramp up, but the bubble still cushions some of that.

This Milwaukee team needs to break through tonight. They need it for the discourse around Giannis, they need it to save Budenholzers job, and they need it because their title chances may never get any better than they are at this moment. The title is there for the taking. The Nets (as well as the rest of the league) only figure to be healthier next year. This Bucks team is pretty locked into this roster, and as a non destination city they aren’t about to add anything of significance in the coming years, they aren’t getting significantly better. It’s all there for the taking for them right now.

This is a major moment in the career of Giannis and this era of Bucks basketball. This series has been great theater and has featured two of the games best players on the planet playing on an incredibly high level. Whichever one fares better tonight is likely to take his team home. I genuinely felt before this series that the winner would win the title this year. I may be wrong on that call, but my mind hasn’t changed. I think tonight’s game will decide the NBA title this season. Can’t wait

[GSWFan1994]

Biggest game of his life tonight. He’s had an excellent series, but regardless of the numbers the optics of losing a series to a depleted Net team will lead to the questions about him as a number 1 option on a title team only enhancing. This is just what the media and fans do. He stands to be in the crosshairs more than ever. 2019 was their first year at the deep end of the pool, and they largely got a break for losing to Toronto after being up 2-0. Last year the criticism started to ramp up, but the bubble still cushions some of that.

This Milwaukee team needs to break through tonight. They need it for the discourse around Giannis, they need it to save Budenholzers job, and they need it because their title chances may never get any better than they are at this moment. The title is there for the taking. The Nets (as well as the rest of the league) only figure to be healthier next year. This Bucks team is pretty locked into this roster, and as a non destination city they aren’t about to add anything of significance in the coming years, they aren’t getting significantly better. It’s all there for the taking for them right now.

This is a major moment in the career of Giannis and this era of Bucks basketball. This series has been great theater and has featured two of the games best players on the planet playing on an incredibly high level. Whichever one fares better tonight is likely to take his team home. I genuinely felt before this series that the winner would win the title this year. I may be wrong on that call, but my mind hasn’t changed. I think tonight’s game will decide the NBA title this season. Can’t wait

I wholeheartedly agree with you. Great post and it's been a pleasure reading your posts over the years.

Cheers.

[JulesWinnfield]

Hell of a close to a hell of a series. Going to go down as an epic duel between Giannis and KD, even though they didn’t guard each other that much. Both teams were totally gassed in that OT. This was a 15 round throwback epic prize fight, the tension in that second half was unrelenting, it was super close throughout that 2nd half.

I think the Bucks have to be favored to take this thing now. It’s all there in front of them. I’m pulling for them and Giannis to take this

[RSCD3_]

Hell of a close to a hell of a series. Going to go down as an epic duel between Giannis and KD, even though they didn’t guard each other that much. Both teams were totally gassed in that OT. This was a 15 round throwback epic prize fight, the tension in that second half was unrelenting, it was super close throughout that 2nd half.

I think the Bucks have to be favored to take this thing now. It’s all there in front of them. I’m pulling for them and Giannis to take this

Curious how you think they match up well against the suns? I have the suns with a healthy Paul as the favorites

[JulesWinnfield]

Hell of a close to a hell of a series. Going to go down as an epic duel between Giannis and KD, even though they didn’t guard each other that much. Both teams were totally gassed in that OT. This was a 15 round throwback epic prize fight, the tension in that second half was unrelenting, it was super close throughout that 2nd half.

I think the Bucks have to be favored to take this thing now. It’s all there in front of them. I’m pulling for them and Giannis to take this

Curious how you think they match up well against the suns? I have the suns with a healthy Paul as the favorites

It’s close. I wouldn’t begrudge anyone for liking Phoenix. That’s the series I want to see. That’s the series we are likely going to see.

[TheGOATRises007]

If Giannis can focus his entire offense on attacking face up from the low block, he's pretty much unstoppable.

He had a great game.

He's got to work on his conditioning though. I know he plays at a ferocious pace, but I think he can improve on it.

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[BobbyPortisFan]

I wonder what will happen if giannis pulls off a title run. Will the media try to dismiss him like they did with kawhi coz they beat injured nets, or will he actually be considered for best player in the world.

[TroubleS0me]

Great Series Win vs the Nets
Bucks were not the favorite in this series

Game 7

40 PTS
15-24 FG%62.5
13 REBS
14 FREE THROW ATTEMPTS FT% 57.1

Brook Lopez
4 BLKS
8 REBS
19 PTS
3-4 3PT % 75
63.6 FG%

Series average vs Nets

57.4% FG
31.9 PPG
12.9 REBS
8.6 FTA
1 BLK

The Bad
FT% 48.3
AST 3.6
TOVs 4

Good series by Giannis
His teammates didnt shot well except Brook Lopez & the Bucks still won this series.

[JulesWinnfield]

Great Series Win vs the Nets
Bucks were not the favorite in this series

Game 7

40 PTS
15-24 FG%62.5
13 REBS
14 FREE THROW ATTEMPTS FT% 57.1

Brook Lopez
4 BLKS
8 REBS
19 PTS
3-4 3PT % 75
63.6 FG%

Series average vs Nets

57.4% FG
31.9 PPG
12.9 REBS
8.6 FTA
1 BLK

The Bad
FT% 48.3
AST 3.6
TOVs 4

Good series by Giannis
His teammates didnt shot well except Brook Lopez & the Bucks still won this series.

Also some of the defensive data I saw had him as by far the most effective defender on Durant, held him to like 30% shooting although it was not by any means a massive sample. Entering the series he was the most effective Durant defender of all time (minimum 50 FGa against) holding him to 36% shooting, surprised we didn’t see more of him on him

Giannis is incredible. Great series by a great player. Hope he takes this chip and quiets a lot of the talk about some of his half court offensive limitations. Even with his flaws he’s one of the best players we’ve seen set foot in this league, I want to see him get that due by finishing this.

[TroubleS0me]

Great Series Win vs the Nets
Bucks were not the favorite in this series

Game 7

40 PTS
15-24 FG%62.5
13 REBS
14 FREE THROW ATTEMPTS FT% 57.1

Brook Lopez
4 BLKS
8 REBS
19 PTS
3-4 3PT % 75
63.6 FG%

Series average vs Nets

57.4% FG
31.9 PPG
12.9 REBS
8.6 FTA
1 BLK

The Bad
FT% 48.3
AST 3.6
TOVs 4

Good series by Giannis
His teammates didnt shot well except Brook Lopez & the Bucks still won this series.

Also some of the defensive data I saw had him as by far the most effective defender on Durant, held him to like 30% shooting although it was not by any means a massive sample. Entering the series he was the most effective Durant defender of all time (minimum 50 FGa against) holding him to 36% shooting, surprised we didn’t see more of him on him

Giannis is incredible. Great series by a great player. Hope he takes this chip and quiets a lot of the talk about some of his half court offensive limitations. Even with his flaws he’s one of the best players we’ve seen set foot in this league, I want to see him get that due by finishing this.

oh wow who would have thought. great find. He does have his limitation, lateral quickeness

[70sFan]

Great Series Win vs the Nets
Bucks were not the favorite in this series

Game 7

40 PTS
15-24 FG%62.5
13 REBS
14 FREE THROW ATTEMPTS FT% 57.1

Brook Lopez
4 BLKS
8 REBS
19 PTS
3-4 3PT % 75
63.6 FG%

Series average vs Nets

57.4% FG
31.9 PPG
12.9 REBS
8.6 FTA
1 BLK

The Bad
FT% 48.3
AST 3.6
TOVs 4

Good series by Giannis
His teammates didnt shot well except Brook Lopez & the Bucks still won this series.

Also some of the defensive data I saw had him as by far the most effective defender on Durant, held him to like 30% shooting although it was not by any means a massive sample. Entering the series he was the most effective Durant defender of all time (minimum 50 FGa against) holding him to 36% shooting, surprised we didn’t see more of him on him

Giannis is incredible. Great series by a great player. Hope he takes this chip and quiets a lot of the talk about some of his half court offensive limitations. Even with his flaws he’s one of the best players we’ve seen set foot in this league, I want to see him get that due by finishing this.

He didn't guard Durant at all in the series and in very, very few moments he did, he didn't look that well doing so.