Giannis' Playoff track record is problematic and gets overlooked imo

[ardee]

Let's look at his prime:

2019: no injuries, but he had a clearly subpar performance against the Raptors and showed he could be limited by the right defense that could wall off the paint.

2020: misses almost the last two games of the Miami series through injury, and on top of that was limited once again.

2021: When he played he was amazing, but he again missed the last two games of the conference finals. It was tied 2-2 and he was VERY lucky to be up against a weak opponent and that Jrue/Middleton were able to see it through without him. Go through almost any conference finals for players of similar caliber and their teams almost certainly don't make it through in that situation.

2022: great year, can't hold anything against him. Efficiency a bit lower but that Celtics defense was epic.

2023: injury again, misses the first three games and loses to Himmy Butler's 8th seeded Heat as a 1-seed.

2024: injury again, misses the whole series and his team is upset again.

So in 6 years, he has one GREAT year (2022), another GREAT year with a caveat (2021, i.e. that most other teams would've lost in that position if their best player was hurt), 1 decent year where he showed serious offensive limitations (2019) and then three years where injuries directly led to his team losing (2020, 2023, 2024).

Imo, not a great track record and will likely keep him from getting to the heights on the GOAT list that some think he is capable of.

[TheGOATRises007]

I don't recall anyone on here saying he could get on the GOAT list nor anyone in the media.

[LukaTheGOAT]

I know some people once thought he could maybe sneak into GOAT territory. I'm not sure if they still hold that same view, but I have heard in the past. It seems as if Jokic has stolen much of the chatter in regards to potentual GOAT talks but as I am sure you Jaber seen on this forum, that is highly controversial.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Let's look at his prime:

2019: no injuries, but he had a clearly subpar performance against the Raptors and showed he could be limited by the right defense that could wall off the paint.

2020: misses almost the last two games of the Miami series through injury, and on top of that was limited once again.

2021: When he played he was amazing, but he again missed the last two games of the conference finals. It was tied 2-2 and he was VERY lucky to be up against a weak opponent and that Jrue/Middleton were able to see it through without him. Go through almost any conference finals for players of similar caliber and their teams almost certainly don't make it through in that situation.

2022: great year, can't hold anything against him. Efficiency a bit lower but that Celtics defense was epic.

2023: injury again, misses the first three games and loses to Himmy Butler's 8th seeded Heat as a 1-seed.

2024: injury again, misses the whole series and his team is upset again.

So in 6 years, he has one GREAT year (2022), another GREAT year with a caveat (2021, i.e. that most other teams would've lost in that position if their best player was hurt), 1 decent year where he showed serious offensive limitations (2019) and then three years where injuries directly led to his team losing (2020, 2023, 2024).

Imo, not a great track record and will likely keep him from getting to the heights on the GOAT list that some think he is capable of.

If we’re talking about legacy not a single serious person talks about the 2 missed games in 2021 more than the “has a top 5 (3?) finals performance ever on one leg” afterwards lol. I understand people want it to be a serious caveat for that run because of a hypothetical scenario but it really isn’t when it 100% added legacy points like crazy.

Agree on the rest but I think Giannis did improve a bit in 2021 along with the team running 4 out a bit more and having a small on the dunker so the designated help couldn’t do much, and he’s just been hurt in some of the years since, so yeah he just needs to get healthy

[MyUniBroDavis]

Wait what do y’all mean by GOAT list lmao

I’m thinking too 10 ish in that regard no one right now has a shot at the GOAT debate except Wemby who’s a 50/50 bet tbh to get the title lmfao

[therealbig3]

21 Giannis also lucked out with the injuries the Nets got too, otherwise the Nets win that series and go on to win the title in convincing fashion imo. They were steamrolling every good team that year with even just 2 of their big 3 healthy, let alone if all 3 could have been.

Which is why I’m not as down on them going all in that year as others are. Sure in hindsight it was a disaster, but it was for a shot at the title and they were clearly the best team in the league when even just moderately healthy.

[Frank Dux]

I don't recall anyone on here saying he could get on the GOAT list nor anyone in the media.

I thought he was on that trajectory early in his career. He was a two time MVP, and DPOY by the time he was 25. Not saying he was going to be the absolute GOAT, but I thought he was doing enough to be put in the conversation with guys like Duncan, Magic, and Bird if he continued that production and those accolades.

that ship has sailed though. Jokic arrived and took over the league and left Giannis in the dust.

[Cavsfansince84]

I agree that if we're comparing him to other guys in the top 15 or so that his resume as of now is still very much lacking. I've said this before but now its basically another lost year for him. He needs more playoff success to solidify a top 15 type of career.

[ardee]

Wait what do y’all mean by GOAT list lmao

I’m thinking too 10 ish in that regard no one right now has a shot at the GOAT debate except Wemby who’s a 50/50 bet tbh to get the title lmfao

There are some on this board who claim he's better than Kobe.

Which I think is an insane proposition when you compare the Playoff record I just listed in the OP to someone who has done 30-6-6 on four Finals runs with three titles, never missing a single game.

[ardee]

Let's look at his prime:

2019: no injuries, but he had a clearly subpar performance against the Raptors and showed he could be limited by the right defense that could wall off the paint.

2020: misses almost the last two games of the Miami series through injury, and on top of that was limited once again.

2021: When he played he was amazing, but he again missed the last two games of the conference finals. It was tied 2-2 and he was VERY lucky to be up against a weak opponent and that Jrue/Middleton were able to see it through without him. Go through almost any conference finals for players of similar caliber and their teams almost certainly don't make it through in that situation.

2022: great year, can't hold anything against him. Efficiency a bit lower but that Celtics defense was epic.

2023: injury again, misses the first three games and loses to Himmy Butler's 8th seeded Heat as a 1-seed.

2024: injury again, misses the whole series and his team is upset again.

So in 6 years, he has one GREAT year (2022), another GREAT year with a caveat (2021, i.e. that most other teams would've lost in that position if their best player was hurt), 1 decent year where he showed serious offensive limitations (2019) and then three years where injuries directly led to his team losing (2020, 2023, 2024).

Imo, not a great track record and will likely keep him from getting to the heights on the GOAT list that some think he is capable of.

If we’re talking about legacy not a single serious person talks about the 2 missed games in 2021 more than the “has a top 5 (3?) finals performance ever on one leg” afterwards lol. I understand people want it to be a serious caveat for that run because of a hypothetical scenario but it really isn’t when it 100% added legacy points like crazy.

Agree on the rest but I think Giannis did improve a bit in 2021 along with the team running 4 out a bit more and having a small on the dunker so the designated help couldn’t do much, and he’s just been hurt in some of the years since, so yeah he just needs to get healthy

I just said in the OP you quoted that 2021 was a GREAT year for him, and it is obviously added legacy points like you said, but there is the injury caveat. He only has 1 really good Playoffs without a caveat is my point.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Wait what do y’all mean by GOAT list lmao

I’m thinking too 10 ish in that regard no one right now has a shot at the GOAT debate except Wemby who’s a 50/50 bet tbh to get the title lmfao

There are some on this board who claim he's better than Kobe.

Which I think is an insane proposition when you compare the Playoff record I just listed in the OP to someone who has done 30-6-6 on four Finals runs with three titles, never missing a single game.

How this board thinks about Kobe should mean nothing for you like it means nothing for me lmao

[MyUniBroDavis]

Let's look at his prime:

2019: no injuries, but he had a clearly subpar performance against the Raptors and showed he could be limited by the right defense that could wall off the paint.

2020: misses almost the last two games of the Miami series through injury, and on top of that was limited once again.

2021: When he played he was amazing, but he again missed the last two games of the conference finals. It was tied 2-2 and he was VERY lucky to be up against a weak opponent and that Jrue/Middleton were able to see it through without him. Go through almost any conference finals for players of similar caliber and their teams almost certainly don't make it through in that situation.

2022: great year, can't hold anything against him. Efficiency a bit lower but that Celtics defense was epic.

2023: injury again, misses the first three games and loses to Himmy Butler's 8th seeded Heat as a 1-seed.

2024: injury again, misses the whole series and his team is upset again.

So in 6 years, he has one GREAT year (2022), another GREAT year with a caveat (2021, i.e. that most other teams would've lost in that position if their best player was hurt), 1 decent year where he showed serious offensive limitations (2019) and then three years where injuries directly led to his team losing (2020, 2023, 2024).

Imo, not a great track record and will likely keep him from getting to the heights on the GOAT list that some think he is capable of.

If we’re talking about legacy not a single serious person talks about the 2 missed games in 2021 more than the “has a top 5 (3?) finals performance ever on one leg” afterwards lol. I understand people want it to be a serious caveat for that run because of a hypothetical scenario but it really isn’t when it 100% added legacy points like crazy.

Agree on the rest but I think Giannis did improve a bit in 2021 along with the team running 4 out a bit more and having a small on the dunker so the designated help couldn’t do much, and he’s just been hurt in some of the years since, so yeah he just needs to get healthy

I just said in the OP you quoted that 2021 was a GREAT year for him, and it is obviously added legacy points like you said, but there is the injury caveat. He only has 1 really good Playoffs without a caveat is my point.

I’d argue it’s better witth the injury than without but I see where ur coming from

[jalengreen]

There’s been a tendency of nba fans to do the whole “Here are some of LeBron and Jordan’s achievements at this age compared to this new gen player. Future GOAT?” Definitely saw a lot of that with Giannis, though it has since died down.

Anyway, I do mostly agree with the premise of the post.

[PistolPeteJR]

Nobody in the league has a chance at being a part of the GOAT conversation (outside of the obvious Laker) at this point in all of their respective careers except for Wemby.

[web123888]

Yea it is but most of it is injury based, unlikely it would’ve turned out how it did the last 3 years if he/Bucks were healthy.

Regardless 2021 was epic and with as dominant of a close out Finals performance as is gets so it basically wipes away everything else.

[SHAQ32]

Nobody in the league has a chance at being a part of the GOAT conversation (outside of the obvious Laker) at this point in all of their respective careers except for Wemby.

Wemby's already out too

[Cavsfansince84]

Yea it is but most of it is injury based, unlikely it would’ve turned out how it did the last 3 years if he/Bucks were healthy.

Regardless 2021 was epic and with as dominant of a close out Finals performance as is gets so it basically wipes away everything else.

I don't think it makes that much difference legacy wise if its injury based or not. You only get credit for what you actually accomplish or else Walton should be a top 20 player of all time.

[Cavsfansince84]

Nobody in the league has a chance at being a part of the GOAT conversation (outside of the obvious Laker) at this point in all of their respective careers except for Wemby.

Wemby's already out too

Is this a facetious reply or no?

[PistolPeteJR]

Nobody in the league has a chance at being a part of the GOAT conversation (outside of the obvious Laker) at this point in all of their respective careers except for Wemby.

Wemby's already out too

Elaborate?

[MyUniBroDavis]

Some streets told me Chet had a better rookie year (he did not)