Who is the better player currently: Shai or Giannis

[DanoMac]

Giannis really hasn't shown he's a high end playoff performer. I'm not saying he's bad at all, but I don't see the argument he's proven himself that much more than Shai.

Are you new to basketball brotha?

Watch on YouTube

[dhsilv2]

Giannis really hasn't shown he's a high end playoff performer. I'm not saying he's bad at all, but I don't see the argument he's proven himself that much more than Shai.

Are you new to basketball brotha?

Watch on YouTube

Nope. I certainly would hope you didn't just link to the suns series where he was a matchup problem for the suns. That would be pretty dishonest in this context.

[tsherkin]

Actually that’s not it at all. The reason it seems like that is because young guys go balls to the wall to win personal accolades. Vets understand those things are meaningless in the grand scheme, so they coast until the playoffs. That’s… how it works.

No, that definitely isn't it.

Milwaukee is on pace for 46 wins right now. They're the 11th-ranked defense, and they're pretty far back from the best teams in the conference. They NEED to be performing better, and if Giannis could defend like he used to, then they would be. They're lined up for the 4th seed right now, which will put them against a Pacers team they may have some trouble with... and then they're likely going to face the Celtics if they get through that. And they won't be able to handle Boston, so their season will end up being shorter because they couldn't push for the 2nd or 3rd seed. They're losing material advantage to their season as a result of his inability to be that dominant two-way guy he was 6 years ago.

A half-dozen years is a long time and a lot of mileage. And he isn't getting any younger, nor much healthier. This is an ability thing. I'm sure he can summon it some in the playoffs, but that's with more consistent rest, and over a much shorter stretch of games. It's a lot of energy to go hog-wild at either end for a whole season, and he's far from the first to fade in his 12th season, in his 30s, after 27000+ minutes.

Basic stuff.

[DanoMac]

Giannis really hasn't shown he's a high end playoff performer. I'm not saying he's bad at all, but I don't see the argument he's proven himself that much more than Shai.

Are you new to basketball brotha?

Watch on YouTube

Nope. I certainly would hope you didn't just link to the suns series where he was a matchup problem for the suns. That would be pretty dishonest in this context.

This is a bit, right? He's a matchup problem for everyone, which is why he's a top 25 NBA player of all time.

You said he's not a high end playoff performer. He put up 35.2/13.2/5.0 shooting 62% in the NBA Finals. 30.2/12.8/5.1 on 57% shooting that entire 2021 playoffs on his way to Finals MVP. 26.6/12.0/5.2 on 53% shooting his entire playoff career.

Shai is averaging 21.7/5.4/4.9 on 48% shooting in 23 playoff games. To say he hasn't proven himself more than Shai...an all time bad take on this board my man.

This has to be a troll post.

[dhsilv2]

Are you new to basketball brotha?

Watch on YouTube

Nope. I certainly would hope you didn't just link to the suns series where he was a matchup problem for the suns. That would be pretty dishonest in this context.

This is a bit, right? He's a matchup problem for everyone, which is why he's a top 25 NBA player of all time.

You said he's not a high end playoff performer. He put up 35.2/13.2/5.0 shooting 62% in the NBA Finals. 30.2/12.8/5.1 on 57% shooting that entire 2021 playoffs on his way to Finals MVP. 26.6/12.0/5.2 on 53% shooting his entire playoff career.

Shai is averaging 21.7/5.4/4.9 on 48% shooting in 23 playoff games. To say he hasn't proven himself more than Shai...an all time bad take on this board my man.

This has to be a troll post.

Giannis just before that series missed the last two games against the Hawks. And his team managed to get to the finals without his play.

You can argue midleton was the best player in 2 of their wins in the prior series.

Giannis has had the famous "wall" defense built to take advantage of him.

Giannis is of course an all time great and 2x MVP. But his playoff play has been up and down over the years.

[DanoMac]

Nope. I certainly would hope you didn't just link to the suns series where he was a matchup problem for the suns. That would be pretty dishonest in this context.

This is a bit, right? He's a matchup problem for everyone, which is why he's a top 25 NBA player of all time.

You said he's not a high end playoff performer. He put up 35.2/13.2/5.0 shooting 62% in the NBA Finals. 30.2/12.8/5.1 on 57% shooting that entire 2021 playoffs on his way to Finals MVP. 26.6/12.0/5.2 on 53% shooting his entire playoff career.

Shai is averaging 21.7/5.4/4.9 on 48% shooting in 23 playoff games. To say he hasn't proven himself more than Shai...an all time bad take on this board my man.

This has to be a troll post.

Giannis just before that series missed the last two games against the Hawks. And his team managed to get to the finals without his play.

You can argue midleton was the best player in 2 of their wins in the prior series.

Giannis has had the famous "wall" defense built to take advantage of him.

Giannis is of course an all time great and 2x MVP. But his playoff play has been up and down over the years.

yeah man, you're just a Giannis hater. Yes, we won twice without him against the Hawks. He came back in 1 week from an injury that typically takes 4-6 to recover (and looked much worse) and still dominated the Finals.

[dhsilv2]

This is a bit, right? He's a matchup problem for everyone, which is why he's a top 25 NBA player of all time.

You said he's not a high end playoff performer. He put up 35.2/13.2/5.0 shooting 62% in the NBA Finals. 30.2/12.8/5.1 on 57% shooting that entire 2021 playoffs on his way to Finals MVP. 26.6/12.0/5.2 on 53% shooting his entire playoff career.

Shai is averaging 21.7/5.4/4.9 on 48% shooting in 23 playoff games. To say he hasn't proven himself more than Shai...an all time bad take on this board my man.

This has to be a troll post.

Giannis just before that series missed the last two games against the Hawks. And his team managed to get to the finals without his play.

You can argue midleton was the best player in 2 of their wins in the prior series.

Giannis has had the famous "wall" defense built to take advantage of him.

Giannis is of course an all time great and 2x MVP. But his playoff play has been up and down over the years.

yeah man, you're just a Giannis hater. Yes, we won twice without him against the Hawks. He came back in 1 week from an injury that typically takes 4-6 to recover (and looked much worse) and still dominated the Finals.

Man, I love Giannis as much as the next guy. He's had some tough series and some let downs over the years. Some of you guys get so sensitive about "your guys" that you turn objective comments into some kind of personal attack and assault.

[DanoMac]

Giannis just before that series missed the last two games against the Hawks. And his team managed to get to the finals without his play.

You can argue midleton was the best player in 2 of their wins in the prior series.

Giannis has had the famous "wall" defense built to take advantage of him.

Giannis is of course an all time great and 2x MVP. But his playoff play has been up and down over the years.

yeah man, you're just a Giannis hater. Yes, we won twice without him against the Hawks. He came back in 1 week from an injury that typically takes 4-6 to recover (and looked much worse) and still dominated the Finals.

Man, I love Giannis as much as the next guy. He's had some tough series and some let downs over the years. Some of you guys get so sensitive about "your guys" that you turn objective comments into some kind of personal attack and assault.

Nothing personal, just think it's hilarious that the guy who has 3 of the top 20 Finals performances of all time still needs to prove himself.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37769212/top-25-nba-finals-performances-lebron-james-jimmy-butler-michael-jordan

[Big J]

Giannis just before that series missed the last two games against the Hawks. And his team managed to get to the finals without his play.

You can argue midleton was the best player in 2 of their wins in the prior series.

Giannis has had the famous "wall" defense built to take advantage of him.

Giannis is of course an all time great and 2x MVP. But his playoff play has been up and down over the years.

yeah man, you're just a Giannis hater. Yes, we won twice without him against the Hawks. He came back in 1 week from an injury that typically takes 4-6 to recover (and looked much worse) and still dominated the Finals.

Man, I love Giannis as much as the next guy. He's had some tough series and some let downs over the years. Some of you guys get so sensitive about "your guys" that you turn objective comments into some kind of personal attack and assault.

This is how you are about Jokic.

[dhsilv2]

yeah man, you're just a Giannis hater. Yes, we won twice without him against the Hawks. He came back in 1 week from an injury that typically takes 4-6 to recover (and looked much worse) and still dominated the Finals.

Man, I love Giannis as much as the next guy. He's had some tough series and some let downs over the years. Some of you guys get so sensitive about "your guys" that you turn objective comments into some kind of personal attack and assault.

Nothing personal, just think it's hilarious that the guy who has 3 of the top 20 Finals performances of all time still needs to prove himself.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37769212/top-25-nba-finals-performances-lebron-james-jimmy-butler-michael-jordan

I mean it was a 6 game series. I'm not one to draw on small samples. Be a bit like talking bringing up 1989 Stockton vs the Warriors to show that he could be a volume scorer. Obviously we all know about that series and understand why he averaged 27 a game. Just like we know the sun's defense wasn't exactly setup to really even play defense, let alone challenge Giannis with the likes of Ayton on the court.

But meanwhile we also know Giannis has had his stats decline in the post season in general. And he's had issues with some players like Big Al. He's not Harden...but he's perhaps a bit more like say Larry Bird, another guy who struggled in the playoffs.

[dhsilv2]

yeah man, you're just a Giannis hater. Yes, we won twice without him against the Hawks. He came back in 1 week from an injury that typically takes 4-6 to recover (and looked much worse) and still dominated the Finals.

Man, I love Giannis as much as the next guy. He's had some tough series and some let downs over the years. Some of you guys get so sensitive about "your guys" that you turn objective comments into some kind of personal attack and assault.

This is how you are about Jokic.

Not really...

[DanoMac]

Man, I love Giannis as much as the next guy. He's had some tough series and some let downs over the years. Some of you guys get so sensitive about "your guys" that you turn objective comments into some kind of personal attack and assault.

Nothing personal, just think it's hilarious that the guy who has 3 of the top 20 Finals performances of all time still needs to prove himself.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37769212/top-25-nba-finals-performances-lebron-james-jimmy-butler-michael-jordan

I mean it was a 6 game series. I'm not one to draw on small samples. Be a bit like talking bringing up 1989 Stockton vs the Warriors to show that he could be a volume scorer. Obviously we all know about that series and understand why he averaged 27 a game. Just like we know the sun's defense wasn't exactly setup to really even play defense, let alone challenge Giannis with the likes of Ayton on the court.

But meanwhile we also know Giannis has had his stats decline in the post season in general. And he's had issues with some players like Big Al. He's not Harden...but he's perhaps a bit more like say Larry Bird, another guy who struggled in the playoffs.

Lmao. Giannis has literally never struggled in the playoffs aside from running into a juggernaut Raptors team when he was TWENTY FOUR. You're out of your mind brother.

[Beethoven]

Shai sure

[Big J]

Man, I love Giannis as much as the next guy. He's had some tough series and some let downs over the years. Some of you guys get so sensitive about "your guys" that you turn objective comments into some kind of personal attack and assault.

This is how you are about Jokic.

Not really...

You haven’t conceded a single fault and think he’s the GOAT, so yes you have lost all objectivity.

[dhsilv2]

Nothing personal, just think it's hilarious that the guy who has 3 of the top 20 Finals performances of all time still needs to prove himself.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/37769212/top-25-nba-finals-performances-lebron-james-jimmy-butler-michael-jordan

I mean it was a 6 game series. I'm not one to draw on small samples. Be a bit like talking bringing up 1989 Stockton vs the Warriors to show that he could be a volume scorer. Obviously we all know about that series and understand why he averaged 27 a game. Just like we know the sun's defense wasn't exactly setup to really even play defense, let alone challenge Giannis with the likes of Ayton on the court.

But meanwhile we also know Giannis has had his stats decline in the post season in general. And he's had issues with some players like Big Al. He's not Harden...but he's perhaps a bit more like say Larry Bird, another guy who struggled in the playoffs.

Lmao. Giannis has literally never struggled in the playoffs aside from running into a juggernaut Raptors team when he was TWENTY FOUR. You're out of your mind brother.

Yeah...never had any issues with the Celtics either...

[dhsilv2]

This is how you are about Jokic.

Not really...

You haven’t conceded a single fault and think he’s the GOAT, so yes you have lost all objectivity.

I don't think he's the GOAT. I have covered plenty of his weaknesses.

[NZB2323]

Giannis is ranked higher all time, but hasn’t been healthy in the playoffs for years and SGA is having a better season.

[DanoMac]

I mean it was a 6 game series. I'm not one to draw on small samples. Be a bit like talking bringing up 1989 Stockton vs the Warriors to show that he could be a volume scorer. Obviously we all know about that series and understand why he averaged 27 a game. Just like we know the sun's defense wasn't exactly setup to really even play defense, let alone challenge Giannis with the likes of Ayton on the court.

But meanwhile we also know Giannis has had his stats decline in the post season in general. And he's had issues with some players like Big Al. He's not Harden...but he's perhaps a bit more like say Larry Bird, another guy who struggled in the playoffs.

Lmao. Giannis has literally never struggled in the playoffs aside from running into a juggernaut Raptors team when he was TWENTY FOUR. You're out of your mind brother.

Yeah...never had any issues with the Celtics either...

23yo Giannis vs Boston in 17-18 - 25.7/9.6/6.3 on 57%
24yo Giannis vs Boston in 18-19 - 28.4/10.8/5.2 on 53%
27yo Giannis vs Boston in 21-22 - 33.9/14.7/7.1 on 49%

Do you want to keep doing this?

[dhsilv2]

Lmao. Giannis has literally never struggled in the playoffs aside from running into a juggernaut Raptors team when he was TWENTY FOUR. You're out of your mind brother.

Yeah...never had any issues with the Celtics either...

23yo Giannis vs Boston in 17-18 - 25.7/9.6/6.3 on 57%
24yo Giannis vs Boston in 18-19 - 28.4/10.8/5.2 on 53%
27yo Giannis vs Boston in 21-22 - 33.9/14.7/7.1 on 49%

Do you want to keep doing this?

I think i can rest my case.

[tsherkin]

Yeah...never had any issues with the Celtics either...

23yo Giannis vs Boston in 17-18 - 25.7/9.6/6.3 on 57%
24yo Giannis vs Boston in 18-19 - 28.4/10.8/5.2 on 53%
27yo Giannis vs Boston in 21-22 - 33.9/14.7/7.1 on 49%

Do you want to keep doing this?

I think i can rest my case.

Adding to that:

2018: 62% TS
2019: 62.5% TS
2022: 51.6% TS (45.7% FG, 25.0% 3P, 67.6% FT, ~ 10.6 FTA/g).

He struggled in 2022 with his efficiency, though of course he was rocking Jrue Holiday as his secondary scorer and Jrue managed 36.4 / 30.0 / 95.2 splits on 45.0% TS. Then redeemed himself two years later after going to Boston, lol

But yeah, of those three series, Giannis dominated in two and struggled when he had no help in the last one. I'd say, on average, he has done quite well against Boston in the playoffs.