Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘Miami was built to be an NBA bubble team’

[Texas Chuck]

sigh. I defend the Lakers and he still finds a way to feel persecuted....

I didn't say those teams didn't play with intensity. I simply said other teams did as well and didn't also have world class talent. Because that wasn't the try hard Pismo Beach Panthers out there. It was Lebron and the best version of AD we've ever seen.

But carry on, thinking the Lakers are being disrespected by me. You are attached to that idea desperately for whatever reason.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Giannis had no excuse for choking in that series.

Yes he made up for it the year after. But against a bunch of injured teams before making the Finals.

Real test will be this year.

[theFireBlanket]

Funny, when he still had a shot at the bubble title he said:

“I feel like this is going to be the toughest championship you could ever win,” Antetokounmpo told reporters on a Wednesday conference video call after participating in the Bucks’ first day of individual workouts at their training facility in Milwaukee.

“Because circumstances are really tough right now. Whoever wants it more is going to be able to go out there and take it.”

“Like I said before, this is the toughest title,” said the 2019 Kia MVP and favorite to repeat this year. “You go somewhere without your family for three months and you haven’t played basketball for three-and-a-half, four months. Whatever team wants it more has got to be mentally prepared for this situation. And has to go out there and execute.

“Teams got to be in shape. So whoever took care of themselves for these four months we weren’t able to play, [they are] gonna be in a better position. … Whoever wants it more, whoever is mentally prepared for all this, that team is going to come out on top.”

Budenholzer:

“I feel like the champion from this experience, from this season, is going to be more worthy and more special than any champion,”

https://www.nba.com/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-2020-championship-difficulty

Now Giannis is throwing shade

They did say that, *going into* the bubble playoffs. Not having gone through everything or thinking all factors through.

Miami played the entirety of the bubble in their home state. No they aren't the Magic but it's the closest damn place in the NBA to Miami.

I'm glad Giannis spoke the truth. He isn't wrong. Like it or not.

[theFireBlanket]

Giannis had no excuse for choking in that series.

Yes he made up for it the year after. But against a bunch of injured teams before making the Finals.

Real test will be this year.

Bucks beat the Hawks largely without Giannis. And he came back from a potentially catastrophic injury, playing through the Finals in pain. Not only playing but winning the FMVP with a historic series performance.

[sp6r=underrated]

I dislike people who try to asterick the 2020 season but I do get a kick out of how smug some lakers fans were about astericking the 99 Spurs title and now having to endure the same thing

everyone knows lakers only have like 2 legit championships.

in the minds of the fair-minded all titles are legit.

[og15]

Pretty rich coming from a guy who won a ring cuz of injuries to other stars

That applies to too many teams though, durability is part of the game, bubble isn't, and Giannis himself got injured in that playoff run and wasn't really back to himself until game 2 of the finals.

[Joshyjess]

Wait, is he calling them a bunch of Bubbleheads?

[thamadkant]

Pretty rich coming from a guy who won a ring cuz of injuries to other stars

Injuries are part of the game... wear and tear also.

But bubble limited players, especially young players from having their life style and it affected their mental state (like hundreds of millions of other people). The fact that some young fathers didnt get to spend time with their children and wives (partners) early in the playoffs (in the bubble) would be a huge mental distraction... they all probably wondering if its worth chasing the ring to be away from their families...
Remember, there was a player meeting and Lebron wanted the season to continue while other players didnt... and just wanted to go home with families during a trying time... they (Lebron and other veterans) even used the excuse that young players need the income from games but many in between (contracted players) arent affected.

The veteran teams who have older children and have sedentary lifestyles would have been better prepared mentally in the bubble for sure.

[crkone]

I don't even know what that means honestly. How is a team built to be a bubble team?

It actually could be a complement, like they always try to out hustle the other team and the Bucks weren't up for it.

[Pachinko_]

I'm not even sure what he means to be honest, sometimes the Greek to English translation in his head kinda fails him.

[Statlanta]

The Bucks faced the only teams that could have had an advantage in the bubble, and even then they still underperformed(dropping a game to a lowly Orlando team they should have easily swept and then getting almost swept by the Heat)

[mattao313]

I don't even know what that means honestly. How is a team built to be a bubble team?

Exactly idk wtf he even means

Sent from my 5087Z using RealGM mobile app

[GeorgeMarcus]

I think this is the first douchey thing Giannis has said

Precisely my reaction. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that it was a poor choice of words

[Red_man1]

Maybe this is lost in translation

[VinBaker6]

Translation: "f*** Miami"

Yup and he then unfortunately backed it up by sweeping us. I still don't know what happened to Butlers in the playoffs but it was horrible. A rematch would be fun.

He got outplayed by Bryn Forbes. It was nasty.

The Bucks really exposed Miami that series. They just completely ignored Butler and Bam outside of 15 feet. It’s tough when your 2 best players can’t shoot. It’s why Jimmy defer to Herro at the end of games.

[zimpy27]

Bucks failed because they needed that Bledsoe for Jrue trade to happen to get passed the easy defense of blocking Gainnis and Bledsoe with the same defensive scheme. The diversity of offense has been huge for Bucks being a better team.

Anyway, these excuses always make you look bad.

[Johnny Bball]

Did the Heat players hold practices when they weren't allowed during the shutdown like a certain other team did?

[Grumpy Heat Fan]

Just when I thought I could root and like Giannis.

His head is growing so large it's starting to spew out nonsense.

[threethehardway]

That applies to too many teams though, durability is part of the game, bubble isn't, and Giannis himself got injured in that playoff run and wasn't really back to himself until game 2 of the finals.

Giannis got lucky lets be real. He would've been swept by the Nets if they stayed healthy. He would've choked against the Nets if KD pinky toe wasn't on the line. He would've been eliminated by the Hawks if Trae didn't get a fluke injury.

The Bucks lucked their way to the Finals until they faced the Suns.

Giannis didn't prove anything besides being lucky is better than being good.

[ReginaldDwight]

I dislike people who try to asterick the 2020 season but I do get a kick out of how smug some lakers fans were about astericking the 99 Spurs title and now having to endure the same thing

everyone knows lakers only have like 2 legit championships.

in the minds of the fair-minded all titles are legit.

Yeah whichever team wins the title was the best team at the end of the season thats how playoffs work. Guys get hurt every year its part of the game.