Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo Out for Game 5 vs. Suns After Entering Health Protocols
Jul 17, 2021
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 16: Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during practice and media availability as part of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 16, 2021 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks reserve Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Giannis, has been ruled out for Saturday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals. He will enter the league's health and safety protocols.
Bucks' Thanasis Antetokounmpo has entered health and safety protocols and is listed out for Game 5 of the NBA Finals vs. Suns.
Wojnarowski reported Saturday marks the third consecutive game where Oppenheimer has been unavailable.
The championship series between the Bucks and Phoenix Suns is tied 2-2. The small forward has played just two minutes during the Finals, grabbing three rebounds in a 120-100 victory in Game 3 on Sunday.
Through 57 regular-season games, the elder Antetokounmpo averaged 2.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 9.7 minutes per night. He's averaged just 0.7 points and 0.8 rebounds in 13 playoff appearances.
I'll be interested in seeing how Giannis Antetokounmpo responds with his big brother Thanasis sidelined because of health & safety protocols. TA didn't play much but always gave GA that pregame hug/pep talk & has provided calming words at critical moments, like Game 7 in Brooklyn
Earlier Saturday, Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer told The Athletic's Sam Amick he's been concerned about the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country.
"I mean, we are aware—we live in this world—whether it's all 50 states going up or things that are happening closer to us at home," Budenholzer said. "I think all the players, I think they're locked in, being safe, being healthy. Hoping for the best for everybody around us and our country. But, yeah, there's a real push to stay safe, to stay healthy, to be vigilant. Both teams, we're very, very close to the finish. We're excited about finishing this strong."
Hours later Thanasis entered the league's protocol.
Giannis on Epic Game 4 NBA Finals Block: 'Incredible What Your Body Is Able to Do'
Jul 17, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 14: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks blocks the shot of Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns during Game Four of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 14, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images).
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't quite find the words to describe his game-saving block at the end of his team's Game 4 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Nearly 48 hours after he back-pedaled his way to breaking up an alley-oop from Devin Booker to Deandre Ayton, Antetokounmpo was still trying to make sense of how he pulled off one of the most epic blocks in NBA Finals history.
"It's incredible what your body is [able] to do," Antetokounmpo told reporters Friday. "When you think about winning, you go to the extreme."
That extreme was absolutely necessary. Already facing a 2-1 series deficit, the Bucks needed to escape with a victory in Game 4 to avoid heading back to Phoenix down 3-1 on the brink of elimination. Milwaukee led 101-99 with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter when Ayton caught a lob from Booker.
By all appearances, it should've tied the game. Then, the Greek Freak got in the way.
The Bucks went on to win 109-103.
"I cannot explain the play," Antetokounmpo said. "But, at the end of the day, that's in the past. When you talk about the past, that's your ego talking. It's in the past. It's over with. I got to move on. I got to keep making winning plays. I got to keep competing. I got to keep finding ways to help my team be great. Great moment. I appreciate the moment. Great moment. [But] we got to move on."
Bucks' Giannis on Block of Deandre Ayton: 'I Thought I Was Going to Get Dunked on'
Jul 15, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) blocks a shot by Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the second half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
While Khris Middleton did much of the heavy lifting on the offensive side during the Milwaukee Bucks' 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Wednesday's Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo's block of a Deandre Ayton alley-oop attempt in the final minutes helped swing the game.
"Just a hustle play," he told reporters. "I thought I'm going to get dunked on, to be honest with you."
“I thought I was going to get dunked on, to be honest with you.”
The block came with Milwaukee nursing a two-point lead in the final two minutes, and rather than giving up a dunk and the lead, the home team grabbed possession and maintained the momentum in front of a raucous crowd.
It was one of multiple key defensive plays Antetokounmpo made down the stretch, as he also blocked a Chris Paul shot while trailing by one, which led to a go-ahead three-pointer from Pat Connaughton on the other end.
Giannis finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocks in an impressive all-around performance, but it was Middleton who carried the Bucks for much of the game.
He countered Devin Booker's 42 points with a 40-point performance of his own, including 10 straight points for the victors in the final three minutes as they seized control of the game.
It was an all-time performance on a massive stage for someone who is typically the No. 2 option and helped the Bucks create a situation where the series is now a best-of-three battle even though they lost the first two games.
If Middleton continues to be a force and Antetokounmpo plays defense like he did down the stretch of Wednesday's win, it will be difficult for the Suns to wrestle momentum back after two successive losses.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Beat Devin Booker, Suns to Even 2021 NBA Finals at 2-2
Jul 15, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket between Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, left, and forward Mikal Bridges (25) during the second half of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
It's a brand new series.
The Milwaukee Bucks tied the 2021 NBA Finals at two games apiece with a dramatic 109-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Wednesday's Game 4 at Fiserv Forum. Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks, who continued the pattern of the home team taking every contest of this series with their second successive win.
Middleton, Incredible 4th Quarter Propel Bucks to Win
Everything begins and ends with Antetokounmpo for the Bucks, and Wednesday was the opportunity to continue what was shaping up to be a legendary NBA Finals performance.
In fact, his back-to-back showings of more than 40 points in Games 2 and 3 had people talking about Michael Jordan's historic 1993 Finals showing against the Suns. Yet, the biggest difference from the Game 3 win and initial losses was the supporting cast's ability to take advantage of all the defensive attention he draws.
Middleton clearly noticed.
Khris Middleton came up big in the final minutes of Game 4 🔥
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are the 3rd pair of teammates (4th instance) over the last 50 years to each have a 40-point game in a single NBA Finals.
The others are LeBron James/Kyrie Irving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Magic Johnson. pic.twitter.com/SJJZkV6WCj
While Jrue Holiday was brutal from the field (4-of-20), Middleton more than picked up the slack as the only Bucks starter to make a three-pointer. It was because of his individual efforts that the home team remained even within striking distance as Booker dominated on the offensive end and Antetokounmpo was missing some of the aggressiveness that defined the early portion of this series.
What's more, Middleton saved his best for last.
He scored 10 straight points for the Bucks in the final three minutes, which helped turn a tie game into a momentum-swinging victory. Pat Connaughton also hit a clutch three before Middleton's stretch, and Antetokounmpo turned heads with a memorable block on a Deandre Ayton dunk attempt, but it was the Middleton show when the game was on the line for Milwaukee.
If his team goes on to win the championship, his showing will go down in NBA history.
Suns Waste Booker's Performance
Coming into Wednesday's contest, the biggest storyline from Phoenix's perspective was how Booker would bounce back after playing just 29 minutes and scoring 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting during the Game 3 loss.
The visitors couldn't have scripted a better start for Booker on Wednesday.
Booker sliced his way through Milwaukee's defense and unleashed a number of midrange shots on his way to 20 first-half points to anchor his team's attack. However, the game was still tied at intermission despite his dominance because nobody else on the Suns had more than seven points, including Chris Paul and Ayton.
Holiday deserved much of the credit for keeping Paul in relative check with his hounding defense, but the biggest concern for Phoenix came midway through the third quarter when Booker went to the bench with four fouls after essentially being the team's only source of offense for extended stretches.
Rather than remain on the bench for long, Booker returned even with the foul trouble and torched the Bucks for a stunning 18 points in the third quarter alone. He was so brilliant that the Suns had a six-point lead heading to the fourth without a single other player in double figures.
However, he once again returned to the bench in the fourth quarter with his fifth foul and somehow managed to escape fouling out despite an obvious no-call on what should have been his sixth.
The offense lost some of its rhythm when he was sidelined and never found it even after he returned. Ayton was impressive on the boards but had just six points, while Paul turned it over five times and looked like anything but the future Hall of Famer who has played so well throughout the playoffs.
The result was a wasted opportunity for the Suns.
What's Next?
The series returns to Phoenix for Saturday's Game 5.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Just Earned His Signature NBA Moment
Jul 15, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts before the start of Game 4 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Giannis Antetokounmpo has a lot of basketball left to play, both in these Finals and over the rest of his long, illustrious, all-time career—and yet, in all likelihood, he just sealed his signature NBA moment.
Inside 80 seconds to play in Game 4 on Wednesday night, the Phoenix Suns had the ball, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks by two points. Devin Booker took a hand-off from Deandre Ayton and had P.J. Tucker beat as he turned the corner. Giannis rotated over to help, seemingly leaving Ayton with a clear path to the basket and Booker with a feasible lob pocket to his big man.
Emphasis on seemingly.
Giannis somehow recovered, going off one foot—his left foot no less, despite injuring his left knee in the Eastern Conference Finals—in time to block Ayton's attempt to finish strong above the rim. The written word might make this sound routine, yet make no mistake, it is anything but:
This is a legendary recovery and block. Hell, calling it either doesn't even make sense. It is something more, something indescribable, something not of this world.
Rewatching the play doesn't make it any easier to understand. And you better believe Twitter tried its damnedest.
Slowing it down doesn't help:
Even the stillshot looks photoshopped:
Never mind the recovery, the timing, the body control not to foul Ayton or the dexterity. Giannis sent this back above the mother freakin' square(!):
Please take a moment to fan yourself. You'll need it.
Inclinations to compare Giannis' incomprehensible stuff against similar all-time plays are already alive and well. LeBron James' chase-down block on Andre Iguodala during the waning moments of Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals naturally spring to mind first.
These were two different plays, not to mention two different feats of athleticism. But you're kidding yourself if you don't think there's a discussion to be had when weighing the difficulty of each block.
Talking heads and dime-store writers like myself aren't the only ones drawing the parallels, either. Iguodala himself is right there with us:
Without question, the stakes ascribed to each block are not currently acting in harmony. LeBron's block helped bag the Cleveland Cavaliers an NBA championship, in a Game 7, after falling behind 3-1 in the series. Giannis' block spared the Bucks from a tie, in a Game 4 they still could've won, and in a series that wasn't over even if they lost.
At the same time, let's be real: This block represents more than that.
Maybe the Bucks break the tie on their next possession. Counterpoint: Maybe they don't. A made basket would've given the Suns more time to set up their defense, and who knows how the rest of the fourth quarter (or overtime) would've played out. Chris Paul turned in his worst game of the postseason, but Devin Booker was both en fuego for much of the night and allowed to play with eight or nine fouls.
And sure, had the Bucks lost, the series wouldn't have been over. Technically. But a 3-1 deficit, with the Suns headed home for Game 5, is basically a death sentence. Only one team has ever climbed out of that hole to win in the Finals: those 2016 Cavs.
Perhaps it's not fair to say Giannis saved the Bucks' season with this play. But he might have. And in the end, this singular moment isn't the entire point.
It doesn't have to be pitted against LeBron's 2016 chase-down stop or spun as a franchise-making moment. The latter remains unsettled. This series is now best-of-three. The Bucks could still lose. They could also win. This block, this signature moment from Giannis helped—if not outright guaranteed—the Bucks' championship prospects live on.
And that makes it an extension of everything he's done during the Finals.
Corners of the Giannis discourse veered too far from reality before this series ever tipped off. Peruse through the returns on a "Giannis has no bag" Twitter search and you'll find some truly disturbing slants dating back to the Eastern Conference Finals—and much earlier.
This idea that he is a total liability to Milwaukee or more specimen than talent was always finite and flimsy (and stupid)—a stance Giannis never really needed to rebuke. But he's doing it anyway.
Through his first four Finals games, Giannis is averaging 32.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks while downing a blistering 70.2 percent of his twos. He has also joined the Finals company of one Shaquille O'Neal, because why not:
Oh, and this all comes on the heels of a left knee injury that cost Giannis, like, 2.5 games in the Eastern Conference Finals and originally rendered him doubtful for the opening of this series.
That his status for Game 1 ever hung in the balance makes his performance, and this moment, all the more special. This man (myth?) saw his left knee bend in a completely unnatural direction a little over two weeks ago. Now he's back to looking like one of the three to five best players alive, on the game's biggest stage, with his team's season and best crack at winning a title quite literally on the line.
What's left of this series will inevitably determine the context in which Giannis' from-another-galaxy block on Ayton will be remembered. But it will be remembered—forever, without exception—as his signature NBA moment.
Dan Favale covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@danfavale), and listen to his Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by NBA Math's Adam Fromal.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Says His Knee 'Feels Great' Ahead of Suns vs. Bucks Game 4
Jul 13, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbles during the second half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo gave a positive health update Tuesday ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night.
According to Mark Medina of USA Today, Giannis said: "My knee is good. It feels great."
Antetokounmpo missed the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals with a hyperextended knee, but he managed to get back in the lineup for Game 1 of the NBA Finals and has now scored over 40 points in back-to-back games.
Although Giannis missed one week between Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals and Game 1 of the NBA Finals, he performed well in that contest, finishing with 20 points and 17 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns.
He has raised his level of play significantly the past two games, though, going for 42 points and 12 rebounds in Game 2 and 41 points and 13 rebounds in Game 3.
Giannis has been especially proficient at getting to the free-throw line, attempting a combined 35 free throws over the past two games. That shows a willingness to get to the paint and a comfortability with his health since he has absorbed plenty of contact.
The Bucks fell behind 2-0 in the series, primarily due to the fact that Antetokounmpo didn't get much help from his supporting cast.
Milwaukee bounced back to win Game 3 at home 120-100, and it was a team effort with Jrue Holiday scoring 21 points and Khris Middleton pitching in 18.
If Giannis is legitimately healthy and continues to play at his current level, the Bucks have a strong chance to even the series Wednesday night.
While Antetokounmpo entered this season as the two-time reigning NBA MVP, there were questions about his ability to get the job done in the playoffs.
After leading the Bucks past Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in the second round, reaching the NBA Finals and putting up huge numbers through three games, he is starting to silence his doubters.
If the Bucks are going to win their first NBA championship since 1971, they will need Holiday and Middleton to continue playing like they did in Game 3.
Above all else, though, they need a dominant Giannis, and his health figures to play a big role in whether he is able to keep up his current NBA Finals pace.
A 2-Time MVP with No Bag? What the Giannis Skill Police Don't Understand
Jul 13, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 11: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks talks with the media after the game against the Phoenix Suns during Game Three of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 11, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).
Depending on how long the series goes, we're roughly halfway through the 2021 NBA Finals, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has been, by far, the series' best player.
Among the 16 from the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns with at least 10 field-goal attempts, Giannis leads in points, rebounds, blocks, free throws and box plus/minus (BPM is "a basketball box score-based metric that estimates a basketball player’s contribution to the team when that player is on the court," according to Basketball Reference).
In fact, Giannis' 14.3 BPM would be the second-highest for a single Finals on record (the number is tracked on a game-by-game basis back to the 1984-85 season). If he finished with that number, only Michael Jordan's 16.0 in the 1991 Finals would be superior.
For Antetokounmpo, this series should bring some sense of validation, following disappointing postseasons from his Bucks in 2019 and 2020. For his critics, it should be evidence that there's more to his game than the obvious physical traits.
"I wish I could be 7 feet, run and just dunk. That takes no skill at all," James Hardentold ESPN's Rachel Nichols in February 2020. "I gotta actually learn how to play basketball and how to have skill. I'll take that any day."
Harden had finished second to Giannis in 2019 MVP voting, and he was a candidate again in 2019-20 when this interview happened (and of course, Giannis won again). In the heat of their mini rivalry, and not long removed from a nationally televised quip from Giannis about Harden's unwillingness to pass, the comment isn't that surprising. And it also may not be that unusual.
After Game 2, ESPN's Richard Jefferson said, "When Giannis is at his best ... you don't know if everyone benefits around that."
Another personality and former player from that network, Kendrick Perkins, insisted that Giannis is more of a Robin to Khris Middleton's Batman.
Those comments aren't directly on point with Harden's or the subject at hand, but they may be a symptom of a years-long debate on the amount of skill possessed by Giannis.
In February, Giannis seemingly entered the debate himself, posting a highlight reel with a simple caption.
The video is obviously far from dispositive. And even Antetokounmpo would likely admit that his size and athleticism have something to do with his dominance. But the point should be well taken.
Giannis isn't the ball-handler Finals opponent Chris Paul is, but we shouldn't be comparing him to lifetime point guards. Over the course of NBA history, how many players Giannis' size (6'11" and 242 pounds) were trusted to lead fast breaks, run half-court sets and isolate from anywhere on the floor?
Sure, plenty facilitated from the post or mastered the dribble-handoff game, but prior to the last few years, trusting players as big as Giannis to handle the ball and create was exceptionally rare.
With as high as his center of gravity is, Giannis' ability to keep crossovers low enough to avoid swiping hands is impressive. The agility it takes to Eurostep the way he does is something most big men could never dream of. And his spin move is like something out of Madden football.
It should also be noted that the ability to collect himself for finishes off the glass after such dynamic attacks is no small feat either.
Europeans like Arvydas Sabonis, Toni Kukoc and Hedo Turkoglu had plenty of playmaking responsibility, but they were nowhere near as explosive with it as Giannis is. Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnett may be the closest comps.
Both were trusted to bring the ball up the floor after a miss. And both were reliable drive-and-kick guys. Neither occupied the role of point man as often as Giannis does, though. And a career mark of 12.1 points generated by assists per 36 minutes suggests he's done a decent job in that role.
Giannis also isn't quite the passer Sabonis was or reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is. That doesn't mean his own exploits there are without merit.
He can get to the paint at will. His kickouts feel more Westbrook-ian than LeBron-like, but they're still effective. His force-of-nature drives pull defenders in the paint. Having the vision and awareness necessary to pass out of those drives, even if it isn't always right to the shooting pocket, is absolutely a skill. And again, it's one that few bigs prior to this era possessed.
He can also dominate with skills that are generally less celebrated than the highlight-generating step-backs or protracted isolations.
His vertical gravity as a rim runner and offensive rebounder are impactful. And though his inconsistent shooting has allowed opposing defenses to sag into the paint when he runs the pick-and-roll this postseason, he was dynamic there in the regular season. He's a half-court weapon, despite what you may hear in the media or read in comment threads.
Play Type
Points per Possession Rank
PnR Ball-Handler
90th Percentile
Isolation
86th Percentile
Putback
84th Percentile
Transition
75th Percentile
PnR Roll Man
60th Percentile
When you put it all together, it's not hard to see why Milwaukee's half-court offense put up 4.4 more points per 100 possessions and ranked in the 92nd percentile when Giannis was on the floor in 2020-21.
That shooting can be a problem, though. Career marks of 28.7 percent from three and 71.7 percent from the line suggest he may never conquer that final frontier, but fans and analysts wanting that might just be greedy. If Giannis shot like KD, we're talking about the invincible 7-foot nightmare you created on NBA 2K as a kid.
Even without that, he's put up numbers over the last three seasons that would've been unfathomable in previous eras: 28.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals in just 32.1 minutes. That's basically prime Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with a bit more passing.
And we haven't even touched on the skill required for a 7-footer to stay with guards on the perimeter, protect the rim and clean the glass. Much of the above doesn't fall into what we typically think as "bag"-type skills, but they are skills, nonetheless.
And if they allow him to generate this kind of production without taking a ton of step-back jumpers, fine.
Look, no one could reasonably argue that Giannis is as refined as Durant, Harden or plenty of other guards and wings. His bag of tricks isn't likely to ever be as deep as theirs.
But when you combine the amount of skill he does have with his unique combination of size and athleticism, you get a fairly obvious choice for two MVP awards and someone who's dominating the Finals in a way few others have.
Given Phoenix's home-court advantage and a roster that currently appears a bit deeper (unless Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday step up), the Bucks could very well lose this series, but it won't be on the hyper-skilled point center from Greece.
To this point in the Finals, Milwaukee is plus-10.3 points per 100 possessions when Giannis plays and minus-39.5 when he sits.
Not bad for a "Robin" who just runs and dunks.
Giannis Is the Star, but Jrue Holiday Is the Key for the Bucks to Win the Finals
Jul 12, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - JULY 11: Jrue Holiday #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during Game Three of the 2021 NBA Finals on July 11, 2021 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the best player throughout the 2020-21 NBA Finals, and that includes the two losses with which the Milwaukee Bucks opened the series. But after Sunday's 120-100 win over the Phoenix Suns, it appears he may not be the key.
Despite being less than two weeks removed from a brutal-looking hyperextension of his left knee, Milwaukee can pretty much expect dominance from the two-time MVP. With his 41 points and 13 rebounds, he joined Shaquille O'Neal as the only other player with back-to-back 40-10 games in the NBA Finals.
Only two players in NBA history had 40+ points and 10+ rebounds in back-to-back Finals games.
Even with a similar performance in Game 2 from Giannis, the Bucks lost. And the obvious difference between then and now is Jrue Holiday.
In the first two Finals outings against Phoenix, Holiday averaged 13.5 points on 17.5 attempts per game. He was minus-19 over the two games. And in Game 2 alone, the number of layups he smoked didn't seem possible for an NBA player (especially one who was acquired for three first-round picks and two pick swaps).
Jrue Holiday missed eight layups last night. Can't really scheme or matchup your way around that.
— Mike Prada. (PRAY-duh) (@MikePradaNBA) July 9, 2021
On Sunday, Holiday was a completely different player (on offense, but we'll talk more about that distinction later). He finished with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting. He hit five threes, dished out nine assists and was a game-high plus-22.
In the third quarter, after the Suns had shaved 11 points off a 15-point halftime deficit in just under seven minutes, Holiday rerouted control of the game back to the Bucks with timely shooting. He hit back-to-back threes right after the run and then added a third to bump the lead back up to 14 with a minute-and-a-half left in the frame.
Giannis sort of took it from there, but it was Holiday's momentum killers that paved the way for him to close things out.
This Jekyll-and-Hyde act from Holiday didn't just pop up in the Finals, though. He's been all over the production map this postseason.
Box plus/minus ("a basketball box score-based metric that estimates a basketball player's contribution to the team when that player is on the court," according to Basketball Reference) provides a decent illustration of the volatility.
Anything under minus-2.0 is considered the kind of production you'd get from an end-of-the-bench player. Holiday has had four such games this postseason (and another three with production around that of a bench player). On the other end of the spectrum, he's had four games in which he's played like an MVP.
And with a few exceptions here and there, the Bucks have kind of gone as Holiday goes. He's averaging more rebounds, assists and steals in Milwaukee's wins than he is in losses. His average game score ("a rough measure of a player's productivity for a single game," according to Basketball Reference) is higher in wins too.
In the aggregate, though, Holiday has been a plus throughout this postseason. All the "Jrue Bledsoe" jokes of the last few weeks really aren't fair, even if some of the numbers look similar.
Eric Bledsoe playoff shooting splits with the Bucks: — 41.1 FG% — 25.4 3P% — 73.2 FT%
Jrue Holiday playoff shooting splits with the Bucks: — 41.1 FG% — 28.9 3P% — 67.3 FT% pic.twitter.com/1PRn67M4k2
What shooting splits—and even counting stats like points, rebounds and assists—fail to show is defensive impact. And though stats will likely always fall short if truly measuring that, there are some that at least try.
In his three postseasons with the Bucks, Eric Bledsoe had a minus-0.8 box plus/minus. Even with his struggles from the field, Holiday is plus-1.8 during these playoffs. He has an overwhelmingly positive net-rating swing too. Milwaukee is plus-7.2 points per 100 possessions when Holiday is on the floor and minus-3.4 when he's off, per NBA.com.
Stellar on-ball defense, including on Chris Paul, has a lot to do with that impact. His playmaking helps too, but the way he can affect individual possessions without having the ball sets him apart from most.
Prior to the Bucks putting Holiday on CP3 full-time, the Suns point guard was averaging a minuscule 1.6 turnovers in the playoffs. In Games 2 and 3, after that switch was made, the Point God suddenly looked mortal.
CP3 with 10 turnovers the last two games — after the Bucks decided to turn Jrue loose on him
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) July 12, 2021
When you combine that defensive ability with Giannis' all-timer production and even a dash of offense from Holiday, the Bucks look like a juggernaut, as they did Sunday.
When Holiday or Khris Middleton miss a bunch of open looks, it may be easy for some fans and analysts to forget that, but Giannis didn't waver after going down 2-0.
"I know he's going to be there when we need him the most and I don't worry about it," he said after Game 2. "He's a great basketball player. He's played great all year and he's going to continue to play great for this team."
Notice that he didn't say that Holiday is going to "start" playing great. Making shots is obviously important, but Holiday brings so much more. The contributions that come from effort will always be there. If the shooting sticks around, the Bucks have a heck of a shot at their first title since 1971, and Holiday will prove well worth the massive trade package.
Giannis on MJ's 4 Consecutive 40-point Games in 1993 Finals: 'I'm Not Michael Jordan'
Jul 12, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts to a basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals in Milwaukee, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Milwaukee won 120-100. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Michael Jordan remains the gold standard of all NBA comparisons, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was quick to shut down even the mention of his name alongside His Airness.
"I'm not Michael Jordan," he told reporters after leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 120-100 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Sunday's Game 3 of the 2021 NBA Finals. "All I care about right now is getting one more [win]."
Reporter: "Michael Jordan had 4 straight 40-point games against the Suns in the NBA Finals ..."
The comparison was brought up because Jordan scored 40 or more points in four straight NBA Finals games against the Suns in 1993. Antetokounmpo is halfway there with back-to-back games of more than 40 points against the same franchise.
The biggest difference for Giannis between his 42 points in Game 2 and his 41 points in Game 3 was the result.
Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton shot a combined 12-of-37 (32.4 percent) from the field during the Game 2 loss, rendering the two-time MVP's performance moot. That was not the case Sunday, as Holiday notched 21 points and nine assists behind 5-of-10 shooting from deep, while Middleton added 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists. The two also went 14-of-28 from the field (50 percent).
That, along with a dominant showing from Antetokounmpo, was enough to close the deficit to 2-1 in the series and give the Bucks an opportunity to tie things up Wednesday before the Finals shift back to Phoenix.
Antetokounmpo overpowered the Suns' frontcourt throughout the game, didn't settle for three-pointers and broke out in transition whenever given the opportunity.
As for those Jordan comparisons?
Well, MJ led the Chicago Bulls to the title in 1993, clinching the first of two three-peats in his legendary career. He scored 42 points in Game 2, 44 in Game 3, 55 in Game 4 and 41 in Game 5 before closing out Game 6 with 33 points.
He was at the peak of his powers and in the prime of his career.
Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, still has his work cut out for him just to win his first title.
Giannis Jokes He's 'Just Here Not to Get Fined' at NBA Finals Press Conference
Jul 10, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 2 of basketball's NBA Finals, Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo took a page out of former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch's book while talking to the media Saturday.
When asked whether he was excited to play in front of the home fans during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, Giannis offered a funny response:
"I'm just here not to get fined," Giannis said, before laughing and making it clear he was joking.
The line was a throwback to when Lynch—while he was playing for the Seattle Seahawks in 2015—spoke to the media prior to Super Bowl XLIX against the New England Patriots.
Rather than answering the questions asked of him, Lynch would only say, "I'm just here so I won't get fined," multiple times:
Lynch was never a big fan of speaking to the media, so he found a loophole to fulfill his obligations without having to say much at all.
The Seahawks went on to lose Super Bowl XLIX when quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception at New England's goal line in the closing seconds, and head coach Pete Carroll has received plenty of criticism ever since for not handing Lynch the ball instead.
Giannis' spoof of Lynch came on the heels of Milwaukee dropping each of the first two games of the 2021 NBA Finals to the Phoenix Suns.
It was unclear going into the series whether Antetokounmpo would be able to play at all after suffering a leg injury in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks, but he has been up to the challenge.
In a Game 2 loss to Phoenix on Thursday, Giannis put up 42 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. He received little help from his teammates, though, resulting in a 118-108 defeat.
The Bucks' backs are against the wall as the series shifts back to Milwaukee since a loss in Game 3 would likely face the Bucks with an insurmountable deficit.
The fact that Giannis is in good spirits despite the 2-0 series deficit may be a positive sign for the Bucks, as they prepare for Game 3 on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
