Bucks' Jrue Holiday: 'I Feel Like I'm the Defensive Player of the Year Every Year'
May 12, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (21) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Monday, May 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Milwaukee Bucks star Jrue Holiday holds his defense in high esteem.
Speaking to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Holiday said, "I feel like I'm the Defensive Player of the Year every year."
As a backcourt player, Holiday is routinely matched up against the best shooters on opposing teams.
Haynes noted that Holiday was the primary defender for 584 possessions against opponents who ranked in the top 10 in points per game through May 5.
Holiday is one of five players with at least 90 assists and 30 blocks this season. Nikola Jokic, Robert Covington, Matisse Thybulle and Danny Green are the others, per Haynes.
Michael Kaskey-Blomain of CBS Sports didn't even include Holiday among his top five finalists for 2020-21 Defensive Player of the Year.
It's often more difficult for guards to get recognized in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Centers and power forwards are routinely around the rim and the last line of defense to the basket, so it's easier to measure their impact on that end of the court.
The last true guard to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year was Gary Payton in 1995-96. Ron Artest (2003-04) and Kawhi Leonard (2014-15, 2015-16) are the only non-centers/power forwards to win the award in the past 24 seasons.
Despite being a standout defender throughout his career, Holiday hasn't been named to the All-Defensive team since the 2018-19 season when he was voted to the second team.
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Gifts 8-Year-Old Fan His Sneakers After Magic Game
May 12, 2021
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 11: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks warms up prior to the game against the Orlando Magic on May 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis
Antetokounmpo gifted his game-used shoes from Tuesday's 114-102 win
over the Orlando Magic to a fan celebrating his eighth birthday at
Fiserv Forum.
TMZ Sports reported the young fan held
up a sign that read: "Giannis, today is my 8th birthday. Wanna
trade shoes?"
The Greek Freak didn't accept the offer
of a shoe trade, but he did provide the fan with his custom Size 16
Nike Zoom Freak 2s, per TMZ.
Antetokounmpo put on a show for
everybody in attendance with 27 points, 12 rebounds, five
assists and three steals in 32 minutes to help Milwaukee improve to 44-25.
The two-time defending NBA MVP is
averaging 28.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2
blocks through 59 appearances during the 2020-21 campaign.
He's going to face ample pressure once
the playoffs get underway, though. The Bucks have been a chief
championship contender in recent years but haven't reached the Finals, and this year's path through the Eastern Conference
likely includes a matchup with the star-studded Brooklyn Nets.
Regardless of how the seasons turns
out, Antetokounmpo earned a fan for life with his gesture Tuesday
night.
Bucks Rumors: Mike Budenholzer 'Likely Gone' as HC Without Deep Playoff Run
May 5, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game Philadelphia 76ers Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer reportedly needs a "deep playoff run" this season in order to save his job.
According to Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic, it is believed that anything short of a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals will almost certainly result in Budenholzer's firing.
Budenholzer, who is in the midst of his third season with the Bucks, owns a 154-63 record in Milwaukee, but the Bucks have been unable to break through with a trip to the NBA Finals.
Milwaukee finished with the best record in the NBA in each of the past two seasons, and it had the NBA MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo in each of those campaigns as well.
Even so, the Bucks fell to the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 and to the eventual Eastern Conference finalist Miami Heat in the second round last season.
Budenholzer was seemingly on the hot seat earlier this season after the Bucks got off to an uneven start, but they are now third in the Eastern Conference at 41-24 and are just 1.5 games behind the Brooklyn Nets for second place in the conference.
The Bucks are in the midst of a three-game winning streak and have won six of their past eight. With Milwaukee playing some of its best basketball, Charania and Amick noted that there is "internal confidence" within the team that the Bucks are the best team in the East.
Charania and Amick also reported that the "team dynamics are very healthy," but that doesn't guarantee Budenholzer will be back for the final year of his contract in 2021-22.
Budenholzer is reportedly battling against the perception that he played a big role in the Bucks' shortcomings last season, with Charania and Amick reporting that there was a "great deal of frustration" toward Budenholzer last season because of the belief that he didn't adjust accordingly to beat Miami in the playoffs.
Budenholzer has a hugely talented team at his disposal, with Giannis leading a group that also includes Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, among others.
A trip to the Eastern Conference Finals or better is far from certain since the Bucks may have to face either the Nets or Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, but that is the expectation for Budenholzer given the team that has been put around him.
Giannis, Bucks Beat Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Nets to Take Season Series
May 5, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets' Blake Griffin during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, May 4, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Make it two for the Milwaukee Bucks, who claimed the season series over the Brooklyn Nets with a 124-118 win on Tuesday night at Fiserv Forum.
Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 36 points for the Bucks, who are 41-24 and chasing the Nets for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. With the win, Milwaukee is now just 1.5 games behind Brooklyn.
For the 43-23 Nets, Kyrie Irving scored 38 points.
Notable Performers
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: 36 PTS, 12 REB
Jrue Holiday, Bucks: 23 PTS, 10 AST, 8 REB
Kyrie Irving, Nets: 38 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB
Kevin Durant, Nets: 32 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST
A Strong Showing From Giannis (and His Friends)
On Sunday, Milwaukee's weakness was its secondary scoring, as only three players finished the night in double digits. If Tuesday was going to be anything like the earlier game, that would have spelled trouble, as Antetokounmpo earned his third personal foul early in the second quarter.
He and Jrue Holiday were leading the scoring in the opening 12 minutes, and it was Bryn Forbes who stepped up to keep the Bucks moving while he was off the court. With the game tied at 55, the Bucks broke out on an 11-3 run to end the half, headlined by three three-pointers from Forbes, who ended the second quarter with 11 points.
Antetokounmpo had a game-high 21 points—marking the third consecutive half that he has scored at least 20 points on the Nets.
He had little trouble cruising to 30 points before the start of the fourth but couldn't hold off a Nets advance with little help behind him. It seemed like the Bucks had outrun their depth woes, but with the clock ticking, they came back to put them in a precarious scenario.
The Nets came into the fourth off a major run from Irving, but after going down, the Bucks went on an 18-1 run to take the lead back and push all the way to the finish.
Things looked as though they would start trending in the opposite direction as Irving made the most of his possessions in the third quarter, but Antetokounmpo continued to dominate. And unlike Sunday, Antetokounmpo had backup—Khris Middleton and Donte DiVincenzo worked their way into double-digit scoring by the end of the game, joining their star as well as Holiday and Forbes.
The Nets' stars were able to keep Brooklyn at pace with Milwaukee through most of the first half, but things got dicey later in the frame even when they had a chance to capitalize. When Antetokounmpo landed his third personal foul before there were even five minutes gone in the second frame, Brooklyn struggled to take advantage not just at the line, but all over the court.
The Nets hit just six of their 13 free-throw attempts in the half, missing five in a row at one point in the second quarter. Coupled with sloppy offense that resulted in seven turnovers—and eight Milwaukee points—the Nets took an eight-point deficit into the half.
Durant posted 17 points in the half and was the only member of the team who managed from the line, going 4-of-5 in addition to impressive 6-of-9 shooting from the field.
Kevin Durant looks like he’s ready for the playoffs right now.
Irving logged 14 points in 19 minutes as the team's second-leading scorer, but he also had three fouls by the break.
Things didn't get much better to start the third. But Irving woke up just in time to stop the Bucks from making their 10-point lead into something bigger, logging 16 in the frame to give Brooklyn the lead heading into the fourth.
Irving's emergence helped the Nets get back in it, and a pair of free throws from their top player at the line with 1:02 to go inched them closer, but it wasn't enough to pull them past the Bucks after a messy first half.
What's Next?
Milwaukee will host the Washington Wizards on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
The Nets will head to Dallas for a Thursday tip against the Mavericks at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Bucks Clinch 2021 NBA Playoff Spot; Latest East Standings, Postseason Picture
May 5, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is congratulated after dunking the ball for a basket by Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis (9) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in Denver. Milwaukee won 125-112. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Milwaukee Bucks will be back in the playoffs for the fifth straight season after clinching a postseason berth with a victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
Here is a look at the Eastern Conference standings:
By a few different measures, the Bucks have gone backward slightly after finishing 2.5 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their winning percentage has dipped from .767 to .631, and they sit second in net rating (6.3), down from first (9.4) in 2019-20, per NBA.com.
Regular-season success is no longer the barometer for this franchise, though. Everything the team achieved was overshadowed by losing to the Miami Heat in five games in the conference semifinals.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo agreeing to a five-year, $228 million supermax extension, there isn't quite the same immediacy to win right now. Ahead of the trade deadline, for example, the front office didn't have to operate under the belief the two-time MVP might bolt in the summer.
Of course, anything short of a trip to the NBA Finals will likely be considered a disappointment and once again raise questions over whether the Bucks are doing enough to support Antetokounmpo on the court.
In that regard, no Milwaukee player is likely to be under the microscope more than Jrue Holiday.
The organization has invested a lot in the veteran guard in the hope he proves to be the missing piece in the playoffs. The Bucks gave up three first-round picks to acquire the 30-year-old and then handed him a four-year extension that could reportedly be worth up to $160 million.
Holiday has played well in his first year with the team. He's averaging 17.3 points, 5.8 assists and 1.7 steals while hitting 38.7 percent of his three-pointers.
Giving up what they did and agreeing to such a sizable contract are both defensible moves by the Bucks because attracting free agents to Milwaukee is difficult, even when you have a top-five talent already in Antetokounmpo.
But they could be in trouble if Holiday is unable to raise their playoff ceiling. At the very least a coaching change could be on the cards.
Giannis Antetokounmpo out for Bucks vs. Bulls Because of Ankle Injury
Apr 30, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) gestures during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, March 15, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Antetokounmpo suffered the injury in the first minute of the Bucks' 143-136 road loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday. NBA.com provided more information:
"He appeared to step on the foot of Kelly Olynyk, rolling what was already an injured ankle. He limped to the locker room and spent a few minutes there before returning to the bench, where he sat for the rest of the game.
"Antetokounmpo entered the game listed as probable with a right ankle sprain."
Antetokounmpo, the two-time defending NBA Most Valuable Player, has put together another standout season for the Bucks. He's averaged 28.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks across 53 appearances during the 2020-21 campaign.
The 26-year-old five-time All-Star has mostly dealt with minor ailments throughout his eight-year NBA career, and that trend has continued this season.
Bobby Portis figures to receive the biggest uptick in playing time when the Greek Freak is unavailable. It should also create more chances for P.J. Tucker as part of the frontcourt rotation. Tucker notably replaced Antetokounmpo in the lineup on Thursday post-injury, and he started for him in the second half too.
The arrival of Jrue Holiday this season has at least taken some pressure off Antetokounmpo's shoulders, but his health is still the most important factor in the Bucks' playoff push. Milwaukee has a golden opportunity to make a deep run if he's at full strength.
Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Ruled Out vs. Rockets After Ankle Injury
Apr 29, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) controls the ball during an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Antetokounmpo played less than a minute before suffering the injury.
The two-time MVP had already missed six games earlier this month due to left knee soreness and could now miss more time with this right ankle sprain. He initially suffered a left knee sprain in late March but missed only one game before returning to the floor.
He remains one of the top players in the league when healthy, entering the day with averages of 28.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
Extended absences were previously rare for Antetokounmpo, who never missed more than 10 regular-season games in any of his first seven years in the NBA.
The 26-year-old did deal with an ankle injury during the 2020 postseason, limiting the forward as the Miami Heat eliminated the Bucks in the second round of the playoffs.
Milwaukee obviously takes a step back whenever Giannis is unavailable, putting pressure on other players like Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday to take on bigger roles offensively. Bobby Portis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo should also see extra minutes until the superstar is back to full strength.
Bucks Offering COVID-19 Vaccines to Fans Attending Sunday's Game vs. Nets
Apr 27, 2021
FILE - In this July 29, 2020 file photo, The Fiserv Forum is seen in Milwaukee. Election officials said Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, that they scrapped their plans to use the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers' stadiums as early voting sites in the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin. Milwaukee's election commission had planned to use Fiserv Forum and Miller Park between Oct. 20 and Nov. 1 as sites where people could have voted early in-person or returned absentee ballots they received by mail. The commission developed the plan in an effort to provide safe voting sites during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Morry Gash File)
The Milwaukee Bucks have partnered with the Milwaukee Health Department to offer COVID-19 vaccines for fans attending an upcoming game.
Per an official release from the team, all fans aged 16 or older attending Sunday's game against the Brooklyn Nets can receive their first Pfizer vaccine shot.
"We strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated and are pleased to team with the Milwaukee Health Department to give fans this easy and convenient opportunity," Bucks president Peter Feigin said. "This is a critical time for all of us to take the necessary step that will help return our lives to normal. Let’s make this happen together."
Officials from the Milwaukee Health Department will be on-site to schedule the second dose of the vaccine for fans who participate.
Health officials will administer shots starting a 1 p.m. local time through the end of the game.
The Bucks received permission to begin hosting fans at Fiserv Forum beginning Feb. 16 with a 10 percent capacity limit. City health officials gave the go-ahead to increase fan capacity to 18 percent (3,280 fans) starting on March 20 against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Nets-Bucks game on May 2 will tip off at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Giannis Drops 15 in Return from Knee Injury as Bucks Best Trae Young, Hawks
Apr 16, 2021
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 15, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks earned a 120-109 road win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday at State Farm Arena.
Reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court after missing six straight games with left knee soreness. He had 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, five rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes.
Hawks point guard and leading scorer Trae Young returned after missing two games with a bruised left calf. He went scoreless in the first half before finishing the game with 15 points on 3-of-17 shooting.
Milwaukee used a 16-2 run that spanned the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth to help turn a slight 82-80 edge into a 98-82 lead. The Bucks never led by fewer than eight points for the remainder of the game.
The Bucks clearly won the battle of the second units on this night, with Milwaukee reserves scoring 44 points to Atlanta bench players' 16. Seven Bucks scored in double digits, led by Jrue Holiday's 23.
The Hawks remained without John Collins (left ankle sprain), De'Andre Hunter (right knee soreness) and Cam Reddish (right Achilles soreness). Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic paced all scorers with 28 points (10-of-20 overall, 6-of-12 three-point shooting).
The 35-20 Bucks have won three straight games, and the 30-26 Hawks' three-game win streak ended with the defeat.
Notable Performances
Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
Bucks C Brook Lopez: 19 points, 12 rebounds
Hawks G Trae Young: 15 points, 9 assists
Hawks C Clint Capela: 16 points, 16 rebounds
Hawks G Bogdan Bogdanovic: 28 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
Hawks F Kevin Huerter: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Giannis Returns, Bucks Roll
Antetokounmpo didn't post gaudy statistics in his return as he usually does, but the Bucks still cruised en route to a fairly comfortable 11-point road win.
The two-time NBA MVP didn't look particularly rusty, though, like when he took just two dribbles from half court to the hoop for an early layup:
Antetokounmpo didn't put the team on his back, but he didn't need to on this night with the Bucks' second unit doing so well.
He only played 25 minutes in his return and was able to rest at the end of the game with the game well in the Bucks' control.
Overall, the night couldn't have gone much better for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks as they welcomed back their superstar en route to making a run at the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed.
Young, Hawks' Second Unit Struggle in Defeat
Young's return to the court did not go as well as Antetokounmpo's, as he missed all six of his first-half field goals and didn't score until there was 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.
It appeared that bucket, which preceded a free throw to complete a three-point play, would result in Young turning his game around. He eventually scored nine points in a 3:09 span to help pull the Hawks within 82-80 late in the third quarter.
That wasn't meant to be, though. Young's shot didn't fall, and turnovers were a consistent problem, with the ex-Oklahoma star committing six on the night.
It's not too much to be concerned about. Sure, Young struggled, but he also missed five shots within 12 feet of the hoop in the first half and eight overall. He's simply not going 0-for-whatever on most nights from that distance.
Off the bench, the Hawks' reserves could not get much going.
Hawks guard Lou Williams finished with a minus-27. Nathan Knight missed all five of his field goals, and Brandon Goodwin played 10 scoreless minutes. Rookie center Onyeka Okongwu scored eight points in nine minutes, but he also had three fouls. The Bucks outscored the Hawks by at least 10 points with each of those players on the floor.
On the other end, the Bucks reserves were menaces all night, with Pat Connaughton notably finishing at plus-21 and Jeff Teague ending at plus-18. Those two plus Bobby Portis and P.J. Tucker, who made up the four primary Bucks reserves, combined for 44 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists.
It wasn't a good night for the Hawks, but they can take solace in the fact that they're still 16-6 under head coach Nate MacMillan and a likely shoo-in for the Eastern Conference playoffs thanks to their efforts over the past few months following a 14-20 start.
What's Next?
Milwaukee will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m. ET. Atlanta will welcome the Indiana Pacers into town on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Joe Johnson Reportedly Schedules Bucks Workout amid NBA Comeback Bid
Apr 13, 2021
Detroit Pistons guard Joe Johnson runs on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Joe Johnson reportedly isn't done with his NBA career just yet.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com, the veteran wing "has an upcoming workout with the Milwaukee Bucks later this week."
Johnson, 39, is a seven-time All-Star and was a 2009-10 All-NBA third-team selection. He averaged 16 points per game over his career and averaged 20 or more points per game five times in his career.
His last NBA appearance came with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets in the 2017-18 season, averaging 6.8 points across 55 games. He signed with the Detroit Pistons in 2019 but was cut before the season.
Johnson also won a BIG3 title and the league's MVP in the 2019 season with the Triplets.
As for Milwaukee, the team has an open roster spot as it looks to win a title this season. The team has fallen short in each of the last two seasons despite being the top seed in the Eastern Conference both times and Giannis Antetoukounmpo being the MVP in each campaign.
The Bucks retooled their roster this season, adding Jrue Holiday in a massive offseason trade and bringing aboard P.J. Tucker ahead of the trade deadline. Whether that's enough to help the team catch teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference remains to be seen.
Johnson wouldn't bridge that gap, though he would potentially be a decent depth piece off the bench for the Bucks.
