The Milwaukee Bucks scored a huge win on Monday night against the defending Eastern Conference champs, the Miami Heat. This was thanks in large part to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard both doing their thing for the Bucks.
Milwaukee’s star pairing combined for 58 points as they led their team to a 122-114 victory over a shorthanded Miami side.
Stephen A. Smith Sounds Off on Milwaukee Bucks’ Superstar Duo
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith had nothing but high praise for Giannis and Dame. The renowned broadcaster pointed out how Antetokounmpo has lived up to his earlier statement about letting Dame be Dame now that he’s joined the Bucks:
“I’m feeling fantastic about it,” Stephen A said. “Dame dropped 25 last night, was incredibly efficient. … This is Damian Lillard that we’re talking about I think the thing that we have to peel from it is the level of deference that Giannis accords him: ‘It’s time to close, here’s the ball.’ But when he struggled, ‘Okay, I’ll take it over.’
“That’s what it’s all about when you have an elite duo like that. Feeding off of each other the way they’re feeding off of each other. We expected this as the season progressed. They came out of the box this way, and that’s what I like about it.”
"We expected this as the season progressed- they came out of the box this way, and that's what I like about it." 🔥 @stephenasmith and @shannonsharpe are loving what they see from Giannis and Dame so far this season. pic.twitter.com/jALrG8IBwn
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 31, 2023
As Smith said, he expected a learning curve between these two stars. However, he’s been pleasantly surprised by how well these two have gelled from the get-go.
It’s Time to Deliver
For his part, Stephen A’s co-host, Shannon Sharpe, continued to pile the pressure on the Bucks and their superstars. Sharpe reminded everyone that Giannis and Lillard have no other option but to make this partnership work out. There’s just too much at stake for them not to be on the same page:
“This is the best player Dame has ever played with, this is the best player Giannis has ever played with,” Sharpe said. “Okay, now go make it work. This is what you wanted, Giannis. Dame, this is what you wanted. … They’re doing it.”
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