Do the Milwaukee Bucks have the top duo in the Eastern Conference? According to ESPN Analyst Jay Williams, the answer is a resounding yes.
The pairing got off to a good start, as Milwaukee won Thursday’s game in a back-and-forth 118-117 dogfight, in which Lillard set the record for most points scored in a debut for the Bucks with 39. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 23 points, which for the first time in his career, he didn’t have to be the focal point on offense. Lillard also made a couple of crucial buckets down the stretch to help seal the game.
According to ESPN Analyst Jay Williams, the Milwaukee Bucks have a better duo than the Boston Celtics.
For four years, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were the top duo in the East. But has the pairing of Giannis and Damian Lillard usurped that duo? According to Jay Williams, they already have.
Jay Williams claims that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are already a better duo than Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum
"In one game, Giannis and Dame are more compatible and have less redundancy than the seven-year career of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum."
(Via… pic.twitter.com/VEvT1NNf62
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 27, 2023
“In one-game Giannis and Dame are more compatitable and have less reduncency than the seven-year career of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.”
That’s been the biggest knock on the pairing of Tatum-Brown is that they don’t play off each other well nor do their play styles compliment each other. Giannis is a fantastic passer, but can also get to the hoop and draw fouls. Lillard is an elite long-range shooter but will also set his teammates up for open looks.
However, the media does tend to overreact when two-star players have a good game together. When James Harden was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers to pair with Joel Embiid, those two had a dominant five-game stretch, and they were anointed the next Shaq and Kobe.
Giannis and Dame had a perfect first game together, but every team goes through a rough patch. Will the media still consider those two the top duo in the Eastern Conference?
Do the Milwaukee Bucks have the best duo in the Eastern Conference?
Not quite, but let’s revisit this question a month or two from now. It’s too early to tell if the pairing of Lillard- Antetokounmpo is greater than Brown-Tatum. Boston’s pairing had made an NBA Finals together and knocked off these same Milwaukee Bicks in the postseason.
If Lillard and Giannis make an NBA Finals together, they will be the best duo in the NBA. Until then, let’s see if they live up to the billing a month or two from now.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Celtics get Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?
The Boston Celtics acquired Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown through a trade orchestrated by Danny Ainge, the team's general manager. Ainge's strategic move involving the Brooklyn Nets led to the Celtics selecting Tatum and Brown in the NBA draft, adding to the team's legacy during Ainge's 18-year tenure. This trade is widely regarded as a brilliant strategy that brought these talented players to Boston.
Who does Jayson Tatum train with?
Jayson Tatum trains with NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen and his new position coach Sam Cassell. Tatum mentions that he goes to L.A. every summer to train with Hanlen, and Cassell joined them for a few days of workouts. This training regime helps Tatum enhance his skills during the offseason.