If you look at the standings, you might say that the fact that the Milwaukee Bucks are currently 2-2 isn’t so bad. However, if you consider how both of their losses came in the form of ugly blowouts, it’s hard to deny that this squad is going through some very early-season struggles at the moment.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Demands Conversations Within Milwaukee Bucks
Even Giannis Antetokounmpo himself isn’t shying away from the fact that his team hasn’t been playing up to par. At this point, the former back-to-back MVP has emphasized the need for proper communication within the team. It’s not just about remaining positive by encouraging each other throughout these ordeals but also, Antetokounmpo wants the bitter truth to come out:
“Player to player. Coaches to coaches. Players to coaches. Every single conversation, everything helps. Everybody,” Antetokounmpo said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “And you’ve got to have tough conversations too. Because some things don’t work and sometimes players make wrong plays and things that players think that work, it doesn’t work.
“So you got to have tough conversation between players to players, coaches to coaches, between players and coaches, coaches to players. You just have tough conversations. We got to keep that conversation going because if you just keep and turn to yourself and don’t speak your mind, it’s not going to work.“
It sounds to me like Antetokounmpo himself has a few things on his chest that he’d like to vocalize. It also seems like he doesn’t plan on holding back as he looks to air his frustrations toward his teammates and the coaching staff.
At the same time, Giannis knows that it goes both ways. The Bucks talisman isn’t the type who avoids criticism and he is well aware of the fact that he has to be ready to take whatever he gives out. At the end of the day, the ultimate objective is to make this team better — and right now, they have a long way to go.
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1 Comment
I’m not sure he knows it goes both ways. I saw a look of massive frustration on Dame’s face last night and he was really upset late in the game when Giannis failed to make cuts out of the pick and roll (he inexplicably went above the 3 point line both times and demanded the ball; he needs to realize he doesn’t need to be a playmaker anymore or have to take on difficult and ineffective drives himself).
I think his ego has gotten a bit out of control. He could be so much more efficient and score more if he ran the pick and roll correctly. He seems to resent the fact that Dame is such an awful defender, which is made worse by the fact that Beasley has also not improved much as a defender. And Giannis should have known they were getting that in Dame.
It seems to be time for Marjon to take over the starting role from Beasley, who could then provide pop off the bench (Bobby is still zero for 2023). And maybe even consider AJJ backing up Dame for even more stifling defense when Beas comes in for Marjon (and where do Pat’s minutes go?).
I felt a little hopeless after the blow outs, but I think it can be fixed.
If GIANNIS can take some criticism. He’s the one fouling up the offense, because he’s not a skilled offensive player, except at finishing at the rim.