For the first time since 2022, the Milwaukee Bucks have a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo for the NBA Playoffs. In 2023, he injured his back in the first round against the Miami Heat and missed much of the series. Last year, he strained his calf near the end of the regular season and missed Milwaukee’s entire opening series loss to the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks were knocked out in the first round on both occasions.
Last season, too, the Bucks’ two other main scoring options, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton, were limited by injuries of their own. Middleton was traded midseason for Kyle Kuzma and Lillard, unfortunately, will not be ready for Game One.
The good news, though, is that Milwaukee’s All-Star point guard has been cleared to start ramping up for a return to competition after being diagnosed with a blood clot four weeks ago.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Reveals the One Thing the Milwaukee Bucks Must Do Better in Order to Beat the Indiana Pacers
As mentioned, the goods news for the Bucks is that Giannis is healthy for the postseason for the first time since 2022. Even though he is not really considered to be the NBA MVP this year, he had one of the best seasons in league history. For the second year in a row, the Greek Freak averaged over 30 points per game while shooting 60% from the field.
He is the only player in NBA history to accomplish that feat, and he has done it in back-to-back seasons.
However, Giannis believes that the most important thing that Milwaukee needs to do in order to defeat the Pacers in the opening round is not an improvement on offense, but rather an aspect of their defense.
“We gotta do a better job just communicating, getting back,” Giannis said (via Sports Illustrated). “And then, when we get back, identify where the ball is. And when we identify where the ball is, then we gotta protect our home, which is the paint. If we do those things, we put ourselves in a better position to be successful.”
One of the most frustrating things about Milwaukee’s defense this season has been how slow they are to get back on defense, even after a made basket. It was not uncommon to see opponents quickly inbound the ball after a Bucks’ made shot, hurry down the court, and score a quick bucket themselves before all of the Bucks players were back on defense.
That has to change against Indiana, as Giannis pointed out. The Pacers are younger and will try to play quickly as to tire out the Bucks, or simply play too fast for aging players like Brook Lopez.
It will be up to head coach Doc Rivers, and the players themselves, to figure out how to keep Indiana at bay in the transition game. If they can do that, there is a very good chance that they will win this series, with or without Lillard.
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