It is only fitting that the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers ended up squaring off in the first round of the playoffs, a rematch from last year and another chapter in a rivalry that seems to grow with each meeting. From the sidelines in Game 1, Damian Lillard got into it with opposing point guard Tyrese Haliburton. “See you Tuesday,” Lillard could be seen saying. See him Tuesday the Pacers did as Dame returned from a monthlong absence due to a blood clot. Not surprisingly, the two point guards were back at it in Game 2, and they weren’t alone–after Lillard and Pascal Siakam received double techs on Saturday, Siakam and Bobby Portis were T’d up in Game 2.
For Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, the bitter feud is secondary. The two-time MVP has no wish to make enemies.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers Hate Each Other–But Giannis Doesn’t Buy into It
Lillard, who felt the effects of his extended absence late, showed understandable signs of rust. Shooting 4-13 from the field and 2-8 from three, he contributed 14 points and 7 assists in 37 minutes. After the Bucks trailed by 15 over halfway through the fourth quarter, a deep Dame three cut the deficit to two to cap a 13-0 run in under three minutes, but the Pacers pulled away for a 123-115 win. The Bucks head home in a 2-0 hole.
Even having Lillard back and a healthy Giannis, it can’t be a good feeling for fans. Without tremendous difficulty, the Pacers have now overcome the Greek Freak’s 36 points in Game 1 and his 34 points, 18 boards and 7 dimes on Tuesday. For Milwaukee, getting bounced by a hated foe two years in a row would only add insult to injury. But Antetokounmpo feels no ill will, or even dislike, toward his opponents–only an intense spirit of competition.
“I like everybody, man,” he said in his press conference. “I’m just a competitor. I’m not going to come here and say I don’t like him, I don’t like him.”
Although he recognizes the bad blood bred by the teams’ repeated clashes, he isn’t interested in involving himself in skirmishes. “We play one another a lot. I feel like there’s a lot of animosity, a lot of back and forth, but I try to stay away from it.” That said, he noted that antagonists should expect him to bring the pain.
Giannis Embracing Competitive Spirit and Mental Focus Ahead of Game 3
Off-court interactions might follow different guidelines, but Giannis is all seriousness while the clock is ticking. “I’m going to go at you. That’s how I feed my family. I got four kids. I got to care of my family, I got to provide for them.”
In a similar vein, Antetokounmpo said that although he doesn’t hunt trouble, he isn’t opposed to responding. “If you poke me, I’m right there. I’m not backing down. I think a lot of people know that about me. But I really don’t care what people think.”
He hasn’t needed much of an impetus to dominate the first two games. Unfortunately, he has had scant help from the rest of the starting lineup–even Portis’ 28 bench points in Game 2 were not enough to secure a victory.
With the Bucks in a must-win situation on Friday, Giannis’ only focus is on preparing and performing to the best of his abilities. “My mindset right now is Game 3. I know the f—ing deal, man. I know what I got to do.”
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