Giannis Antetokounmpo is ramping back toward full form for the Milwaukee Bucks. After missing almost all of December with a calf strain, he returned two weeks ago to carry them over the Bulls in Chicago. The Bucks have gone 5-2 since his return. Even better, Giannis has progressed beyond his initial minutes restriction to eclipse 30 in each of his last four games, indicating that he is near 100%. That trend is exactly what this team needs to see if they’re going to make a pre-trade deadline surge.
With both Giannis and Kevin Porter Jr. healthy, the Bucks are as whole as they are going to be with this version of the roster. As Antetokounmpo continues trending toward uninhibited force, it’s a promising sign that Milwaukee could be about to play some of its most complete basketball since October.
Best could be yet to come as Giannis approaches full availability
The Bucks started the season 4-1, then found themselves 8-5, and until Giannis’ most recent return, it was all downhill since then. Porter rolled his ankle nine minutes into the season, then underwent meniscus surgery. He did not return until November 29.
Giannis has been sidelined in two separate stints – once with a groin strain (the Bucks went 0-5 without him) and then with his calf injury (3-6). Only since the win in Chicago have he and Porter, the team’s two leading scorers, shared the court for any meaningful stretch of games.
Now 17-21 after Friday’s win over the Lakers, Milwaukee is knocking on the door of the play-in, half a game behind Chicago in 10th place. That might not sound like much, but it’s evidence this team might finally be righting the ship after barely keeping its head above water.
Efficient as ever against the Lakers, Giannis went for 21 points on 9-11 from the floor, plus six boards, five dimes, and four stocks. In the final minute, he blocked LeBron James on a layup try, then poked the ball away as James drove in the final seconds to secure a Bucks victory.
Porter supplied a team-high 22 points, six assists, and four steals on 7-14 shooting. He iced the game from the free-throw line with under 20 seconds to go.
Giannis initially gave himself a five to 10 game reconditioning period after returning ahead of schedule from his calf strain. Seven games in, he looks to be quite close, although the Bucks will probably wait to fully unleash him. Topping out at 32 minutes since coming back, he exceeded that number seven times in his first 11 games this season.
That’s more than he should be playing on a nightly basis, but in tight contests late, Doc Rivers needs to be able to lean on him more than he’s been able to as Giannis works his way back.
Things are on the right track, however. They’ve won five of seven with Antetokounmpo at sub-100 form. Even without a trade – and the Bucks put themselves in every rumor – a fully reconditioned Greek Freak and healthy Porter would make them their most forceful all season. It’s just a matter of whenever Giannis is ready, which from the look of it, should be soon.
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