Against the Grizzlies, the Cavaliers and the Nets, the Bucks showed significant gaps in the first period. In these defeats Giannis Antetokounmpo and his teammates were respectively 29, 18 and 13 points behind at the break, and never exceeded the 47 points scored.
They are certainly three quality opponents, but how to explain that Milwaukee is so dominated in the first minutes of these meetings?
” I do not know “answers the Greek for the JS Onlinebefore advancing all the same an explanation. “I think we are complacent, smug. We expect people to give us matches. It doesn’t work like that, and you have to go get them. We have to play good basketball, build good defensive habits and be competitive. In the end, I don’t believe anyone will give you anything in life. »
The words of the two-time league MVP are reminiscent of those of Grant Williams, who spoke of Boston’s concerns lately. Like the Celtics, the Bucks have tended to approach meetings with lightness, to see themselves as too good-looking. And faced with such opponents, we pay cash.
“We don’t take things because we’re prettier, smarter or cooler than the others,” continues Giannis Antetokounmpo. “You have to pull things out. That’s how sport is. You have to be competitive. I have confidence in my team and my teammates, but I find that on certain actions, we think that we will be given the match. No one is going to give us matches or the title or the trophy. »
With two straight losses and the loss of first place in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks approach the Christmas game against the Celtics in less than ideal conditions, and with a real questioning that could occur if the Wisconsin franchise bows for the third in a row. Which would be a first this season.
“You have to go out there and play. Don’t talk, but play. Once again, I have confidence in my teammates,” insists the MVP of the Finals 2021. “I have confidence in what we have built here, even if we have lost twice in a row. I’m not worried at all. Khris Middleton will be back, guys will be healthy. As long as we are healthy, we have a chance. »
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2013-14 | MIL | 77 | 25 | 41.4 | 34.7 | 68.3 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 6.8 |
| 2014-15 | MIL | 81 | 31 | 49.1 | 15.9 | 74.1 | 1.2 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 12.7 |
| 2015-16 | MIL | 80 | 35 | 50.6 | 25.7 | 72.4 | 1.4 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 4.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 16.9 |
| 2016-17 | MIL | 80 | 36 | 52.1 | 27.2 | 77.0 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 8.8 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 22.9 |
| 2017-18 | MIL | 75 | 37 | 52.9 | 30.7 | 76.0 | 2.1 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 4.8 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 ★ | MIL | 72 | 33 | 57.8 | 25.6 | 72.9 | 2.2 | 10.3 | 12.5 | 5.9 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 27.7 |
| 2019-20 ★ | MIL | 63 | 30 | 55.3 | 30.4 | 63.3 | 2.2 | 11.4 | 13.6 | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 29.5 |
| 2020-21 | MIL | 61 | 33 | 56.9 | 30.3 | 68.5 | 1.6 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
| 2021-22 | MIL | 67 | 33 | 55.3 | 29.3 | 72.2 | 2.0 | 9.6 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 29.9 |
| 2022-23 | MIL | 26 | 33 | 53.7 | 25.9 | 64.0 | 2.1 | 9.1 | 11.2 | 5.1 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 31.6 |
| Total | 682 | 33 | 53.5 | 28.7 | 71.3 | 1.7 | 7.7 | 9.4 | 4.6 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 22.2 | |
