The Nuggets were quick to see the “mismatch” in favor of Nikola Jokic. This was defended in the racket, near the free throw line, by Jrue Holiday. Seeing Wesley Matthews closing in on him in the fourth quarter of a Denver-dominated game, the Nuggets center shoved the Bucks point guard.
Giannis Antetokounmpo finally came to the aid, the Serb then jumped then delivered the right ball to Aaron Gordon who cut to the circle to go dunk. Playing the game is perfect and won’t surprise anyone, including anyone battling with him to win a third MVP trophy.
More generally, Giannis Antetokounmpo feels that the two-man take on the big names in this league is less and less effective. “ Current players, especially (Joel) Embiid and Jokic, they didn’t pass the ball when we took them together four or five years ago », assures the Bucks playerhimself concerned by this phenomenon of taking two.
He believes that these players are now looking for the leather transmission, to put ” their teammates in a position of success. That’s the answer, if you’re double teamed and can find your teammate for an open shot. »
The DeRozan example
This aspect was less questioned with Nikola Jokic, a licensed passer since his debut in the big league, than with Joel Embiid, who has sometimes lacked lucidity in such circumstances in the past.
Earlier in the season, his team had however noted progress in this area at the pivot, still a lot taken at two this night in Phoenix.
Author of 31 points like the Serb last night, Giannis Antetokounmpo also remembers the series of playoffs last year, against the Bulls and the defensive treatment reserved for DeMar DeRozan. ” We sort of double-teamed him and he was looking to score and shoot over the guys. This year, we faced them three times and they beat us twice. He gives the ball and his teammates are quite skilful “, Estimates the Greek, whose team had limited the Bulls player to 21 points at 41% on shots in this series.
Taken two or not, this season, during the two victories against Milwaukee to which he contributed, the Bulls winger personally enjoyed himself: 39 points (59%) on average, 7 rebounds and 6.5 assists.
For Giannis, turning off the opposing star becomes “ more difficult. When guys are able to look each other in the face and make passes, it’s harder to defend them. Because when you get close to them and they can find the open player, they will break your defense. Something is going to happen. »
