If the Bulls were eye-catching, despite their defeat, they also benefited from a strange evening from the Bucks stars. Damian Lillard was very clumsy (3/17 on the shoot) and Giannis Antetokounmpo rather very average for three quarters. After 27 minutes on the floor, the Greek only had 12 points, half of which were scored on free throws.
He was there without being there, without weighing on the debates. How can we explain such passivity? A lack of rhythm, because the Bucks hadn't played for three days?
“To tell you the truth, they took two-man takes and my teammates were open,” responds Giannis Antetokounmpo to Journal Sentinel. “They were tough on pick-and-roll. When I had the ball, I was surrounded by players. I tried to make the right choice. There are matches like that, where I attract attention and taking a shot in the middle of many defenders is not the best option. I have to accept it. »
For Damian Lillard, the All-Star tried to do his team a favor and, at the same time, put the Bulls to sleep.
“He did his best to move the ball, because we weren’t circulating the inflation well, so he was a little passive,” notes the former Portlander. “ And being less aggressive at the start probably worked in his favor, because the Bulls were a little more relaxed. As soon as he got aggressive, they had no answer. »
An accepted passivity
“From then on, no matter what they do, I try to make a difference”, confirms Giannis Antetokounmpo who scored 15 points in the last quarter. In overtime, the MVP of the 2021 Finals drives home the point with 5 more points. In 14 minutes, the most important of the game, he scored 20 points, to end his match with 32 points and 12 rebounds. A service in diesel mode therefore.
“I just wanted to go for free throws, in the paint. This is the mental change I made,” continues the Greek. “During the game, we were ahead by 10, 14 or 15 points. So I wanted to get the ball rolling. That's what leaders do. Sometimes it's not about us, it's about finding the right shot for the team and that's fine with me. Five years ago, when I was 24, maybe I would have been frustrated with this situation. I wanted to constantly make a difference. But from now on, no matter what happens, I'll come back tomorrow and I'll still be me. »
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 | 63 | 32 | 55.3 | 27.5 | 64.5 | 2.2 | 9.6 | 11.8 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 31.1 |
| 2023-24 | MIL | 21 | 35 | 61.4 | 24.3 | 65.7 | 2.7 | 7.9 | 10.6 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 30.5 |
| Total | 740 | 33 | 54.0 | 28.6 | 70.6 | 1.8 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 4.7 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 22.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
