They say Giannis Antetokounmpo–or the “Greek Freak” for those of you that don’t like long names–can do everything, can play every position. Four games into the preseason, has Antetokounmpo showed the Bucks enough to earn him a role in the starting lineup?
The preseason is a great time to test things out, especially for a new coach with a team that happens to be coming off a horrific 15-win 2013 season. Milwaukee’s new coach, Jason Kidd, has put his fair share of lineups out on the floor in the preseason this far. In Milwaukee’s most recent game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kidd decided to start Antetokounmpo at point guard, and it didn’t exactly go so well.
More from Milwaukee Bucks
- NBA Rumors: 3 teams emerge as most-likely Giannis destinations
- 7 players the Milwaukee Bucks gave up on far too soon
- Report: Bucks, 76ers, and Suns all vying to land this championship coach
- 5 potential candidates for Bucks’ head coach
- NBA Rumors: Milwaukee may overhaul roster after early playoff exit
The Greek Freak had his chance to run the offense in the fourth quarter against Chicago over the weekend, and apparently impressed Kidd enough to let him run things again Tuesday. While Antetokounmpo had no assists in the final quarter against the Bulls, he did record nine of his 11 points.
Antetokounmpo showed against Cleveland that while he may be versatile, he can not play point guard. No assists in 22 minutes should say enough, but just watching him run things was odd. He did bring the ball up the court, but he’d dump it off to someone once he got the team’s half-court offense set up.
He called the plays, but would just roam around (seemed to look for a mismatch in the post quite often) and let his teammates distribute to each other, which is not what a good point guard does.
The Bucks did have great ball movement with Antetokounmpo in, but that was no credit to him. Like I said, he took the ball up, passed it off, and then went back to playing shooting guard/small forward.
On defense, you’d think he would take advantage of his 6-foot-11 frame (still listed as 6’9″ on most sites, but don’t be fooled). Covering Matthew Dellavedova, he really didn’t even need to put much effort in, and he didn’t. While the stats may show that Antetokounmpo did a good job defending Dellavedova as he only recorded two points (he did also tally nine assists, as passing is a point guard’s job, Mr. Freak), but that wasn’t necessarily the case.
On numerous occasions, Dellavedova would peel off into the corner and wait for one of the many (probably thousands) of driving kick-outs we’ll see from the Cavs this season. Antetokounmpo would fall back to near the rim, which I guess was partially good as he expected a drive. But nonetheless, he left Dellavedova wide open in the corner without even looking at him. To his credit, he did close out really well when Dellavedova did get the ball, but he played way too far off him when he was open.
The preseason is a time to test things out, and all Kidd wanted to see was if the Greek Freak could run at point. He couldn’t, and that’s just how it’s going to be.
Antetokounmpo, with his lanky, athletic frame, still has the ability to play the other four positions. Antetokounmpo has shown his post moves in the preseason, and at 6’11”, he shouldn’t have a problem playing down low if he keeps developing those moves.
In the first preseason game against the Grizzlies, Antetokounmpo came off the bench, but if you replace him with Jared Dudley, the lineup of Brandon Knight, Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, and Larry Sanders is a widely assumed opening night lineup.
Antetokounmpo didn’t seem to know how to play shooting guard either, shooting 2-for-8 in this game specifically. Again, this was a preseason game, but it seems he might fit better at a position he’s more suited for with his size: down low.
In my projected lineup, Antetokounmpo comes in starting at small forward with Knight moving to shooting guard and Kendall Marshall starting at point guard, but I’m not even sure he deserves to start at any position right now.
In two of the Bucks’ four preseason games, Antetokounmpo played well. Against the Bulls and Pistons, Antetokounmpo shot a combined 8-for-14 with 17 points and 13 rebounds. With it being the preseason and him playing limited minutes, those stats aren’t bad, but he did really struggle in the other three games. Someone that hasn’t struggled is Middleton, who came off the bench in my earlier projections.
Middleton sat for the Bulls game, but has scored in double figures in all three games he’s played in. Aside from the Cavs game, he has shot better than 50 percent and has gotten his fair share of rebounds as well.
It’s hard to deny Antetokounmpo is one of the league’s next best talents, because he truly is. Kidd has to have realized maybe playing him at either guard position isn’t the best fit, and hopefully starts playing him bigger. He has looked inconsistent in the preseason, and if he doesn’t turn it around before the season starts, he might lose his starting job to Middleton.
Benching Antetokounmpo might not be the best idea, as Kidd probably wants him to build chemistry with Parker, Knight, and possibly even Sanders for the future. However, with the way the East is, Kidd is coaching to make the playoffs. If Antetokounmpo doesn’t earn his starting spot in the preseason, he just may lose it.