Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players facing most pressure in 2019-20

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

One would think the reigning Most Valuable Player wouldn’t be under much pressure to return an even better player the next year.

While Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most tantalizing talents the league has seen in recent memory and his statistical progression may not be extreme this year, Milwaukee will only go as far as he takes it.

The “Greek Freak” doesn’t have many holes in his game. Scoring 27.7 points per game last season while pulling down 12.5 rebounds and averaging 5.9 assists, his overall impact is almost second to none.

Finishing second in the league in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Antetokounmpo’s ability to shut down opposing stars shouldn’t be taken lightly.

An area Antetokounmpo can strive for improvement in is his floor spacing. Shooting 25.6 percent on 3-point attempts in 2018-19, long-range shooting has long been an area of concern.

In the postseason, the Toronto Raptors adopted a defensive strategy centered around putting pressure on Antetokounmpo to settle for shots outside of the paint.

The “Giannis Rules” highlighted a couple of weaknesses in the superstar’s repertoire: shooting and advanced-level playmaking.

Again, the Milwaukee Bucks will only go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo takes them. Two games away from an NBA Finals appearance last season, anything less than an opportunity to compete for a championship this year will be considered a failure on all sides.

Turning 25 in December, it’s time for Antetokounmpo to carry Milwaukee to the promised land.