Milwaukee Bucks: 5 reasons to be excited for 2019-20 NBA season
By Jordan Foote
2. Giannis’ MVP defense
Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a season for the ages in 2018-19. Averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game on a remarkable 57.8 percent from the field, the “Greek Freak” posted unparalleled numbers despite not having a reliable 3-point shot.
Thriving on driving through lanes and finishing at the rim, there’s still a ton of room for the 24-year-old to grow.
A career 27.7 percent shooter on 3s, Antetokounmpo is a non-threat for opposing defenses.
This weakness in his game was exposed in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Toronto Raptors, as head coach Nick Nurse’s players would clog lanes and force Antetokounmpo to shoot contested jumpers. Shooting 44.8 percent for the series, it was not the MVP’s finest moment.
Back to having room for growth. Finishing second in the league in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Antetokounmpo is probably close to his ceiling on the defensive end. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a perennial contender for the award, though.
Where the surface is just being scratched is on the offensive side of the court.
Implementing an effective 3-point shot is what’s keeping Antetokounmpo from being undeniably the most dominant force in the NBA.
If he can improve on his dismal past performances in that area (0.7 makes on 2.8 attempts per game in 2018), the sky is literally the limit.