2-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo can affect a basketball game in so many ways, but shooting less maximizes the Milwaukee Bucks’ chances of winning.
The Milwaukee Bucks shattered the NBA’s previously held record for 3-point fields in a game after unleashing torrents of deep bombs Tuesday night vs. the Miami Heat.
Their total tally was astounding: an eye-popping 29 treys – the result of a fiery enkindled display from long range, and a scary omen for the type of potency this team can pose to defenders when they’re clicking on all cylinders.
In addition to the collective mirage they painted in their dominant 144-97 romp over an excruciatingly cold Heat squad, they also posted a league record for most respective individuals to knock down an in-game three – 12 to be exact.
And ironically, the only player who failed to connect from beyond the arc was the man who was most recently embroidered with the award spotlighting the association’s best player: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis’ stat line at the game’s finale was subpar at best for a player of his caliber: nine points, and six respective rebounds and assists.
But that’s okay.
Because quite frankly, the Bucks don’t win without the two-time MVP’s presence on the floor.
He’s a jack-of-all-trades headman with a cunning propensity for attacking the basket.
His strides cover ions in length, accompanying a rare burst and quick-twitch athleticism that allows him to take off and hang glide mid-air as he soars to the cup.
And more often than not, it’s physically impossible to mitigate him when he’s charging to the rim with a head of full steam – especially when factoring in his chiseled 6’11”, 240 lbs frame.
“Unstoppable” is an ample word to describe the type of havoc he creates – at least, that is, within close range of the rim.
Antetokounmpo’s prowess from mid-range and beyond has consistently been a liability, and he registered a porous 30.4 3-point percentage in 2019-20 that ranked him bottom-four on the team in that category.
He’s well aware of the gaping hole that his ineptitude from deep poses to his game.
In fact, it was the Greek Freak’s inconsistency, and lack of firing confidence that allowed teams like the ’19 Raptors and ’20 Heat to adequately gameplan for and eventually quell his dominance en route to their Eastern Conference titles.
Hurling a zone scheme his way, or stacking the paint with multiple stalwarts headed by the likes of Serge Ibaka and Bam Adebayo was all it took to nearly minimize his scoring dexterity to a near absence.
Milwaukee was abysmal in their futile efforts to counteract those defensive looks, as evidenced by a league-worst 13.4 turnover percentage against zone coverage.
And with Khris Middleton serving as the only consistent alternate scoring option in postseason play, the Milwaukee Bucks’ chances for a deep run were about as good as their MVP’s deep shot.
Enter Jrue Holiday.
Jrue Holiday has been a difference-maker for the Milwaukee Bucks
“The Jruth”, as some cleverly call him for his unquestionable on-court aura, brought the exact ingredient that was missing from Milwaukee’s supreme championship recipe: decisive leadership.
A seasoned journeyman whose career has spanned over a decade, Holiday’s helped accentuate multiple teams to playoff jockeying position.
Last year was one of the most complete campaigns he’s put together – Holiday averaged 19.1 points per game while swiping away 1.6 steals in a consummate display that many argue should’ve netted him an All-NBA appearance.
Despite the snub though, his season was more than enough to attract multiple organizations scouring over his services this past offseason.
And for good reason – Holiday’s a streaky bucket getter who can lock up an opposing team’s best guards in upwards of 30 minutes per contest. Plus, he’s shown a knack for taking and making critical shots (he boasts a 45.5 clutch time shot making percentage, per Second Spectrum).
Holiday’s a capable facilitator as well, which further alleviates ball-handling duties from Antentokounmpo (especially in half-court situations) and unearths one of the more hidden jewels of his game: his passing.
If you’re an open teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo will find you more often than not, and reward your separation with a pinpoint dime for a potential score.
Holiday’s takeover of the backcourt allows Giannis to carve out real estate in the front – the area he’s long staked out as his most comfortable.
And when he’s apportioned more freedom to do damage inside without worrying about sustaining his team’s scoring from further out, the Bucks are a much more dangerous unified group.
Now don’t get me wrong, Antentokounmpo balloons himself into an infallible unicorn of a juggernaut if he develops a solid shooting game.
But for now, his bread and butter remain his artistic creativity within the paint.
And if his Milwaukee Bucks comrades continue their hot-shooting ways, future adversaries will be toast.