Monday, July 12, 2021
Bucks shorten in NBA finals
The “freak” plays almost like Michael Jordan
The Milwaukee Bucks are back in the NBA Finals. After two away defeats at the Phoenix Suns, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team wins game three. The Greek superstar looks like a basketball legend to some.
The comparison with Michael Jordan was clearly too much for Giannis Antetokounmpo after his gala performance and the important first victory in the NBA finals against the Phoenix Suns. “I’m not Michael Jordan. Four 40-point games? One after the other?”, The Greek asked after his second game in a row with at least 40 points and then said again emphatically: “I’m not Michael Jordan.” The importance of the 26-year-old, whom they sometimes simply call “Greek Freak”, at least for the Milwaukee Bucks, is at least as important as that of the basketball legend in the 90s for the Chicago Bulls.
After the 42 points in game two, Antetokounmpo added 41 points and also led the Bucks to the much-needed 120: 100 victory with clever actions, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. In the final series of the best basketball league in the world it is now only 2: 1 for the Suns around Chris Paul and Devin Booker, in game four on Thursday night (3 a.m. / DAZN) the Bucks can host again equalize in front of their own fans. A team needs four wins to win the title. “In game four we have to do it again. It’s all a mental matter,” said Antetokounmpo.
Booker only got ten points for the Suns and had a disappointing evening, and Paul was not able to lead the Suns as decisively as he did with the two victories at the start. On the other hand, the Greek, who was twice voted the most valuable player in the NBA, knew how to make the right decision in most situations. He even hit 13 of his 17 free throws. “If he consciously does something about everything, then he is the best,” said coach Mike Budenholzer, praising the qualities of his star not only when it comes to points, but also when it comes to blocks, passes and rebound. “He does whatever it takes to help us.”
Only Shaquille O’Neal was that good
The finals are about a lot for both teams. The Suns have never taken the title in the NBA, the only championship at the Bucks was 50 years ago. They last had the chance in 1974 and lost in seven games against the Boston Celtics. Now the dream should finally come true again and the expectations rest on Antetokounmpo, who signed a new five-year contract worth 228 million US dollars in December, clearly documenting his intention to take on the challenge.
But the task alone is impossible, that was evident despite his 42 points in the 108: 118 defeat in game two, when the most important of Antetokounmpo’s teammates did not get rolling. But now both Khris Middleton (18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) and Jrue Holiday (21 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists) were fully there.
And the two-time MVP Antetokounmpo, who doesn’t want to compare himself to Jordan, but is now even better than the six-time NBA champion in at least one category: Because two games in a row with at least 40 points and at least 10 rebounds, which had in in the history of the NBA finals, according to ESPN, only Shaquille O’Neal.
.
