Giannis and the Bucks Reign Supreme
For the first time since 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks are NBA champs and for the team and their fans, this is a very sweet victory. Giannis could’ve left the small market team a couple of years ago, but he didn’t; he signed long-term because he wanted to get it done with the team that drafted him. Antetokounmpo played out of his fucking mind to get it done as he averaged 35.2 points per game on 61.8% shooting with 13.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. The definition of dominance, but he wasn’t alone as Khris Middleton helped him out by adding 24.0 points per game with 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.
This was a series where you could tell the Bucks took the momentum, starting with game three’s win where Giannis 41 points and 13 rebounds. Starting with that game as well both Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday got it going to give Giannis the necessary help to beat a strong Suns team. Middleton had his own 40 point game in game 4. Stealing game five in Phoenix was huge and they got their big three to all chip in heavily on the point as all of Giannis, Middleton, and Holiday had at least 27 points.
Game six was a battle from beginning to end, but Giannis’ 50 point and 14 rebound performance was enough to grind it out at home 105-98. Headed into the game it certainly felt like the Bucks would make sure they close it out at home and sure enough, they did.
While the Bucks battled through the playoffs and certainly fought hard there will be an asterisk placed by many on this title. The reason being is if we’re being honest the Nets weren’t healthy for their matchup in the second round but if they were the Bucks would’ve been downed then. Harden went down in game one with an injury then Kyrie early in game four. Harden did come back in game five but how healthy he truly was is questionable.
I don’t bring this up to be a downer but to bring up that if this team hopes to repeat and get its own dynasty, they have things to figure out. The Bucks obviously should be excited but next season they need to avoid falling into any potential mental traps that could kill the run and they need to figure out what kind of upgrades can be made to better handle a healthy Nets team next season. Everyone else, however, absolutely needs to fear the deer.
