Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo praised the Jazz after losing a 129-115 game to the team on Friday, calling them the “best team in the West” after the contest, according to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.
“It just looks fun. Like when I watch them play, it looks fun, it looks easy,” Antetokounmpo explained. “It looks simple. For sure, they look like us last year, and man, when you’re at that point and you’re playing with that confidence, you’re hard to beat for sure.”
Utah has won seven straight contests and 18 of its last 19 games, playing stellar basketball on both ends of the floor. The team is playing without Mike Conley (hamstring), who last saw action on February 5, though it still holds the best record in the league at 22-5.
Here are some other notes from the Western Conference:
- Spurs veteran LaMarcus Aldridge is without a timetable for his return, head coach Gregg Popovich said, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link). Aldridge missed his sixth straight game on Sunday as he continues rehabbing a hip injury, with Popovich adding that he’s not particularly close to a return.
- Luguentz Dort is gradually turning into the best defensive ace the Thunder have ever had, Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman opines. Dort has established himself as one of the league’s better defenders, also averaging 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in his second season.
- Suns coach Monty Williams is grateful for the time he spent in Philadelphia as an assistant, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. “I was grateful when they first called me to be able to go to a team that was contending for a championship,” said Williams, who was with the Sixers in 2018/19. “You just don’t get those opportunities. … So for them to not only ask me to be apart of it, but take on a huge role is something that allowed me to answer the questions whether or not I was going to be able to do it again.”
$30 million injured on the bench & Utah is unfazed. Must be nice.
The Jazz look/play like a playoff team. The Bucks this year have been playing like a team exploring their roster, which outside the starting 5 isn’t great.
Bobby Portis has been good from the bench, Thanasis should play more. DJ’s Wilson and Augustine need to go, along with Forbes.
My guess is no one wants them, and rightfully so. Bring on the buyout market!
If the Jazz look like the Bucks from last year, as Giannis says, it bodes well for the Western Conference teams that may face them in the playoffs. Something tells me they can do a bit better than Giannis’ Bucks in the postseason.
Jazz should look at moving Conley’s 34.5M and bring in some vets with Championship experience.
Conley for Love straight up – gets Cavs out of a contract too.
Conley + Pick(s) for Iggy, Olynyk, & Bradley.
Conley + Pick(s) for Kyle Lowry.
Conley + Pick(s) for Barnes and Joseph.
Something along those lines… could prove invaluable for the playoffs.
Westbrook?
Oh, boy…
Westbrook has no championship experience.
Dort to the Pelicans for more picks?
I don’t think Dort is getting traded anytime soon unless someone wants to seriously overpay.
I would be happy if my Bucks went in for him without trading a starter, but, at that cost, everyone should want Dort.