The Bucks may be in a difficult situation, trailing Phoenix 2-0 in the NBA Finals, but the mood was relaxed at today’s media session, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Giannis Antetokounmpo joked with reporters as he answered questions, explaining that the team has chosen this approach rather than being dragged down by the must-win game Sunday night.
Khris Middleton noted that Milwaukee was in the same predicament in the second round against the Nets. The Bucks were able to regroup and take that series after two lopsided losses in Brooklyn.
“A lot of people thought our season was done,” he said. “We still believed in ourselves. We came back and had an ugly grind-it-out game that we found a way to win. Sometimes it’s not going to be pretty. Sometimes it’s going to be ugly. We just got to find a way to win one game at a time from here on out.”
There’s more from Milwaukee:
- An impassioned speech that Antetokounmpo delivered late in the first half of Game 2 shows how much he has grown in a leadership role, observes Sam Amick of The Athletic. Although he prefers to avoid the spotlight, Giannis has become the team’s on-court leader, a status he cemented when he agreed to a contract extension in December. “He’s grown as a leader vocally. He always had that, you know, workman-type attitude and he always put as much time in the gym as anybody,” Pat Connaughton said. “But even when he got hurt (in the East finals), he was vocal. He was with us. He was present. He was in the locker room. He was on the bench during games. He was pulling people aside individually. He was pulling the team aside collectively and I think he’s done a phenomenal job in his growth as a leader vocally.”
- It took eight years for the Bucks to build a Finals team around Antetokounmpo and Middleton, who have been with the team since 2013, and Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN looks back at nine significant events in that process.
- In an article for The Players’ Tribune, Bobby Portis talks about the challenge facing the Bucks and how it relates to his own journey to become an NBA player.
A series can never get closer than 2-1
I like the Bucks in game 3, think we see some ref love geared in that direction as well, Vegas lines seem to reflect, Id still take the cover for Mil
I can see the Bucks winning game 3 for sure. 3 days rest for Giannis, first game in Milwaukee, refs tend to favor home team. They better win game 3, if they don’t, I don’t think it goes back to Phoenix.
forgot the finals was still on. Clippers vs Bucks would have been more fun
Hating for the sake of it must get old eventually.
Sixers couldn’t even reach the ECF as the number one seed, all because of Ben Simmons.
Bobby Portis is a ruff ryder! Mirotic can relate to that haha
Bucks about to trade Middelton for Beal if they lose in finals.
East going to be tougher next year. Teams going to battle out for that playoff slot.
Milwaukee should’ve waited til the season ends before giving out a max to Jrue. He is not a PG and more like SG/SF. They should’ve signed CP3 instead but again, everybody will be blaming the coach if they fail. CP3 and Tucker going to the finals shows how overrated that chubby bearded Harden is. I’m surprised he didn’t hit the strip club and request a trade after losing to the Bucks!
Why would the east get tougher? The Sixers are no better than the Clippers were when they had Doc Rivers (overrated?), and lost in the second round just the same. The one top team that should be better next season will be the Nets, but only if their Big 3 stays healthy.
Beal for Lopez and Middleton.
Bucks have a great shot at game 3 if he can injure Chris Paul the same way he injured Kyrie and almost KD. Dirty player imo.
I would say Booker is Target #1 if the Bucks are targeting players to hurt. .
Hit that poor Torey but he’s not nasty, never goes at Ayton who’s never in fools trouble
Phoenix missing Saric and Craig means Kaminsky and Nader will likely see minutes. I think Milwaukee needs to use Thanasis in this series. They need him defensively. I would also say that less lineups with Brook Lopez is probably the play b/c he allows Phoenix to get away with more minutes for Ayton, without as many drawbacks.
Ayton will run down with Saric gone. HC was on tv with a long fire-up counseling. Ayton is their only effective big versus a team that starts two. Kaminsky is fun to watch though, very creative.