Giannis Antetokounmpo can't do it all by himself in the NBA Finals
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It’s time to stop wondering if Giannis Antetokounmpo can carry a team (if that’s what you believe. But I’ve seen the tweets. You know this is a thing, right?).
He’s definitely not 100 percent after the knee injury in the Eastern Conference finals, yet in Game 2 on Thursday, he dominated: 42 points, 12 boards, four dimes, three blocks and a steal. He missed just seven of his 22 shots.
The Bucks’ No. 2 and 3 options? Khris Middleton hit just 5-of-16 including 1-of-6 from deep for 11 points. Jrue Holiday was an abysmal 7-of-21.
Another telling stat: the entire team is minus-27 in the 21 minutes he’s been on the bench in the first two Finals games. The Greek Freak was plus-3 on Thursday, the only Bucks player in the positive.
Meanwhile, the Suns are out here playing beautiful basketball. There was that gorgeous 12-pass sequence and Monty Williams’s flawless coaching. There’s the fact that they couldn’t miss from three all night, quieting all the “but they’re so good from mid-range” talk (also, man, Devin Booker doesn’t seem fazed at all in his first playoffs/Finals!). All five starters were in double figures and Cam Johnson was nearly the sixth.
Antetokounmpo needs serious help here. Otherwise? It’s another offseason with glaring questions about whether this team really can contend, and who knows what will come of that.
Luckily, the series continues in Milwaukee.
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— There was a replay review that eliminated a contestant from the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
— What do you think of Team USA’s new hoops jerseys?
— Everyone loves Alligator Loki!!
— Get to know Alix Klineman and April Ross, the United States’ new top beach volleyball pair.