With NBA information exhausting to return by, EuroBasket has given followers a style of basketball. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is representing his dwelling nation of Greece and has flaunted a tantalizing ability that ought to make him all of the tougher to cease.
In Greece’s latest sport in opposition to Latvia in EuroBasket, Giannis unleashed a smoother-looking leap shot. He hit 4 photographs exterior of the paint, holding defenses sincere by pulling up for jumpers slightly than bullying his solution to the rim.
That ought to quiet considerations about his sport and particularly the way it will age with him now in his 30s. To his credit score, Giannis was already a lot improved as a shooter final season. 21% of his photographs got here from mid-range final season, and he shot a powerful 44.2% on these makes an attempt, based on NBA Stats.
That’s completely good for a participant whose largest weak point was that he wasn’t a risk scoring exterior of the paint.
Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be greater than able to carrying the Bucks
The Bucks might not have the identical degree of expertise as final season, however they nonetheless have a high 3 participant within the NBA, and that issues. Put Giannis with a number of shooters and watch him smoke groups attempting to cease him whereas not giving up open photographs.
Bringing again Gary Trent Jr. and including Myles Turner and Cole Anthony out of nowhere ought to assist. Nevertheless, placing the ball extra in Giannis’ fingers may resolve a variety of the Bucks’ issues and be sufficient to propel them again into title competition.
The Bucks’ reliance on Giannis Antetokounmpo is a double-edged sword
The Bucks should stroll a skinny line subsequent season. They should depend on Giannis to hold them, however not over-rely on him and trigger him to appreciate that he does not have sufficient assist. That’s partly true; the Bucks have much less expertise than final season, minus Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez, although they’ve gotten a lot youthful.
In principle, if their youthful supporting forged pans out, the Bucks could possibly be higher than they have been final season. In that case, mixed with a a lot weaker Jap Convention and Giannis with an improved jumper, the Bucks may make noise within the playoffs.
That might be Milwaukee’s finest hope of holding him blissful, with them having a path again to the Jap Convention Finals, with them projected to be the third-best staff of their convention on paper.
Finally, Giannis including to his sport ought to make him even more durable to cease within the NBA. If he can proceed to play on the identical peak degree that he has over the past 5 seasons, then the Bucks may return to competition.