When I wrote about Milwaukee’s uncertain future in mid-October, with Giannis Antetokounmpo himself acknowledging that significant change could come if the team didn’t meet its title-contending expectations, there was a sense of organizational optimism that belied the premise. And then the games began. By the time the Bucks fell to 2-8 on Nov. 10, all those teams that would love for Antetokounmpo to ask for a trade started wondering if the panic that would preempt that sort of superstar move might set in a whole lot sooner than expected. Yet while league sources say the Bucks have continued to tell interested teams, in essence, that they’re living in a fantasy world with these sorts of superstar desires, that didn’t keep the league-wide chatter from growing louder by the loss. Lo and behold, winning — nine times in their last 11 games, to be exact — has proven yet again to be the only real way to quiet that kind of noise.
Source: New York Times
Source: New York Times
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
StatMuse @statmuse
Giannis this season:
32.6 PPG
11.6 RPG
6.6 APG
1.3 BPG
61.6 FG%
Career-highs in PPG, APG and FG%. pic.x.com/vEBoeDCBlG – 5:06 PM
Giannis this season:
32.6 PPG
11.6 RPG
6.6 APG
1.3 BPG
61.6 FG%
Career-highs in PPG, APG and FG%. pic.x.com/vEBoeDCBlG – 5:06 PM
Frank Madden @fmaddenNBA
Once Khris is at 20-25 mpg I’d start him:
– You can still stagger big 3 if they all start, but hard to get lots of mins together if they don’t
– Bucks’ starters haven’t been particularly good, so you’re not breaking anything up
– Even Dame/Giannis lineups have only been breakeven – 12:16 PM
Once Khris is at 20-25 mpg I’d start him:
– You can still stagger big 3 if they all start, but hard to get lots of mins together if they don’t
– Bucks’ starters haven’t been particularly good, so you’re not breaking anything up
– Even Dame/Giannis lineups have only been breakeven – 12:16 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
That’s a ridiculous sequence from the Bucks.
Damian Lillard’s pass to Brook Lopez went a little wide, Lopez saved it from going out of bounds with a behind-the-back pass to Taurean Prince.
Prince lobs to Giannis Antetokounmpo for the dunk. Bucks up, 16-6, with 7:44 left in Q1. – 8:20 PM
That’s a ridiculous sequence from the Bucks.
Damian Lillard’s pass to Brook Lopez went a little wide, Lopez saved it from going out of bounds with a behind-the-back pass to Taurean Prince.
Prince lobs to Giannis Antetokounmpo for the dunk. Bucks up, 16-6, with 7:44 left in Q1. – 8:20 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Here is the Bucks’ first injury report for tonight vs. Atlanta:
Probable:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy)
Out:
Khris Middleton (bilateral ankle surgery)
MarJon Beauchamp (neck spasms)
Chris Livingston (left ankle sprain)
AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith (G-League) – 1:50 PM
Here is the Bucks’ first injury report for tonight vs. Atlanta:
Probable:
Giannis Antetokounmpo (right patella tendinopathy)
Out:
Khris Middleton (bilateral ankle surgery)
MarJon Beauchamp (neck spasms)
Chris Livingston (left ankle sprain)
AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith (G-League) – 1:50 PM
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
Was there panic in Milwaukee?
“None”- Doc Rivers
“Frustration but not panic”- Dame Lillard
“People panicked, I know they did”- Giannis
From 2-8 to storming to the NBA Cup knockout round, the Bucks look legit again sports.yahoo.com/bucks-quiet-ea… – 1:32 PM
Was there panic in Milwaukee?
“None”- Doc Rivers
“Frustration but not panic”- Dame Lillard
“People panicked, I know they did”- Giannis
From 2-8 to storming to the NBA Cup knockout round, the Bucks look legit again sports.yahoo.com/bucks-quiet-ea… – 1:32 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters that Damian Lillard kept hammering a simple message to his teammates in the third quarter last night:
“This is where we become the team that we’re trying to become.”
On the Bucks playing a “full 48,” at @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/59681… – 10:28 AM
Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters that Damian Lillard kept hammering a simple message to his teammates in the third quarter last night:
“This is where we become the team that we’re trying to become.”
On the Bucks playing a “full 48,” at @TheAthletic: nytimes.com/athletic/59681… – 10:28 AM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
The knockout stage of the NBA Cup is set
🏆 Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are among the remaining contenders
Full recap of group play finale
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 2:16 AM
The knockout stage of the NBA Cup is set
🏆 Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are among the remaining contenders
Full recap of group play finale
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 2:16 AM
Justin Garcia @tmjgarcia
The @Bucks are headed back to the @NBA Cup Quarterfinals. @fmaddenNBA and I recap another Giannis masterpiece in Detroit
youtu.be/wv8SEkwxGGc?si… – 12:31 AM
The @Bucks are headed back to the @NBA Cup Quarterfinals. @fmaddenNBA and I recap another Giannis masterpiece in Detroit
youtu.be/wv8SEkwxGGc?si… – 12:31 AM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Devin Booker reaches 15,000 career points, becoming just the 61st player in NBA history to do that for one franchise.
Since Booker entered the league in 2015, only Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee and Stephen Curry in Golden State have also hit 15k with one squad. – 9:11 PM
Devin Booker reaches 15,000 career points, becoming just the 61st player in NBA history to do that for one franchise.
Since Booker entered the league in 2015, only Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee and Stephen Curry in Golden State have also hit 15k with one squad. – 9:11 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Giannis tonight:
28 PTS
7 REB
8 AST
10-11 FG
One of three Bucks with multiple 25 PT games on 90 FG%. pic.x.com/ANo5TX13Ur – 9:09 PM
Giannis tonight:
28 PTS
7 REB
8 AST
10-11 FG
One of three Bucks with multiple 25 PT games on 90 FG%. pic.x.com/ANo5TX13Ur – 9:09 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
Bucks have Atlanta tomorrow night on a back-to-back but there’s a decent chance they could go into Friday’s game in Boston riding an eight-game winning streak with Giannis and Dame playing out of their minds. – 9:02 PM
Bucks have Atlanta tomorrow night on a back-to-back but there’s a decent chance they could go into Friday’s game in Boston riding an eight-game winning streak with Giannis and Dame playing out of their minds. – 9:02 PM
Tas Melas @TasMelas
Has Giannis ever drawn a foul on a 3-point shot fake? pic.x.com/eXSoOHaSyv – 8:55 PM
Has Giannis ever drawn a foul on a 3-point shot fake? pic.x.com/eXSoOHaSyv – 8:55 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Heading to the fourth quarter, the Bucks lead, 110-88.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has 28 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in 28 minutes tonight. Damian Lillard is not far behind with 25 points and 4 assists.
The Bucks have cooled off, but they’re still 19-of-31 from 3 on the night. – 8:54 PM
Heading to the fourth quarter, the Bucks lead, 110-88.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has 28 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists in 28 minutes tonight. Damian Lillard is not far behind with 25 points and 4 assists.
The Bucks have cooled off, but they’re still 19-of-31 from 3 on the night. – 8:54 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
That’s a hilarious sequence from the Bucks.
Andre Jackson tried a lob to Brook Lopez. It was a little high and a little late, so Lopez just tapped it towards Taurean Prince in the corner for a 3.
ANOTHER Antetokounmpo jumper and the Bucks lead, 102-76, with 5:44 left in Q3. – 8:37 PM
That’s a hilarious sequence from the Bucks.
Andre Jackson tried a lob to Brook Lopez. It was a little high and a little late, so Lopez just tapped it towards Taurean Prince in the corner for a 3.
ANOTHER Antetokounmpo jumper and the Bucks lead, 102-76, with 5:44 left in Q3. – 8:37 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
After one quarter, the Bucks lead, 36-31, in Detroit after the Bucks give up a tip-in off a missed free throw at the buzzer.
Damian Lillard leads the Bucks with 12 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in nine first-quarter minutes. – 7:37 PM
After one quarter, the Bucks lead, 36-31, in Detroit after the Bucks give up a tip-in off a missed free throw at the buzzer.
Damian Lillard leads the Bucks with 12 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 9 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in nine first-quarter minutes. – 7:37 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Great stat via Thunder PR for SGA’s West Player of the Month Award:
SGA joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as the only players to ever average at least 29 PTS/50% FG/5 REB/5 AST/1.5 STL/1 BLK through the first 20 games of a season. pic.x.com/aDEGpWxYF2 – 4:44 PM
Great stat via Thunder PR for SGA’s West Player of the Month Award:
SGA joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as the only players to ever average at least 29 PTS/50% FG/5 REB/5 AST/1.5 STL/1 BLK through the first 20 games of a season. pic.x.com/aDEGpWxYF2 – 4:44 PM
Eric Nehm @eric_nehm
Taurean Prince has hit a league-leading 54.2% from 3.
“He’s figured out ways to space the floor for me and Dame and he knows that there’s gold in the corner and we’re going to find him.” – Giannis Antetokounmpo
On Prince’s consistency, at @TheAthletic:
nytimes.com/athletic/59613… pic.x.com/LKHvQxsKda – 1:53 PM
Taurean Prince has hit a league-leading 54.2% from 3.
“He’s figured out ways to space the floor for me and Dame and he knows that there’s gold in the corner and we’re going to find him.” – Giannis Antetokounmpo
On Prince’s consistency, at @TheAthletic:
nytimes.com/athletic/59613… pic.x.com/LKHvQxsKda – 1:53 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with an illness, besides right patella tendinopathy, heading to the finale of pool play in the NBA Cup
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 4:01 AM
Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with an illness, besides right patella tendinopathy, heading to the finale of pool play in the NBA Cup
eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/17… – 4:01 AM
More on this storyline
Eric Nehm: FINAL: Hawks 119, Bucks 104 – Antetokounmpo 31pts/11reb/5ast – Lillard 25pts/4reb/5ast – Trent 11pts/3reb – Prince 10pts/4reb/2ast The Bucks’ 7-game win streak has been snapped. The Bucks are now 11-10 on the season. -via x.com / December 4, 2024
It was Lillard who was the vocal leader, and Antetokounmpo asserting himself with an efficient, impactful but not forceful performance. “Dame, Dame, Dame, again. Dame, again,” Antetokounmpo said in the media scrum after the game. “I heard him multiple times in the third quarter, ‘This is where we assert ourselves. This is where we put teams away. Stay locked in.’ When your leader and the guy that has the ball the majority of the time and keeps setting the tone and keep on telling us to play the right way, you got to follow his lead.” -via Yahoo! Sports / December 4, 2024
The most important man in the Bucks organization, the reason why the two decorated men reside in Wisconsin and not elsewhere, has a unique take on it. “People panicked. I know they did,” Giannis Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports with a big smile that somewhat belies the seriousness of where the Bucks were a few weeks ago. “That’s what I’m saying, people panicked. Me? Get your backs ready, lift a little bit more weight, lat pull down, get your lats going. Tie your shoes up and let’s go. We here now.” -via Yahoo! Sports / December 4, 2024