PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 29: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards as Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks throughout the first quarter at Wells Fargo Heart on March 29, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: Consumer expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or utilizing this {photograph}, Consumer is consenting to the phrases and situations of the Getty Photos License Settlement. (Photograph by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photos)
Giannis Antetokounmpo despatched a message together with his performance on Thursday night – the East nonetheless runs by means of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The quantity of expertise within the Japanese Convention heading into the 2022 playoffs is extremely thrilling – Butler and Lowry’s Warmth, Durant and Irving’s Nets, Tatum and Brown’s Celtics, Harden and Embiid’s Sixers, DeRozan and LaVine’s Bulls. However Giannis’ Bucks are nonetheless the crew to beat.
The East nonetheless runs by means of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks
Milwaukee held off the Brooklyn Nets in an additional time win bristling with playoff depth, 120-119. The MVP of the sport was little doubt Giannis Antetokounmpo, who put up 44 factors on 21 photographs, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out six assists. The Greek Freak additionally pressured additional time with this clutch step-back three-pointer:
This sport was greater than a one-point win over a convention rival; it was greater than the step-up within the standings Milwaukee took towards the one seed, too – this sport was an announcement. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the very best participant within the NBA, and the East runs by means of him.
The East standings present a good playoff race, with the highest 6 seeds all presently inside 4.5 video games of each other. That, at the side of all the massive names that shuffled groups this 12 months – Lowry, Harden, Simmons – would possibly lead one to consider that the East is large open this 12 months.
However that’s simply not the case.
The Bucks are 34-9 this season with their large three of Vacation, Middleton, and Antetokounmpo all enjoying, a 65-17 tempo over the course of an 82-game season. That’s not far off from the Suns’ league-leading mark, and it’s nicely above every other East contender. The Nets, for reference, are 7-5 with their star duo of Durant and Irving each energetic.
Thursday night time’s sport was shut – as any sequence between the Bucks and high contenders just like the Nets will possible be. However the Bucks have extra causes for optimism than simply their one-point victory.
The Bucks shot simply 29 p.c from deep within the sport, nicely under their 39 p.c season common mark. The Nets, conversely, shot a scorching 49 p.c, nicely above their season common (additionally 39 p.c). Ought to these numbers even out over a seven-game sequence as anticipated, the Bucks ought to have a better time with the Nets.
Milwaukee additionally noticed uncharacteristically poor taking pictures nights from stars Khris Middleton (who went 4-for-12) and Jrue Vacation (6-for-18). It’s encouraging that, regardless of their struggles, Giannis can bear the load for the crew.
Elsewhere within the East standings, groups are going through challenges. The Warmth have been on a skid of late, the Celtics not too long ago suffered a giant damage to defensive anchor Robert Williams III, and on the identical night time that the Bucks bested Brooklyn, the Sixers misplaced to the Detroit Pistons – a crew only one sport over the worst report within the league.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending champions, and regardless of posting an underachieving report this season, they’ve proven no actual indicators of decline when their big-name gamers go well with up.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoying like the very best participant on the planet, it’s trying like if every other crew desires the Japanese Convention crown, they’ll want to determine how one can gradual him down.
