Greek Freak show haunts Raptors
Antetokounmpo flashes superstar credentials in series opener
The surprise wasn’t that Giannis Antetokounmpo threw down a twohanded dunk over Raptors rim protector Serge Ibaka. By now, the whole NBA knows the Bucks star is long and quick enough to posterize anyone in the league, even a playoff team’s main shot blocker.
What really bent minds were the screen grabs appearing on social media moments after the dunk, showing the six-foot-11 Antetokounmpo finishing the flush with his feet on the floor and his hands gripping the rim.
There’s length, and then there’s Greek Freak length. Blend it with court vision and footspeed and you have the headache the Raptors couldn’t shake in Saturday night’s 9783 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 22-year-old Antetokounmpo erupted for 28 points to help bury the Raptors in the opening game of their Eastern Conference quarter-final, and Bucks coach Jason Kidd says his mere presence created opportunities for the entire lineup.
“Giannis is a special player, and he can cause a problem by getting two or three guys on him,” Kidd said in a post-game news conference. “I thought our guys did a great job of sharing the ball. … They didn’t care who shot it or who made the shot. It was about making the right play.”
Antetokounmpo finished the regular season as the Bucks leader in points (22.9), rebounds (8.8) and assists (5.4) per game, and assumed an even bigger role after a knee injury felled fellow star Jabari Parker. On Saturday, Antetokounmpo added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals to help his club flip the script on the Raptors.
Before losing by 14 in their playoff opener, Toronto won three of four regular-season games against Milwaukee, with an average margin of 14.7 points. The difference? Transition baskets. Milwaukee outscored Toronto 17-4 in fast-break points.
“We didn’t do a good job of getting back in transition,” said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. “Once they got their mojo going, we didn’t do a good job. It’s on us.” While Antetokounmpo powered the Bucks’ attack, he didn’t topple the Raptors alone.
He headed to the bench after committing his fourth foul with the Raptors leading by two and just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, presenting the Raptors with a chance to widen the gap and place a young Bucks squad under pressure. But when Antetokounmpo re- turned to the game to start the fourth quarter, his team led 75-70.
The Raptors lost an opportunity, a lead and, ultimately, a game.
And the Bucks capitalized on a chance to prove they can thrive with their top player on the bench. Rookie point guard Malcolm Brogdon finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while forward Greg Monroe contributed 14 points and 15 re- bounds off the bench in his first career playoff game.
“We talk about trust every day with one another,” Kidd said. “We always talk … about (how) it’s not built around one guy. When (Antetokounmpo) came out I thought his teammates picked him up, and that just shows we’re growing. Being a young team, they really trusted one another with Giannis out.”