RAPTORS RAINING ON GREEK FREAK’S MVP PARADE
Bucks star dominated the regular season, but appears to be wilting in playoff heat
In late June, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be called to a stage in Los Angeles and almost certainly be announced as the Most Valuable Player in the NBA.
Most valuable regular-season player.
In the same month, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning will have his name called in Las Vegas, certainly as the Most Valuable Player in the NHL.
Most valuable regular-season player.
Kucherov’s playoffs expired early when the first-place Lightning went down in the opening round. Antetokounmpo’s playoffs are now in question, with firstplace Milwaukee facing adversity, maybe for the first time all season, with the Raptors and the Bucks each two wins away from the NBA Finals.
It’s still hard — and early — for all that to sink in around Toronto. Two wins away from a trip to the NBA Finals. With the story of this series still to be written.
But right now, if anyone was voting for basketball’s playoff MVP, Antetokounmpo wouldn’t be a first choice. The Bucks enjoyed an easy run through the first two rounds of the playoffs, getting through Detroit in four one-sided games, getting by Boston in five games, the last four rather one-sided, as well. Antetokounmpo looked unstoppable, just as he did for so much of the season.
Now the Bucks are getting a push back from the stunningly big-hearted Raptors, with the series tied 2-2. The Bucks haven’t faced anything like this all season. They won the most games in the NBA. Antetokounmpo dominated. That works nice in February and March. This is late May.
The beaten up Kawhi Leonard of no fixed future address has been the playoff MVP to date in the Eastern Conference. Steph Curry holds the similar title at this stage of the post-season in the Western Conference. Kevin Durant would likely have been in that position had he remained healthy. Maybe there’s still more coming from the gracefully athletic Greek Freak. Or maybe, at this time, this is all he has left.
In the regular season, Giannis scored 27.7 points a game. Against Detroit and Boston, he scored right in that range. Against the Raptors through four games, he’s scoring 22.8 points per game.
He was a 57.8 per cent shooter in the regular season; against the Raptors so far, just 44.5 per cent. He shot almost 26 per cent from three-point land during the season, and 30 per cent against the Celtics in Round 2. This round, just 23 per cent, all of which is a tribute to the Raptors’ defence, which has been at its best when Leonard plays head to head against the larger, quicker and more athletic Antetokounmpo.
And he was bothered in Game 4. Clearly bothered by the play around him. Bothered by Drake’s annoying courtside taunting. Antetokounmpo tossed two air balls on free throw attempts, much to the glee of Drake.
That isn’t something you see often from a coming MVP whose first name isn’t Shaq.
When the Bucks lost Game 4 in Toronto, it represented just the second time they lost two games in a row through 95 games in the regular season and playoffs. They just didn’t lose the game, they got blasted. It was a most unusual victory by the Raptors, who were showing a side we’ve never seen before.
In the Game 4 romp, Norm Powell, who is in and out and in and out, depending on the day and the time, took 18 shots, the most he’s taken all season, scoring 18 points. He was a difference maker. Leonard limped around all night, but still managed 19 points. He was a difference maker, mostly due to the attention the Bucks paid to him defensively. And Serge Ibaka was an absolute force, offensively, defensively, emotionally, and on the boards.
Ibaka lifted the Raptors the way Antetokounmpo couldn’t seem to lift the Bucks in Game 4.
Leonard has scored more than 30 points in 10 of the Raptors’ 16 playoff games. Curry has been magnificent since Durant went down, averaging 34 points per game in six straight wins for the Warriors.
Antetokounmpo has been good against the Raptors, but not great. Not MVP great. Not bestin-the-league great. Not dominating the game and taking over great. Leonard’s entire playoff has been an advertisement for his near-silent superstardom. He has nothing more to prove but push — or carry — the Raptors to two more victories.
It’s Antetokounmpo’s serve now. He has home-court advantage. Just how he and the Bucks respond for Game 5, with all the pressure on them, is anyone’s guess. It’s put-up-or-shut-up time for the young apparent MVP.
They won the most games in the NBA. Antetokounmpo dominated. That works nice in February and March. This is late May.