Giannis is an unhappy camper
Loss doesn’t sit well with star
ST. FRANCIS - He was the last guy on the court. Even Greg Monroe had finished his practice and film study and gone. But there was No. 34 late Sunday morning, less than 24 hours after the Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 4 loss to Toronto.
He was working on free throws, working on moves. And he didn’t look happy.
After talking at length with coach Jason Kidd and assistant Sean Sweeney, Giannis Antetokounmpo finally called it a day, maybe only because he had a plane to catch.
He walked off the court at the Cousins Center, head down, no relief on his face that practice was over. No eye contact, nothing.
“That’s Giannis, after a loss he’s not in a good mood,” said Kidd. “It was a lot of basketball talk, things that we’re trying to help him see. That was it.”
The Bucks are headed back to Toronto for Monday’s pivotal fifth game of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, following their 87-76 loss to the Raptors in Game 4 that tied the series at 2-2. Tip-off is 6 p.m. (Central time).
Antetokounmpo was 6 of 19 from the field Saturday and 2 of 4 from the free throw line, for 14 points. He had 11 rebounds but seven turnovers.
The Raptors threw multiple defenders at Antetokounmpo in the two games in Milwaukee and will continue to use that strategy. P.J. Tucker and DeMarre Carroll have been the primary defenders against the Greek Freak.
Trimming turnovers: The theme of the day for Kidd, in talking to his team Sunday, was getting back in character. He saw too many passes that flew out of bounds, open guys without the ball, unforced turnovers. That’s not how Milwaukee made its surge in March to reach the post-season.
And it’s not what he wants in Game 5.
“Going on the road, we definitely can’t have that type of game,” said Kidd. “Our defense has been good; it’s put us in a position to win games. It’s taken some pressure off of our offense. Now, our offense, we’ve got to take care of the ball.”
Night owls: The Bucks may have just chalked up their low energy on Saturday in Game 4 to the fact that they played in the afternoon. They’re not as used to that and struggled late in the season in several matinee games.
“Afternoon games have not been our best,” said Kidd. “We knew that, but we tried to do everything to prepare for that.”
The Bucks lost afternoon home games to Chicago and Dallas late in the regular season. But if they continue in the playoffs, more day games will be on the schedule.
After shooting nearly 53% in Game 3, the Bucks shot just 37% in Game 4. Toronto was the aggressor and Milwaukee looked worn down at the end.
Guard Matthew Dellavedova said energy shouldn’t be an issue in Game 5 and Malcolm Brogdon agreed.
“We’ve been out there twice already, got the win once; I think we feel confident,” said Dellavedova.
“We’ll be alive tomorrow, we’ll be ready to play,” said Brogdon.
Rhythm is wrong: Brogdon had a tough performance in Game 4 but said he just hasn’t been able to get into a rhythm and that’s why he hasn’t been consistent on offense.
“The ball hasn’t been moving much so the team overall has struggled. We’ve got to pass the ball, we’ve got to move the ball so people get into some rhythm,” he said.
He also had four turnovers against a tough defense.
“Toronto is a team that reaches a lot,” said Brogdon. “They’re one of the leading teams in steals in the league so the refs let them play like that. We know that. That can’t be one of our excuses.”
He said his back feels great and there’s no pain so there are no issues with it. He missed five games late in the regular season with back tightness.
Scheduling bits: Thursday’s Game 6 in Milwaukee will begin at 7 p.m. if the Houston-Oklahoma City series goes to a sixth game.
If the Rockets can close out the Thunder in five games, the Bucks and Raptors will start an hour earlier, at 6 p.m., and the game will be televised on TNT. Houston’s 113-109 win over Oklahoma City on Sunday gave it a 3-1 series lead, and the Rockets can close out the series at home on Tuesday.
The NBA also announced that the conference semifinal series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Bucks-Raptors winner will open on Monday, May 1 in Cleveland.
That means if the Bucks and Raptors go to a seventh game, the series winner will have just one day of rest before opening the conference semifinals.
The Cavaliers now will have an entire week to rest after sweeping the Indiana Pacers with a 106102 win on Sunday in Indianapolis.