Bucks Zone

"You can't just pass it every single time" - Adrian Griffin wants Giannis Antetokounmpo to take more shots

Coach Griff wants more shots and fewer passes from Giannis.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
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Giannis Antetokounmpo is putting up double-double numbers night in and night out in what is shaping to be an incredible run by the two-time MVP this season.

The Greek Freak currently ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 31.2 points a game. He is also sixth in rebounding, with 11.4 boards per contest. Giannis could actually put more points on the board and improve his ranking in the scoring ladder if he wants to.

A willing passer

But Giannis, playing like a true team player, has been doing a good job of getting his teammates involved, although there are times he overdoes it, said Milwaukee coach Adrian Griffin.

Griffin has no problem with Giannis dishing off those extra passes, but he wants his main man to be more assertive where he is more dangerous.

"Giannis does a tremendous job of just finding the open looks. He could literally do it every time, but he would never take a shot. He has to be aggressive most of the time. You can't just pass it every single time because it takes away from who he is, he can get to the rim, he can get to the free throw line, and he's able to kick a lot of those passes out to open shooters," said Griffin.

Giannis is averaging 5.9 assists a game, which is good for 23rd in the Association on the season.

Moving the ball well

But overall, Griffin likes how the Bucks have been sharing the ball and taking advantage of having Giannis and Damian Lillard together.

"It's more about the trust that we're building knowing where everyone is on the floor and knowing that there's gonna be outlets. We talk a lot about our spacing. We know that Dame and Giannis' pick and roll is going to command a lot of attention," said Griffin.

The Bucks have had rough sailing this season, but behind the superstar duo of Dame and Giannis, they still have one of the best records in the league. Milwaukee is currently second in the Eastern Conference with a 28-12 record, just three games behind the Boston Celtics, who sport a league-best 31-9 card.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.