Bucks Zone

Giannis Antetokounmpo describes what it's like having two players who can create in crunchtime: 'It’s like heaven'

For Giannis, having teammates who can lock in during a game’s tight moments is like heaven.

Jonas Panerio

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For the most part, the Milwaukee Bucks’ late-game offense in the last few seasons has been simplistic and predictable: give the ball to two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and watch him work. And while that worked for a while, the Miami Heat seemingly found the antidote during their first-round upset of the Bucks last season.

Since then, the Bucks have added another offensive weapon in seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard. That, coupled with the return to form of three-time All-Star Khris Middleton, allows them to be more versatile and unpredictable down the stretch.

It’s like heaven

Giannis did a lot of damage against the Heat in their recent showdown last Tuesday night at the Kaseya Center, tallying 33 points, ten rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block. However, Lillard and Middleton carried the Bucks down the stretch as the two perimeter weapons combined to score 19 of the team’s 38 fourth-quarter points.

Giannis said it felt like heaven when asked what it felt like to have two players capable of shouldering the load in close ball games.

“For me, it’s like heaven when you have two guys that can create their own shot and, down the stretch, I don’t have to make something happen, and I can just be like the guy that sets the screen and rolls and kind of play the second side and play behind the defense,” Antetokounmpo said.

Not that Giannis is shying away from taking over in crunch time. He can take over a game when needed, but having two more players capable of leading the offense certainly takes some pressure off him and allows for easier buckets throughout all four quarters.

“My whole career, it’s been that way. Past couple of years, Jrue (Holiday) and Khris was able to do that, and now we have also have Khris and Dame that they can do that.”

Dame and Khris connection

With the fourth quarter being “Dame Time,” the Heat put more pressure on Lillard, often placing a defender between him and the ball. Lillard recognized this and told Middleton to bring the ball up himself. This type of communication allowed the Bucks to make the right plays to fight off the resilient Heat.

“That was the first time me and him were communicating the way we did down the stretch,” Lillard said.

“And I think moments like that are necessary. We gotta have that because he’s a guy that can do like he did tonight. And for me, as soon as I see the time start going down under three or four minutes, I’m shifting, and I’m going to get ’em. So, it was great to have that interaction and that back and forth with him.”

Khris Middleton shares what sparked his late offensive burst in the game against the Miami Heat

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO