Bucks Zone

Giannis Antetokounmpo says the Milwaukee Bucks showed signs of growth in their overtime win over the Chicago Bulls

The Greek Freak liked what he saw in overtime.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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Giannis Antetokounmpo was a happy camper after the Milwaukee Bucks eked out a 133-129 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night at the Fiserv Forum.

Antetokounmpo said the Bucks did things right that enabled them to get back on the winning track after their In-Season Tournament semifinal loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night,

In the loss against Indiana, the Greek Freak was obviously frustrated with the way the Bucks ended the game.

"We have to be more organized. We have to know what we are trying to get down the stretch. At the end of the day, like down the stretch, it's about effort and attitude. You have to go out there and take it," Giannis said shortly after the loss to Indiana.

Giannis was pleased with the Bucks' effort

Even though the Bucks needed a five-minute extension before disposing of the Zach LaVine-less Bulls, the two-time MVP was in a good mood after the contest as he praised his teammates for displaying the right attitude.

"I think we were able to get to our spots execute. Everybody was aggressive, Brook (Lopez) was aggressive, Dame (Lillard) was aggressive, Khris was aggressive, I was aggressive," said Giannis, who finished with 32 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals in the win.

In their previous meeting, the Bulls handed the Bucks a deflating 120-113 overtime loss. It was a frustrating loss for Milwaukee as it played against a Chicago squad that didn't have Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

The Bucks are getting better

Chicago again dragged Milwaukee into a tight endgame battle, but the Bucks were up to the challenge this time, much to the delight of Giannis.

"We were just able to execute, took our time, and were in no rush," Antetokounmpo said.

DeRozan forced overtime with a floater, and the Bulls took a one-point lead early in the extension period. Milwaukee, however, staged a 7-0 to take control of the game.

Giannis was particularly pleased with how the Bucks closed the contest, as it showed signs of maturity.

"It's growth by our team. I feel like, overall, our defense was good, and our offensive execution was also good. So we're growing, we're getting better," the Greek Freak concluded.

Giannis calls out the Bucks to be more organized after semis loss to the Pacers

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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.