Bucks Zone

Giannis Antetokounmpo says home court edge doesn’t guarantee a championship

Giannis Antetokounmpo says there are contenders who are capable of winning playoff games away from home.

Matthew Dugandzic

© Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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The Milwaukee Bucks have managed to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the best record in the entire NBA. They will have crucial home-court advantage in the playoffs.

While home-court advantage is a coveted incentive, it does not guarantee anything, says Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Too many good teams in the East

The Greek Freak is not too excited about the prospect of the Bucks emerging as the top seed that comes with a home-court edge in the playoffs.

Downplaying the importance of a home court, the Greek Freak said there are contenders in the East that are capable of winning away from home.

“At the end of the day, Boston is a beast, Philly is a beast, Cleveland is a beast, New York is a beast,” Antetokounmpo said shortly after they handled the Washington Wizards, 140-128, that pushed the Bucks, one win away from securing the East’s top seed on Tuesday night.

Milwaukee was dethroned last season when they lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The do-or-die match was played at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

To prove his point that home court doesn’t guarantee anything, Antetokounmpo emphasized that the Bucks were only seeded number three in the East when they won the championship crown in 2021.

Top title contender

Highlighted by an amazing 16-game win streak, the Bucks have been consistent all season long. After their win versus the Bulls, they stretched their NBA-best record to 58-22 for a three-game lead over the Celtics.

With the way the Bucks have been performing this season, they are going to be a tough nut to crack in the playoffs–with or without a home-court edge.

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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.