Bucks Zone

Giannis Antetokounmpo says they all have to keep themselves accountable

"To not be down 26. To be able to make the other team call the first time out."

Jonas Panerio

© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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As huge as it is to know that your team can come back from massive deficits and win a game, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo knows that's no way to live. And so, Giannis is calling on everyone on the team—including himself—to hold themselves accountable from the jump.

The Bucks toed a dangerous line on Sunday when they started the game versus the Portland Trail Blazers sluggishly and paid the price for it, going down by as much as 26 points, 81-55, before completely erasing the deficit and eventually winning the game, 108-102.

Giannis acknowledged that it was a remarkable comeback but also said the Bucks have to do better to avoid having to dig themselves out of huge holes like that in the first place.

"Now what I know is that we were able to do something like this," Giannis said. "So now you got to keep yourself accountable."

Get up for the game

Maybe it was a case of the Bucks playing down to their opponents. After all, Portland entered the game with a 4-11 record, one of the worst in the entire league. Or maybe Milwaukee just woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Whatever the case was, Portland was in firm control from the get-go until Milwaukee came alive late in the game.

Giannis said they must rectify that moving forward.

"To not be down 26. To be able to make the other team call the first time out. To come out in the first five minutes and assert yourself to the game. Now I know, as a team, we can do that," Giannis emphasized.

"And I call myself, and the team, teammates, coaches, everybody to a high standard. Next time, we should start right away. But sometimes, it is not going to go our way. I understand that."

Resiliency

The Bucks shot poorly versus the Trail Blazers and committed their fair share of turnovers. Milwaukee's players know they are a team with one goal: to win an NBA title. However, starting shooting guard Malik Beasley knows he and the rest of the starting unit must do a better job getting off to faster starts.

"We look at it is we should have been beating them; we're a championship-caliber team," Beasley said.

"We can't come out like that. Especially as the first group in the beginning. But in the end, we showed resiliency."

Giannis Antetokounmpo shares his thought process on the big-time defensive play versus the Portland Trail Blazers

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO