It’s tough for Milwaukee Bucks fans to see Giannis Antetokounmpo not playing for the team. He’s been the pillar the Bucks have been standing on for almost a decade now. While the Indiana Pacers aren’t the toughest opponents in the East, they still are troublesome enough that a player of Giannis’ caliber is important.
The fans desperately wanted updates about their star’s condition, and the team has been coy about providing any specific information. However, an NBA insider revealed that Giannis’ situation may be a lot more serious than they anticipated.
Shams Charania: The Milwaukee Bucks might have to shelve Giannis Antetokounmpo for longer
NBA insider Shams Charania provided a discouraging update that shows Giannis may not be any more ready to play for the Bucks in Game 3 than he was at the end of the season.
Giannis is a key cog for everything good happening to the Milwaukee Bucks this season. Until he got injured, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks a game. His impact on the team’s offensive and defensive fronts will be greatly missed if he doesn’t recover in time for Games 3 and 4.
How will the Milwaukee Bucks win without Giannis on the floor?
If the Milwaukee Bucks would have to play the rest of the series without Giannis, the rest of the team needs to step up.
Damian Lillard is already doing his share of the work for Milwaukee. In Game 2, he had a decent night as the team’s primary option. He finished with 34 points, four rebounds, five assists, and a steal.
Most of the Giannis-related pressure will fall flat on Khris Middleton’s shoulders. The forward played decent against the Pacers in Game 2 with his 15 points, five boards, and six dimes. However, he must become even more aggressive when making his shot if the Bucks will have any chance of finishing the series in five games.
The prospect of not having Giannis play is a huge problem for Doc Rivers and the rest of the Bucks. However, they must make do with what they’ve got and strive to finish the series early.
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