Richard Jefferson calls out Giannis Antetokounmpo for not guarding Jimmy Butler in Game 1 loss
Jimmy Butler put on a scoring clinic in the Miami Heat's Game 1 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, racking up 40 points while shooting 65% from the field. Butler's massive performance caused one reporter to ask Giannis Antetokounmpo if he asked to switch onto Butler to help guard him. It was a question that seemed to bother Giannis.
Former NBA player Richard Jefferson says that it was a fair question to ask. Antetokounmpo, after all, is widely considered an elite defender as the Defensive Player of the Year, and he should take on a player like Butler when he is heating up.
"You are the Defensive Player of the Year," Jefferson argued on "Get Up." "You can slow down people, you can stop people."
It's a criticism that some may not agree with, but the fact is that if you are a player as decorated as Giannis, people are going to expect you to deliver on an elite level on both ends of the floor. If Butler is able to have his way with the Bucks defense all series, more people are going to question why Giannis isn't stepping up to shut him down.
Despite the loss, Jefferson said he was not worried about the Bucks' chances in the series, saying that he believed that the team would bounce back after a tough loss in the first game. In order for that to happen, Antetokounmpo may need to flex some defensive muscles and make it his mission to keep Butler in check.
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