BONUS: Will Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Return SHAKE UP Winning Chemistry or FUEL an Even Bigger Surge?
The Milwaukee Bucks are surging with eight wins over their last ten games, but Giannis Antetokounmpo’s looming return sparks debate: will his presence boost chemistry or disrupt the rhythm? Can the Bucks balance star power with emerging guard dynamics, or will they slip back into old struggles? Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins’ strong performances highlight questions about lineup fragility and evolving roles as playoff hopes hang in the balance.
Can the Bucks find a winning combination upon the return of Giannis?
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32 Comments
I mean I’m a lil nervous because Doc will find a way to mess up the rotation even with the best player in the world
I am concerned but none of that concern is about the players it’s about the fact it will need more thought into the rotations and Doc will just forget about players. He won’t know how to fit Sims and Ousmane minutes in.
What's up with all the ads – can we just hear basketball
Yay another bonus ep!
They have to be extremely careful, b/c a calf injury can easily become a torn Achilles, as we've seen a lot of recently. Giannis is in his 30's, and maybe it's time for him to change his style from sprinting from end to end to doing his work in and around the paint. He could possibly play and earn for more years and be on the court more from avoiding injuries.
Dieng needs to start at the 3, AJ is being played out of position and cannot guard forwards. Nance needs minutes every game…… it's like Doc is paid to throw games. How in the world does Cleveland have 27 free throw attempts to the Bucks 5 in milwaukee?
We need Giannis in 100% healthy. The staff does not need to listen to him if he can get hurt again after 10 games.
The team is playing well with this 8th win in 10 games but against the top teams in the East, we will need Giannis. However, the way the guys are sharing the ball and move and not standing around idk why they are so predictible in an half court set with Giannis on the floor. The kick and 3 doest not work. I hope Giannis sees the way the team is playing right now and try to help the guys to grow also.
It has always been playing without Giannis on the floor being the problem. Playing with Giannis is the easy part.
🤣It’s crazy KPJ has been KPJ all this season. 1 or 2 bad games in a row his past and outside life get brought up. We are human let’s act like it. So glad I don’t have to hear the KPJ hate for now 🤣🤣🤣. (Once he miss a bucket) “ooooooo KPJ beats up his girlfriend he’s this and that.” Shut up and just talk hoop GOD.
Insert Giannis into the lineup just like a doctor inserts an IV into their patient- slow drip…
Im concerned, no doubt about it. They've worked up a nice chemistry without GA. Better ball movement when hes off the court if you ask me. The heliocentric offense has its pros and cons. Standing around waiting for a pass doesnt do much for a players morale, or developement, and unfortunately thats often the role youre forced into around Giannis. Can he step back on ball dominance to give others the chance to shine? Idk but I think thats the key.
We haven’t seen much of Giannis & KPJ on the court together 1 & 2 options we will go deep in the playoffs last night KpJ 5 steals the go ahead bucket for the win holding it down for his big bro
If it’s point Giannis, he can take rest of year off and be traded. If it’s old Giannis and lets guards get the ball up fast it might be okay to let him play injured. Giannis needs to play center, with Turner his backup.
Definitely a bonus! Best player in the world, 30 and 10 automatically and unselfishly.
There are things Giannis does not need to do when he returns:
1. Bring the ball down the court.
2. Barrel through multiple players to the basket.
3. Shoot 3s
4. Boast after #2.
5. Play hero ball in any other way.
This means:
1. Play power forward
2. Let and help talented teammates flourish in their positions/roles.
3. Pass the ball (quickly) when double or triple teamed.
4. Get back on defense.
5. Concentrate on assists, steals, blocks and rebounds as much as points.
The Bucks are swinging the ball around and looking for the three point shooter or penetrating and slashing to an uncluttered lane they are playing team basketball. When Giannis is on the floor palyers have a habit of always looking for him when attacking instead maybe seeing a better option at that time, there is also more standing around when Giannis stands with the ball in his hands at the top of the key. Players are waiting for Giannis to decide what he wants to do.
Use Giannis like the way Greece national team uses him.
. the team scores 121.7 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, compared to 108.0 points when he is off. If he is a ready he must come and play with maximum effort. As always. ἤ τάν ἤ ἐπί τᾶς
Work it now build that cohesion. Duh.
Make him a 6th man 😆 Idk man, I like this winning stuff we got going on now. So much more fun.
Frank said and I quoto “I am not going to call like KPJ or even Rollins low IQ players, but KPJ and kuz are inherently unpredictable and chaotic” that says everything about Frank’s opinion on KPJ: “we should not build a team around a low IQ and chaotic player, that’s a world I don’t want to live in “
Yeah, so you think when Giannis comes back the Bucks aee gonna fall back to bad habits?
My ideal lineup:
Starters / Team 1:
Rollins, AJ, Kuzma, Giannis, Turner
Team 2:
Kpj, Cam, Dieng, BP, Jericho
Team 1: Giannis gravity with decent shooters around and some size for defense
– I think AJ would strive even more in the lineups than our current roster since he’ll have more open shots
– Rollins + AJ on ball defense is solid, but we currently lack size when we have 3 small guards on the floor like we been havin.
Team 2: A ton of energy with great on ball defense and better rebounding. These guys would tire everyone out and challenge the other teams rotation.
– KPJ + Jericho synergy is outstanding, creating a lot of chaos at the top of the key.
– Cam can drive to create some openings for Dieng or Bp if he doesnt take the shot
What id like to see:
– Although giannis may come back, we honestly have a deep rotation. We have a lot of energy that can keep the pace up. Keep rotations going to bring the pressure. Lets use our conditioning and pace to our advantage, itll only help to wear teams out early while knowing Giannis is extremely dominant late game.
– We play better as a team when the ball moves around. Lately, we been seeing more offensive set plays that Im loving. It keeps everyone engaged with effort. Lets continue to create set plays that creates chaos and openings for our players, with giannis—not just iso
I think that as much as possible they need to introduce Gianni’s to the new better ball movement/system they have been locking in on- and not expect him to power through every damn play. Take a bit of the load off him- don’t let him play too many mins. Etc. it’s a scary thought.
He's going to come back and screw up what the team got going. Dominating the ball like he always does. Set him down for the rest of the year and then trade his ass soon as they can. Try to get somebody like jaren Jackson possibly marketing and Kessler Utah's big man get a package of unselfish ball players and a few pics that's not trying to catch LeBron and the all-time scoring list😂 we need some players that is not all about them giannis has ran his course in Milwaukee.
Hope Gianni’s doesn’t blow the Achilles and the bucks get squat for him in the off season or resign him and play without him next season until he heals up.
They should just play him like Kareem down low side to side on the low post where if he gets the ball he jukes his defender and slams the hoop, or if double or triple teamed he bobs the ball to the wide open shooter. Game over! He should never bring the ball down the court or be beyond the free throw line unless to screen for the pick and roll. He shouldn’t be driving to the hoop from the 3 point line, he’s too tall and lanky
Do not bring him back. It will only end in disaster. My gut is telling me he is going go down with a career ending Achillies tear either. If not this season then next season, my gut is rarely wrong. Example when they rushed Dame back I knew he was also going to go down with an Achillies tear and I was right. Thats why if a team is dumb enough or gullible enough to give up young talent and draft picks, do it. That achillies is ticking time ⏰️ bomb 💣 waiting to go off.
I dont understand why this fan base refuses to embrace a rebuild, its if the fan base is still traumatized from the Kareem trade, that was over 50 years ago, get the f over it.
Start
KPJ / Rollins / Dieng / GA / Turner
Bench
Cam / AJ / Kuz / Sims / BP
Easy 10 man rotation.
The length of that first lineup with rollins, scoot, dieng, ga and turner is insane the defensive potential is incredible. We don't need to balance a damn thing, listen Giannis is the guy who single handedly got us a championship we will play through him again he is arguably the best player in the world.
The best for everyone is Giannis to move to New York next year. He'll get into a new challenge which will take his carrier forward, instead of staying in Bucks arguing if he has to take the ball more than Rollins. And the Buck will move forward to the next day, as the should
Not going to happen with AJ playing so many mins even when not producing. He's still playing more mins than Cam.
Sims and Dieng will lose mins when Giannis comes back, Sims bc he occupies Giannis space in the paint and Dieng bc Doc will still prefer to play AJ at the 3 backed by Kuz.
This team is playing great bball rt now but it's not the team Giannis left behind when he got hurt. If he is going to try to be the 1, the 4 and the 5, his return could kill this momentum by altering the way the Bucks are playing in a more team oriented style.
Doc also has to be smart enough to recognize when Bobby or Kuz are off and throw Nance in the mix. Don't see him doing that, unfortunately .
This conversation was one I was having with a friend of mine.