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MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks are a mean basketball workforce (at greatest) and never even two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo can change that reality. Monday night time’s 108-81 loss to the shorthanded Boston Celtics in Antetokounmpo’s long-awaited return from a calf harm was the newest proof.
The Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers in a hard-fought sport late on Sunday night time and did not arrive in Milwaukee till 3 a.m. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta had been all dominated out. All the pieces was arrange for the Bucks to re-energize their marketing campaign as they started a vital five-game house stand. As an alternative, they trailed by as many as 31 on Monday night time en path to their third consecutive loss, all by at the very least 20 factors.
What ought to have been a celebration of Antetokounmpo’s return to the court docket as an alternative served as one other reminder that this has changed into a misplaced season for the Bucks, who could not even make the Play-In Match within the Jap Convention and but are usually not in line for a prime lottery decide.
Now 26-34, the Bucks sit in eleventh place within the Jap Convention, 3 ½ video games behind the Charlotte Hornets for the ultimate play-in spot and 4 video games behind the Atlanta Hawks for ninth place (+350 to make the match, per DraftKings). With 22 video games remaining, there’s nonetheless time for the Bucks to make a run, however Monday’s outcome didn’t encourage confidence.
Antetokounmpo, who was on a minutes restriction, completed with 19 factors and 11 rebounds on 7 of 18 from the sector Monday in his first sport motion since Jan. 23, when he strained his proper calf for the second time this season.
“Felt good, felt slightly bit rusty, however clearly one thing new in my profession being out for such a very long time and never only one time, a number of occasions right into a season,” Antetokounmpo stated after the sport. “Undoubtedly disrupt my rhythm, however on the finish of the day, I simply attempt to take it daily, sport by sport. I am pleased that I am again, I am simply pleased that I am on the court docket. … Clearly didn’t play nicely tonight, however on the finish of the day I am simply pleased that I am on the market having the ability to assist my teammates in any method that I can and simply do what I really like, which is play basketball.”
Antetokounmpo hasn’t been in a position to try this a lot this season. A groin pressure and a number of calf strains have restricted him to 30 appearances. He is already been eradicated from award rivalry and is assured to play the fewest variety of video games in his profession in what may be his last season in Milwaukee.
Commerce rumors have been swirling since final summer time, when Antetokounmpo reportedly informed the Bucks that the New York Knicks had been the one workforce he would play for out of doors of Milwaukee, prompting calls between the organizations. Antetokounmpo has maintained publicly that he has not, and won’t, request a commerce, however has additionally repeatedly acknowledged his need to compete for one more championship earlier than the tip of his prime — one thing that’s not at the moment doable in Milwaukee.
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So for now, he stays, albeit with a brand new look. Antetokounmpo admitted Monday that greater than a decade of wear and tear and tear on his physique is beginning to take a toll, educating him to deal with accidents otherwise than he did earlier in his profession:
“I believe, being within the NBA 13 years, I have been injured rather a lot. I’ve sprained my ankles, I’ve hyperextended my knee, my again has been hurting me, sprained my wrist. And I will come again. Like, when the physician tells me two, three, 4 weeks, I will minimize that point in half and are available again… So I believed it might be the identical and I believe that is generally not good as a result of it is identical to a false actuality. It isn’t at all times going to be that case and I felt like this yr was going to be the identical factor. Like, OK, yeah, damage my groin, needed to be out three weeks, 4 weeks, got here again in 10 days.
However I am 31 years outdated, simply gotta be smarter shifting ahead as a result of issues that I used to be in a position to do prior to now, perhaps I am not in a position to do now. And I’ve simply gotta be extra methodical with my rehab, the way in which I maintain my physique, the way in which that I play. However yeah, that is just about it. Transferring ahead I simply gotta be smarter.”
Antetokounmpo could have accepted a extra cautious rehab, however he didn’t settle for the concept of sitting out for the rest of the season to permit the Bucks to tank for higher lottery odds. He confirmed Monday that, regardless of some experiences on the contrary, he was at all times planning to come back again to try to lead the Bucks to the playoffs.
Whereas admirable, Antetokounmpo’s need to compete in any respect prices — and the Bucks’ need to maintain him in Milwaukee — led the group down a useless finish final summer time. Jon Horst waived Damian Lillard and stretched his contract over the subsequent 5 years, then used the cap house to signal Myles Turner, who has been taking part in lower than Jericho Sims these days. Combating their method into the playoffs by way of the Play-In Match somewhat than sinking into the lottery would solely be a continuation of that path.
The Bucks don’t management their very own first-round decide till 2031, however they may obtain the much less favorable of their decide and the New Orleans Pelicans‘ decide (now owned by the Hawks) on this yr’s draft. As a result of the Pelicans have the sixth-worst file and are proper within the combine for one of many three worst data, the Bucks will possible get to maintain their decide in spite of everything.
When Antetokounmpo went down along with his calf harm in late January forward of the commerce deadline, there was briefly a believable situation the place the Bucks sank low sufficient within the standings that, with slightly lottery luck, they might win up with a top-five decide. Although that’s technically nonetheless doable, they may now be fortunate to carry on to a top-10 choice.
The Bucks didn’t commerce Antetokounmpo, and actually went on a shock 8-2 run with out him in February, which Bobby Portis known as “idiot’s gold, for actual” on Monday. The recent streak did nothing however worsen their lottery standing. Now, the Play-In is inside putting distance and the Greek Freak is again
As dangerous as issues seemed Monday, Antetokounmpo goes to single-handedly win the Bucks some video games as soon as he is off his minutes restriction and again to his greatest. They’re going to most likely win a number of extra due to their maintain on the sixth-easiest remaining schedule. For the Bucks’ sake, they’re going to should hope they’re too far behind the Hornets and Hawks for it to matter.
For greater than a decade, the Bucks and their star participant have been in lock step. However proper now, the one factor Antetokounmpo desires — successful — is the very last thing the Bucks want.
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