Grok3 has an interesting and very valid summary of stuff I have been writing about elsewhere regarding Giannis in the playoffs:
“Limited Outside Shooting: Giannis isn’t a consistent threat from beyond the arc. His three-point shooting has improved over the years, but it’s still not elite (career 28.6% as of the 2023-24 season). Defenses often sag off him, daring him to shoot from deep.
Free-Throw Struggles: His free-throw percentage hovers around 70% (career 70.2% through 2023-24), which is decent but not great for a star player. In high-pressure situations, like the playoffs, this can be a liability—teams may exploit it with intentional fouls.
Reliance on Physicality: Giannis thrives on his size, strength, and athleticism to dominate drives and finishes at the rim. If he faces physical defenses or loses a step as he ages, his effectiveness could dip unless he diversifies his game further.
Playmaking Limitations: While he’s a solid passer for a big man (career 5.0 assists per game), he’s not a primary ball-handler or elite playmaker like LeBron James or Nikola Jokić. His assist numbers often come from straightforward reads rather than complex orchestration.
Post Game Needs Refinement: Despite his size (6’11”), Giannis doesn’t have a polished low-post game with a variety of moves. He relies more on power and quickness than finesse or footwork in the paint.
Defensive Versatility Has Limits: He’s an elite defender—capable of guarding 1 through 5 in spurts and a former Defensive Player of the Year (2019-20)—but he’s not always lockdown against smaller, quicker guards or sharpshooting wings due to his size.
Predictable Drives: Giannis often attacks the basket with a head-down, euro-step-heavy style. Savvy defenses (e.g., the “Wall” strategy used by the Raptors in 2019) can clog the paint and force him to kick out or take tougher shots.
Injury Concerns: His aggressive, physical style has led to occasional injuries, like knee and ankle issues. While he’s generally durable, his long-term health could be a question as he enters his 30s (he turned 30 in December 2024).”
It is interesting how Grok also takes issue with a matter most choose to disregard when evaluating Giannis. And that is his massive performance drop off in high pressure situations. Here is what Grok says:
“Giannis Antetokounmpo’s playoff performance has been a mixed bag, and it’s a hot topic among fans and analysts. While he’s undeniably a regular-season juggernaut—two MVPs and a Defensive Player of the Year award—his postseason play has drawn criticism for not always matching that dominance. Let’s break it down based on how he’s performed and the recurring knocks against him in the playoffs.
One big critique is his efficiency—or lack thereof—when the stakes get higher. Take the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Celtics: Giannis put up monster stats (33.9 points, 14.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists per game), but his shooting splits were rough—49.1% from the field and 67.9% from the free-throw line. He became the first player to notch 200 points, 100 rebounds, and 50 assists in a single series, yet the Bucks lost in seven games. Critics point to his 45.7% field goal percentage in that series (down from his regular-season norm) and argue he was more of a volume scorer than an efficient one, especially with Khris Middleton sidelined.
Then there’s the free-throw issue. Giannis has never been a sharpshooter from the line, and it’s bitten him in the playoffs. In the 2023 first-round upset against the Heat, he shot 15-for-23 (65.2%) in the two games he played before a back injury knocked him out. Miami exploited this, and the Bucks crashed out as the No. 1 seed. His career playoff free-throw percentage sits at 66.2% (through 2023-24), compared to 70.2% in the regular season—small drop, big moments.
His style of play also gets exposed when teams build a “wall” to stop his drives. The 2019 Raptors famously used this tactic in the Eastern Conference Finals, holding Giannis to 41.5% shooting and 12.3 points per game in the final four games (all losses after a 2-0 lead). Similarly, the Heat in 2020 limited his impact, and Miami took that series 4-1. Defenses collapse on him, and without a reliable jumper—he’s at 27.6% from three in the playoffs career-wise—he can struggle to create space or punish teams from outside.
Injuries have also played a role, though not entirely his fault. He missed most of the 2023 Heat series with a bruised back and sat out the entire 2024 first-round loss to the Pacers with a calf strain. The Bucks went 0-5 in playoff games he’s played since May 11, 2022 (Game 5 vs. Boston), fueling the narrative that he’s faltering when it counts. Without him, Milwaukee actually won 3 of 8 in those stretches, which raises questions about team construction as much as his play.
So, does he play “badly” in the playoffs? When he’s off, it’s magnified—shooting dips, turnovers spike (4.0 per game career playoff average), and teams dare him to beat them from deep or the line. “
After more than a decade in the NBA, the AI makes valid points. Giannis once reached the ring and failed terribly every other year.
