Fourth quarter starts. Bucks down 78 – 83. Giannis sitting on the bench. Team plays terrifically without him and gets 2 points ahead. Ball flowing, defence clicking. Giannis comes into the game. Suns go on an 8-0 run. The rest is history.
Giannis is not clutch. He is the exact opposite of clutch. Look at his game shot chart. ZERO mid range, as I have explained many times, he has no mid range when it matters, only against easy teams with no pressure.
The Suns have struggled defensively this season, ranking 20th in the league, allowing 114.8 points per game. This was an opportunity for Giannis to exploit their weaknesses, especially with Bradley Beal out due to a hamstring injury. Yet, he failed to impose his will, a stark contrast to his usual relentless aggression. When Milwaukee needed their best player to take over, Giannis couldn’t break through Phoenix’s scheme, leaving the Bucks scrambling for answers late in the game. Giannis has no “bag”, hell he doesn’t even have a fanny pack.
Look at that box score. Not just the terrible free throw percentage. Non existent in offensive rebounds, he just got the easy stat padding defensive ones. The game’s defining moment came with 2.4 seconds left, when Devin Booker sank the game-winner over Milwaukee’s defense. As Booker caught the ball, the lane opened up, and he glided into his preferred mid-range spot for an uncontested look. Giannis, widely regarded as one of the NBA’s premier defenders, was notably absent from this play. Posts on social media highlighted the sentiment: “As soon as Booker caught the ball, the lane was wide open, and I knew that was game.” Where was Giannis? As the Bucks’ defensive anchor, his presence should have deterred Booker or forced a tougher shot. Instead, his positioning—or lack thereof—allowed Phoenix’s star to operate freely. We have explained his many issues in defence, lateral lack of speed an obvious one related to last night.
Giannis gets no talk in being one of the dirtiest superstars we have ever seen because he puts a nice guy gimmick on, its actually disgusting pic.twitter.com/mHiVj54wc5
— Easy (@EasyCantMiss) March 25, 2025
Giannis himself acknowledged this in post-game comments, saying, “I feel like Devin Booker was able to get to his spot and get a wide-open look.” This admission underscores a critical failure: the Bucks’ best player didn’t step up to contest the shot that sealed their fate. With Lillard out and the team relying on Giannis to lead, his inability to disrupt the final possession was a glaring misstep.
Missed Opportunities Down the Stretch
Beyond the last play, Giannis’ overall decision-making in crunch time was questionable. The Bucks trailed by slim margins throughout the fourth quarter, and while they mounted a comeback from a 14-point deficit earlier in the game (per prior trends against teams like the Kings), they couldn’t close the deal against Phoenix. Giannis, known for his ability to attack the rim and draw fouls, didn’t generate the same pressure he’s capable of. The Suns’ recent defensive improvement—allowing just 107 points per game over their last five—shouldn’t have been enough to neutralise him entirely, especially given Milwaukee’s need for a go-to scorer without Lillard or the suspended Bobby Portis Jr.
The Bigger Picture: Leadership Under Scrutiny
This loss amplifies broader concerns about Giannis’ role as the Bucks’ leader. At 40-31 after the game, Milwaukee sits fifth in the Eastern Conference, far from the championship contender status they’ve held in recent years. Without Lillard’s playmaking, the offence runs through Giannis, yet he couldn’t elevate his teammates—Gary Trent Jr., Brook Lopez, and others—against a Suns team riding a hot streak. Social media chatter even speculated about his future, with one user suggesting, “Giannis is so outta there, barring an incredible return in a Dame Lillard trade.” While that’s hyperbolic, it reflects the frustration with his inconsistent impact in big games like this one.
KD and Giannis beefing 😳 pic.twitter.com/bDlwVQ88pP
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) March 25, 2025
Giannis Must Own This One
His subpar output, defensive lapse on the final play, and inability to take over down the stretch handed the Suns an opportunity they capitalized on. For a team fighting to solidify its playoff position, this was a game Giannis needed to win—and he didn’t. Until he consistently delivers in these moments, questions about his ability to carry the Bucks will persist. Last night, the Greek Freak faltered, and Milwaukee paid the price.
RYAN DUNN POSTERIZES GIANNIS. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 25, 2025
(h/t @ridiculouscage)
pic.twitter.com/koYGvlaGCJ
