Greek Freak Analyzed

Tag: basketball

  • Giannis is the ultimate business fail story for the Bucks*

    Giannis is the ultimate business fail story for the Bucks*

    Many years from now it will be shared in business school as an obvious blunder of epic dimensions. A franchise in a ‘small market’ (untrue but that is how it is presented) wins a championship after many years thanks to an amazing MVP player that everyone loves. And then…. constant failure as they drove themselves into the ground for another half century.

    But how?

    The rise of the Bucks I have documented here. They carefully traded players that could play around Giannis’ many weaknesses. And they won the NBA finals! Dream rag to riches story both for Giannis and the Bucks franchise. And that’s when the mistakes started:

    1. Overpromising. “Khris let’s run it back!” said an exuberant Giannis on winning the chip. Many players say this. It’s only natural when you are on top of the world. The problem is that they acted as if it would be easy. As if they deserved that championship. They didn’t.
    2. Running it back. It quickly became apparent that the team was nowhere near the other contenders. But the Bucks didn’t change anything. Some players read the signs and had had enough of the Giannis’ bullshit. Everyone was annoyed by the way he hogged the spotlight. But the media knew, anyone that knows ball knew. Giannis only got 1 vote for 1st place in MVP the next year. It was over. We all knew he can’t do clutch. And it just got worse because…
    3. Make it OK to blame everyone else. It’s either the coaching staff or the rest of the roster. And this is official, from the top, the Bucks’ marketing machine is promoting Giannis as the ultimate tool so indirectly answering the question “what is to blame for our failures?” with “well, must be something other than Giannis!”
    4. Catch22 of killing trade value for the rest of the roster. The Bucks are so busy protecting their investment in Giannis that they don’t realize that they are effectively killing their potential for trades. The NBA is no longer about throwing money around to get players. It is only about what assets you have that others want. But when you are constantly using the narrative of Giannis being perfect and everyone else to blame? Beverley , George Hill, Donte DiVincenzo were practically worthless as trade assets by the time the Bucks gave them away.
    5. Hiding Giannis in the playoffs with pretend injuries. It really doesn’t matter if he was genuinely injured or it was a ploy. The Bucks would have lost those series anyway. The fact of the matter is that they have hyped Giannis to overplay in the regular season by promoting his stats above everything and everyone else.
    6. Giannis weaknesses become apparent to all. This year they tried to spread the myth of Giannis mid range shot. It isn’t true of course. The NBA has moved ahead, the game is played in a way which makes Giannis almost irrelevant in the playoffs. Running and dunking, bully ball in the paint, only works in regular season match ups where the opponents don’t want to risk injury. Players like Wemby have the complete package. Giannis saying “I won’t take 3s” in a league of 3s is simply stupid. Especially when he is shooting the worse of any player in NBA history.

    So what will happen? These playoffs they will hope to get to the second round at least. Then they can pretend that

    • “with a few additions”
    • “with some changes to the coaching staff”
    • “with different tactics”

    or some other equally hairbrained excuse for dumbies, they will have a better chance next year. Then the season will roll as always, with the Bucks killing themselves to be high in the rankings in the regular season and failing again abysmally in the playoffs. Eventually Giannis will demand a trade if he has run out of excuses or if they lose badly enough from the first round.

    And it will be too late.

    Even without the significant potential for injury with the way he plays, the league has moved ahead without him. It’s not just his lack of 3. Giannis’ biggest problem is that he is one of the worse screeners in the NBA, he simply doesn’t understand angles at all. He can’t play advanced systems or even understand them. He can’t switch fast enough. He trains in such a stupid way that he is getting worse at free throws even. And most of all he is a victim of his own myth. He actually believes he is one of the best players in the NBA even though he lacks connections to the other players in meaningful ways and most don’t want him on their teams.

    So even if he changes team, Giannis will fail. Badly. Maybe a team that wants him to try hard in the regular season so they can rest their aging superstars for the playoffs. Will his ego allow him such a role? Can he handle being benched in the playoffs? In any case the Bucks will be without options, without a young core for the future and with a sad memory of what they think could have been.

    Feel free to use this for your MBA reading material. Don’t forget to play sad violin music while you read.

    *Giannis isn’t a fail story of course for himself personally, he is so rich that all this is almost irrelevant to him even if his career keeps on this downhill trajectory.

  • Giannis no longer defends and is no MVP for sure

    Giannis no longer defends and is no MVP for sure

    Looking at his defensive rating it is clear that Giannis has given up trying in defence since he won DPOY. Every year he gets worse. (Lower is better for defensive rating.)

    Other than racking up the easy defensive rebounds when nobody else is around….nada. It becomes clear when we look at any defensive metric which is multi factorial, for example the top 10 this season in Stable Rebounds/75 1. Kevon Looney 2. Isaiah Hartenstein 3. Steven Adams 4. Jonas Valanciunas 5. Andre Drummond 6. Ivica Zubac 7. Karl-Anthony Towns 8. Domantas Sabonis 9. Donovan Clingan 10. Walker Kessler.

    Up there on the top right are the kings of defence. Rim protectors who also score well in D-Lebron (an all inclusive defence metric.) Giannis is nowhere, less steals, less blocks, less offensive rebounds, less everything. Here are the top in defensive rating this season, a good mix of various positions:

    The Top 10 in Post Defense as per basketball index:

    1. Domantas Sabonis
    2. Jakob Poeltl
    3. Wendell Carter Jr.
    4. Nikola Vucevic
    5. Deandre Ayton
    6. Georges Niang
    7. Jusuf Nurkic
    8. Clint Capela
    9. Trayce Jackson-Davis
    10. Victor Wembanyama

    And here is rim protection in the effective defensive percentage in relation to rim contests. Giannis has stopped almost everything in order to stat pad this season.

    Next time some idiot starts shouting “MVP” when Giannis does something cool, maybe rethink it. He is now missing so many games he is out of that competition for this season and probably out of the scoring lead too.

    DATA SOURCES NBA.COM STATMUSE.COM BBALLINDEX

  • Do the Bucks win more without Giannis? (And why others don’t want him on their teams.)

    Do the Bucks win more without Giannis? (And why others don’t want him on their teams.)

    After losing to the Warriors last night, many Bucks’ fans claimed that if Giannis was in the roster it would have been different. Maybe they need to learn how to use Google.

    In the previous loss (similar score) Giannis got his stat padding done but it didn’t help.

    The game before that the Bucks won…because Curry was resting. In fact these two teams don’t meet up very often but it does seem as if a) the Warriors are far superior and b) they don’t really care. In March 2022 when they met, again Giannis got 31 points but it did no good. Klay Thompson got 38 and the Warriors won easily.

    The Top 10 in On-Ball Gravity as per Basketball index:

    1. Damian Lillard
    2. Jalen Brunson
    3. James Harden
    4. Stephen Curry
    5. Anthony Edwards
    6. Jayson Tatum
    7. Jalen Green
    8. Cade Cunningham
    9. Trae Young
    10. Luka Doncic

    Giannis can’t deal with the Warriors big when they want to defend him. They just don’t bother usually in the regular season because like everybody else in the league they are not stupid to risk injury against the stupid way Giannis plays.

    The speed of the Bucks offence would make it absolutely impossible for Giannis to play on their team. The trade rumours are completely stupid. Giannis can’t think that fast, let alone even understand the advanced plays the Warriors implement. Most importantly Giannis is one of the worse screeners in the NBA and screening is top priority for the Warriors. (Screening and getting away with it!)

    In the 2022-23 season, the Bucks were 11-8 without Giannis. Of course he often skips games he knows they will lose. Last season they won 49 games and lost 33. There are a few reasons why the Bucks might be more successful without Giannis. First, the Bucks play a more balanced style of offense without Giannis. When Giannis is playing, the Bucks tend to rely on him to create most of their offense and of course he holds the ball way too long. Without Giannis, the Bucks’ other players have to step up and contribute more on offense. Second, the Bucks play with more energy and effort without Giannis. When Giannis is playing, the Bucks can sometimes get complacent, knowing that Giannis won’t let them get involved anyway. Without Giannis, the Bucks have to play harder and more focused in order to win.

  • Giannis’ injury is good for everybody

    Giannis’ injury is good for everybody

    Giannis missing the All Star game really is great for the NBA. For starters he is boring as hell to watch. Really doesn’t contribute to the glamour or spectacle of the All Star weekend, just makes it awkward usually. Do you remember the Anteto brothers in the skills contest? Yeah, exactly.

    When the lights shine brightest Giannis and his clan simply never deliver. Even mic’ed up he is boring as watching paint dry:

    This is fine. Not every NBA player can be spectacular. Giannis is boring in the way he plays and slightly amusing sometimes when he cracks jokes in a way that appeals to a few fans. The more important reason for Giannis to sit out games is that the Bucks simply play better without him:

    That is the box score against the 76ers yesterday, a well rounded team performance. The ball moves better, defence is more agile. This isn’t just about Plus-Minus Metrics or APM. Offensive and defensive ratings are different and it really shows up what a practical problem Giannis is on the floor for any team with his lack of flexibility and emphasis on personal stat padding.

    I would go as far as to claim that it is even good for Giannis. He needs to take some time to reflect on the mess he has created in the Bucks over the years with his dumb demands and direct or indirect influence over trades all these years. His emphasis on strength training which has ruined his shooting. The way he stat pads and ruins the game flow. He needs to get people around him that don’t suck up and tell him facts as they are: he has low basketball IQ and needs help on the court. It simply isn’t working. The championship was a massive lucky fluke. He needs to rethink the way he shuns working with other NBA stars. He needs to rethink his whole approach to the game and training for it.

    Team chemistry and morale, the changes in playing style and strategy and of course the much increased opportunities for other players. Everyone bad mouthing the coaching staff now gets to see what they can do with players that can execute without Giannis impeding them. This Bucks team without Giannis is just that: a team.

  • The Bucks won’t even get to the 2nd round this year

    The Bucks won’t even get to the 2nd round this year

    Trading Khris Middleton was the final nail in the coffin of any playoff aspirations for the Bucks.

    As things stand, first round against the Pacers we all know how it ends. Even if the Pacers’ stars are injured , Siakam or Myles Turner know how to neutralise Giannis. We have seen it many times. Without Khris as an alternative threat there isn’t much hope. This isn’t a one off in season tournament game. Against the Knicks it would be even worse. In a seven game playoff series the Bucks lose badly. Again.

    That is the history. That is how big a fluke the championship run was. The Bucks with Giannis have failed consistently in the playoffs. Kuzma solves no problems. In fact he will struggle to find a role on the team next to ball dominant Giannis. While Kuzma can get hot from beyond the arc, his three-point shooting remains streaky. He’s not a knockdown shooter, which can sometimes limit his offensive impact and spacing for his team. Spacing is what Giannis needs, that is why they brought Lopez. Though he has the physical tools to be a solid defender, Kuzma sometimes lacks focus and consistency on that end of the floor. He can get caught ball-watching or lose his man, leading to easy baskets for opponents.

    Kuzma’s offensive assertiveness can sometimes turn into tunnel vision. He can force shots or miss open teammates when he’s focused on scoring, which can disrupt the flow of the offense. Which already doesn’t flow much because of ball hog Giannis. And Kuzma’s decision-making can be questionable. He might take a difficult shot early in the shot clock or make a risky pass that leads to a turnover. Improving his decision-making will make him a more efficient and reliable player.

    There have been instances where Kuzma’s maturity has been questioned. Whether it’s on-court antics or off-court comments, he can sometimes be a distraction for his team. Maintaining focus and composure will be crucial for his continued growth, will he be able to put up with Giannis? I think moving to the Bucks will test the limits of every aspect of Kuzma on and off the court.

    And failing horribly in the playoffs again will only make it worse.

  • The Bucks bench is rocking it: so what is to blame?

    The Bucks bench is rocking it: so what is to blame?

    It is so common to hear “no help” in relation to Giannis. But

    is it true? Let’s look at how many points the bench has scored in relation to other teams.

    So with only 48 games, the Bucks bench is much better than so many title contenders.

    And who are these players making the difference?

    In fact the Bucks’ good defensive periods are when the team does well.

    Looking at the breakdown per Bucks’ player, here are they are ranked by points made of players coming off the bench:

    So what is the problem? Giannis is! He is holding the ball too long in his constant stat padding efforts. It is ludicrous to have a forward on the top of the possession chart of a basketball team:

    Next time someone wants to complain about Pat, maybe look at that chart again. Connaughton had the ball 1/10th of the time that Giannis did. AJ Green 1/5th of the time. How on earth do you expect players to develop at all like that?

    SOURCE : AM Hoops, nba. com, statmuse. com

  • Is Giannis the worse 3point shooter in NBA history?

    Is Giannis the worse 3point shooter in NBA history?

    For starters, most people respond with “who cares if he can’t shoot the 3?” They could be correct, let’s look in more detail. Here are his career 3point percentages per season:

    This should very much worry everybody. Not having a good shot could not be a major problem maybe. But getting worse every year needs further analysis. Combine this with the fact that he is shooting free throws worse than ever in his career and it is extremely worrying. Much like with that analysis, the only rational conclusion is that Giannis:

    1. Is training for strength in some stupid way which affects his shooting a lot. (Here about the mid range myth.)
    2. Hasn’t got the body IQ to figure out how to control his shooting motion.
    3. Hasn’t got the business IQ to ask for help from people that know. (He famously refuses to train with other NBA stars in the summer.)

    If Giannis keeps shooting like this season he will slot in for second worse 3point shooter in NBA history after all these people you have probably never heard of.

    This isn’t even a fair comparison since Denis Johnson hardly played in the 3point era we are living. Yep, that’s right, this is “the 3point era” and Giannis thinks any team would want to trade for him when he is shooting 18%? In fact let’s look at that all time terrible 3points shooters list again and you will see that almost all of them shoot the free throw better than Giannis! And – more importantly – they had the intelligence not to attempt that many shots from 3.

    Maybe this year is a fluke, let’s look at the entire last season. Oh, no, he is still terrible, one of the worse in the league, here they are ranked by worse 3point percentage:

    So in a league that lives by the 3, Giannis should not even think about wasting a shot like that. And – worse still – the way he plays in the paint which some people admire, often ends up in free throws which he then misses. Maybe thirty years ago he could get away with it. In the modern NBA Giannis already looks like a relic. No, worse, a relic that has no idea how to improve.

  • The excuse of the “small market” examined

    The excuse of the “small market” examined

    The Milwaukee Bucks are often cited as a small-market team, but is that really the case? Milwaukee is the 39th-largest media market in the United States. While not a major market like New York or Los Angeles, it is still a sizable market with a dedicated fan base. The Bucks are owned by a group of wealthy investors who are willing to spend money to improve the team. But this is not about the money.

    No, this is simply that Giannis is boring to watch. Despite the great personal story, the lovable character and everything else going for him, end of the day, he just don’t know ball.

    Case in point: All star votes. Dame Lillard while at Portland, playing his backside off, received 700 thousand votes. That seems like a small market. Next year at the Bucks, playing much worse, no playoff run at all and he gets…2.1 million votes! Boohoo, what a small market, eh? And that despite falling in media, player and coaches votes that year.

    It is ludicrous to talk about a “small market” in the age of social media. Is Ja Morant in a ‘major’ market? Hell no, he is simply spectacular! I Lamelo Ball playing for a major market? Well more people go to see him Giannis!

    TV ratings? Same story. When you switch on the television you don’t care where they are playing or if it is a big or small market. College basketball and even the WNBA have smashed viewing records. Why? Because something exciting happens there. When Giannis is on court nothing spectacular happens, just run and dunk, the same dunk 99% of the time, the same couple of moves, no ball movement, no fun.

    So save your breath Giannis and save the pathetic excuses. You are too chicken shit to leave Milwaukee and we all know it.

  • Giannis can’t do clutch

    Giannis can’t do clutch

    In the Giannis fan boy world there is a 50point Finals performance that ends discussions. But in the NBA that’s not how it works. These are the top clutch performers this season when a game is 5 points difference or less for the last 5 minutes of the game.

    For any Joker comparing Giannis to Jokic, yes, Jokic is at the top of this and here are Giannis pathetic stats for the same thing:

    Giannis has half the points in clutch this season and with much, much, much worse percentages all across the board. He basically doesn’t know what to do under pressure. We have all seen him. He panics, it is pitiful. It used to be Khris saving him, now he just gives the ball to Dame all the time. Heck even Jaylen Brown has more clutch points and a much better plus minus (+46) than Giannis. (+19)

    But we all know it is worse than just those numbers. Because Giannis makes terrible mistakes under pressure. We have seen it again and again. When the Bucks are behind or tied he is much worse. Here are the top this season:

    Giannis is waaay down in the 3d page of results, 104th in the NBA when his team is behind or tied in the last five minutes. He simply can’t operate.

    The numbers look even worse for Giannis when you filter for the last 1 minute of the games or the last 2 minutes. He knows he can’t think fast but still…everyone has made him think he can. Even though you can see it in his position and in his body language that he isn’t even sure what is going on.

    Giannis started playing basketball late in life. He simply doesn’t have the automatic reflexes that the others do. He can’t even comprehend any advanced plays or adjust to the finer points of angles and timing. For those that want to compare him to Wemby (here more on that) here are all the players in Giannis’ position compared, Giannis is 39th and compares terribly to a rookie ten years younger than him in clutch situations!

    Giannis has more assists because he is chicken shit in clutch. And all this even though he is on a superior team (pre Fox trade) that has more wins in such close games.

    It is one more reason why most serious contenders don’t want Giannis. He is only good for regular season try harding. Maybe as Steph gets older he would want him in the regular season so he can rest. Then in games that matter bench him.

  • Bucks-Grizzlies 2/2/25 Giannis eval

    Bucks-Grizzlies 2/2/25 Giannis eval

    Some things stand out from his box score

    For starters he finally made 3s! Even though he is fast heading for the worse 3pt% of his career and possibly in NBA history, tonight he made 2 out of 3 which is highly unusual. Even when not guarded, which he isn’t.

    0/6 free throws is terrible even by Giannis standards. We know he can’t shoot and I think he will never learn how to shoot. (More about Giannis’ free throw issues here.) But look at this:

    Not even mine that image is from a Bucks’ fan page (not mentioning author name in case he doesn’t want me to but you can follow the link and join the group to thank him.) And it beautifully illustrates just how low Giannis’ basketball IQ is. Either that or all he cares about is getting the scoring record. He clearly doesn’t care about getting his team mates involved. And he obviously understand that it simply doesn’t work. All too often he gets tangled and misses and even more often he gets fouled and misses the free throws. And even though it clearly doesn’t work, he keeps doing it. It’s not because the coaching staff don’t see the problem. It is because Giannis can’t adapt, he simply can’t do anything else, he lacks the skills and mental acumen on the court to even understand more advanced systems and plays. This is why he will never go to the Golden State Warriors.

    This is not a shot chart to be proud of and it is typical. Last game against the Spurs, similar, just without the 3s.

    That includes the freak one legged fall back. It’s almost as if Giannis is happy to keep doing the same thing. That doesn’t work. That doesn’t get anyone else involved. That doesn’t help the Bucks win. Here is how much he held the ball:

    Some fans complain that the coach keeps him out at the start of the last quarter. It is actually the correct call. Giannis is terrible in clutch situations. But more importantly for him right now, garbage time is a great opportunity to get some easier buckets as he chases the scoring record which seems to be all he cares about this season. Or all he can actually achieve.

  • Wemby vs Giannis? It’s not even close!

    Wemby vs Giannis? It’s not even close!

    The NBA landscape is buzzing with excitement over Victor Wembanyama, the French phenom touted as a generational talent. With his unique blend of size, agility, and shooting touch, Wembanyama has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greats, including Giannis Antetokounmpo. But is the hype justified? And has Wembanyama already surpassed Giannis as the league’s most dominant force?  

    Wembanyama’s Unique Skillset

    Wembanyama’s physical attributes are simply astounding. Standing at 7’4″ with an 8-foot wingspan, he possesses the size of a traditional center. However, his game is anything but traditional. Wembanyama moves with the fluidity of a guard, showcasing remarkable ball-handling skills and a smooth shooting stroke from beyond the arc. His ability to stretch the floor and knock down three-pointers makes him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses.

    Defensively, Wembanyama is a force to be reckoned with. His length and athleticism allow him to protect the rim and disrupt shots with ease. He’s also quick enough to switch onto smaller players and defend them on the perimeter. Wembanyama’s defensive potential is truly sky-high.  We saw him swat Giannis in a few minutes just now. And he didn’t even need to jump! He also has an actual dribble, basketball IQ, fast responses, great court vision and flexibility.

    Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a dominant player for the past few years in the regular season but has none of these skills. His combination of size, strength, and athleticism is a reliable point getter because he always tries so hard. Giannis’ ability to drive to the basket and finish with power is unstoppable by defences not willing to try harder and risk injury in the regular season so he often gets away with it. He’s also a two-time MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year, proving his all-around impact on the game. But that was then. Since his MVP and DPOY years his stats have been falling. All he seems to care about is points now, basically at the rim so he can also talk about fg%.  

    Has Wembanyama passed Giannis?

    While Wembanyama’s potential is undeniable, it’s still early to crown him as the next NBA dominator. However, Wembanyama possesses a unique skillset that could make him much more dominant than Giannis in the long run. His ability to stretch the floor and shoot from the perimeter adds a new dimension to his offensive game. If Wembanyama can develop his all-around game and stay healthy, he has the potential to become the NBA’s next superstar. He seems to be taking his time and has much better awareness of his body. More importantly he seems to understand that some things, like building a winning team, take time. Every step he makes shows intelligence and forethought as opposed to the…bulldozer approach by Giannis in his decade at the NBA. I also consider it important that Wemby is , well, normal, he socialises with other players and people, he is willing to listen and learn.

    The Future of the NBA

    The NBA is in good hands with young talents like Wembanyama and Giannis leading the way. Their battles on the court won’t be must-see TV for much longer. I would say it’s already over but we all know Giannis is like a dog with a bone and will keep trying like a maniac to prove us all wrong.

  • There is only one reason to trade Khris Middleton

    There is only one reason to trade Khris Middleton

    The Milwaukee Bucks are at a crossroads.  After a disappointing early exit from the playoffs, the whispers of change are growing louder, often fuelled by Giannis with direct or indirect statements.   One name that occasionally surfaces in these discussions, much to the chagrin of sensible fans, is Khris Middleton.  Let me be absolutely clear: trading Khris Middleton would be a colossal blunder, a self-inflicted wound that could cripple the Bucks’ championship aspirations for years to come.

    Here’s why:

    1. Proven Chemistry with Giannis:  The most obvious and crucial reason.  Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo have developed an unparalleled on-court synergy.  Their two-man game is lethal, a constant source of headaches for opposing defenses.  You don’t break up a dynamic duo like that unless you’re absolutely desperate.  The Bucks’ success is inextricably linked to the Middleton-Giannis connection.  Why mess with a winning formula?  Dame has improved but is nowhere near that.

    2. Elite Shot Creation:  Middleton’s ability to create his own shot, especially in clutch situations, is invaluable.  He’s a reliable scorer who can bail the Bucks out of stagnant offensive possessions.  When defenses tighten up on Giannis, Middleton provides a crucial release valve.  He can hit contested jumpers, drive to the basket, and draw fouls.  Replacing that level of shot creation wouldn’t be easy, and it certainly wouldn’t be cheap.  And remember, we are doing all this for the playoffs, so don’t tell me about some young unproven star. Very few people can operate at the top level and we know Khris is one of them.

    3. Playoff Experience:  Middleton has been through the playoff wars.  He’s seen it all, from nail-biting victories to heartbreaking defeats.  That experience is priceless, especially when the pressure mounts in the postseason.  He knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, and he can provide veteran leadership to a relatively young Bucks squad.  You can’t teach playoff experience; it’s earned.  Even Dame isn’t close to having similar experience.

    4. Consistent Scoring Threat:  Middleton is a consistent scorer, not just a volume shooter; he’s efficient, shooting a respectable percentage from the field and from three-point range.  His scoring punch provides balance to the Bucks’ offense, preventing them from becoming too reliant on Giannis.

    5. Contract Considerations (Less Onerous Than You Think):  Yes, Middleton’s contract is significant.  However, narratives around it being an albatross are often overblown.  While not a “bargain,” it’s a manageable contract for a player of his caliber.  And let’s be honest, contending teams always have big contracts on their books.  It’s the price of doing business.

    6. The Difficulty of Finding a Replacement:  Who are the Bucks going to trade Middleton for that will provide the same level of production, chemistry, and playoff experience?  The answer is likely no one.  Finding a player with his skillset and fit within the Bucks’ system would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible.  Trading him would likely create more problems than it solves.

    7. Intangibles:  Beyond the stats and highlights, Middleton brings a level of professionalism and composure to the Bucks.  He’s a team player, a good locker room presence, and a respected leader.  These intangibles are often overlooked, but they play a crucial role in team success.

    So trading Khris Middleton would be a shortsighted move that could seriously jeopardize the Bucks’ chances of competing for a championship. He’s a vital piece of the puzzle, a perfect complement to Giannis, and a proven winner.  The Bucks should be building around Middleton and Giannis, not looking for ways to break them up.  But all this is yet another Giannis mistake. That’s the only reason all this discussion keeps coming around. Front office feel they have to look like they tried everything, even though they know they can’t anyone better than Khris to help with any (very small) chances of a playoff run.  The only reason anyone is even discussing this stupidity is the ridiculous narrative that Giannis is the only player worth anything on the Bucks roster, the lone hero fighting with no help.

    Any talk of trading Khris should be immediately shut down.  It’s not just a bad idea; it’s basketball malpractice.

  • The Bucks are at a dead end. And it’s on Giannis

    The Bucks are at a dead end. And it’s on Giannis

    A long time ago, as they often recount the tale, the Bucks brought a young athletic boy to their town. Sure he couldn’t dribble or shoot, but his body had amazing and unique characteristics. And he worked really hard. And the Bucks did everything they could to make him comfortable, brought his family over and much more.

    So as he started playing he won people over with his smile. It also became apparent he needed a mentor on the court, Khris was ideal and he has done it selflessly for all these years. Giannis had no clue about how the NBA game worked. Khris took the slack for him in any situation that Giannis couldn’t understand or simply lacked the skills.

    In defence that was Jrue’s job. Giannis can’t read opponents. He can’t operate fast enough. So Jrue plugged the holes. As the Bucks playing style evolved to suit Giannis they looked for young, cheap and no ego sharp shooters to spread around the floor. And when it came time for a center to help in the paint, they picked Brook precisely because of his lethal (and then quite unique for a big) 3 point ability.

    And it worked! With a lot of good luck in the playoffs and thanks to Khris, Jrue and Brook they got Giannis to the Finals. That series was the Bucks’ to lose as it turned out and they quite easily won it. Giannis even had an epic 50 point game for the books. Heck he even scored free throws! And what did he do?

    In the ultimate show of inexperience he said, implied and outright shouted two pretty lethal messages:

    1. I did this the right way, no help, no superteam
    2. We are going to run it back next year.

    1. About the “right way” he was soooo wrong. As I explain here that Bucks team was a superteam. But most importantly Giannis proclaimed to the whole world that he was the Bucks. On his own. Solo. No super team, just a bunch of losers and him.

    2. So they didn’t “run it back”. Αny player staying on after this had to further suck up any ego or leave. The narrative almost every game the Bucks lost from then on is “Giannis tried but was let down by the rest of the roster.” Every single time. He is busy stat padding, hogging the ball, everyone else looks terrible.

    What player in his right mind would even consider joining such a team? You would have to be pretty desperate, have no ego and no other offers. Enter poor Damien Lillard. A player who almost damaged the Blazers in a similar fashion except he is smarter and the Blazers realised it sooner and built a young core better. And of course Dame starts and gets the same abuse as everyone else. He has to work with Giannis’ inferior basketball IQ yet not make him look bad on court. This is a conundrum that Khris had figured out to a certain extent but is getting too old to carry for a whole game like he used to. Dame has to wait for Giannis to do his thing and if he gets stuck in traffic has to hope Giannis will see him so that he can get a – usually terrible – pass from him to try and score with little time and with the entire opponent’s roster knowing that he has few options.

    So Dame does the Khris thing. In crunch time Giannis just keeps giving him the ball as if saying “dude I have no idea what to do when up against teams that actually defend against me!” The problem is that Giannis has believed his own hype. He keeps training for strength, he keeps trying to play bully ball, he just looks at points/assists/rebounds at the end of the game as if that is all that matters. When they win in the regular season against lesser opponents the NBA media and the Bucks marketing team shout a lot about his personal stats looking for rare and weird ones like 30point games with more than 3.14 times rotation of the Earth around Jupiter while the game was being played. When they lose against better opponents or anyone that bothers to defend Giannis with a bit of effort it is “Giannis tried but XYZ.” The narrative is always “Giannis is top dog, must be the rest of them at fault“.

    And he is killing the Bucks in the meantime.

    (PS Tonight the Bucks lost to the Blazers. Giannis was “player of the game” according to Bucks marketing and many fans. How does that make sense? He controlled the game most of the time other than the first quarter when he let Dame bring the ball down for a while. He just kept running the same play and forcing the Bucks to play in the same way even though it was clearly not working. What would his idol Lebron James have done? Got more players involved. Changed it up. At worse Giannis should have left the younger players get more minutes. You are not the “best player” when you are effectively killing your team both short term and in the long term.)

  • Will Giannis ever fix his free throws?

    Will Giannis ever fix his free throws?

    In short, no he wont. Here is more of a decade of data, his free throw percentage is actually getting worse.

    Let’s think about this. There have been plenty bigs in the NBA that had trouble from the line. They usually were at a stable percentage or even got slightly better with time. Giannis is getting worse! This is extra impressive given that he shoots more than anyone in the league, every season Giannis is the worse. He misses the most.

    Everybody knows Giannis tries hard. In eleven years in the NBA you pretty much know that multiple trainers, coaches and experts have been called in. Yet he is getting worse. Why? Here are potential reasons:

    1. Wrong training regime. Not talking about free throw training, I mean Giannis is in the weights room focusing on brute strength. Because that is what you all cheer him on for. That is what gets him in the photos after the game. But that is not basketball, a game of finesse and balance.
    2. Terrible shooting technique in general. Giannis started playing ball at a later age. Most of the things he does are not as fluent as other players that started younger. And he clearly lacks the body intelligence to adapt quickly to the necessary changes in small movements and muscle memory.
    3. His hands are too big. This is actually a thing. Everyone admires his wingspan and enormous fingers. Great for palming the ball (in fact Giannis is high up in palming violations too) but not so great for a stable free throw.
    4. Lack of social intelligence. In fact he brags about how he avoids training with other NBA super stars in the summer. As if it is a clever thing to do. But at the top level, they are the only ones that can make you better. Giannis obviously doesn’t know how to change up his personal development methods.

    A great example is the whole thing with the ten second rule. Giannis is in clear violation of the rule very often. He ruins the flow of the game for everyone, he ruins the already low Bucks TV ratings, it is awkward and messy. So why has he never thought of shooting the damn ball faster when at the free throw?

    Usually because he is exhausted! He has usually waited around the paint to get the easy defensive rebound. His team mates have cleared out to let him have it for his stat padding. Then he will run the floor. This – as anyone who has played ball knows – takes energy. When you have the ball you have to be ready to fend off opponents trying to get to the ball. Because Giannis has no dribbling skills he counters this by running fast. So he has made an explosion of energy to get down the court, then often got caught up in traffic, now stuck in traffic. Which is an even more tiring high stress situation for any player. So if he gets to the free throw it is because he found some more energy to push his way to the rim. Of course he needs ten seconds to recover!

    So this season so far, in the Bucks easier half of the games, Giannis has already missed almost three times more free throws than anyone else. That is 1700 seconds of wasted TV time, boring down time hurting the TV ratings and making the game worse.

    More than a decade in the NBA and shooting worse than ever. Giannis, whatever you are doing, it ain’t working and it won’t work. You are not the worse in NBA history (yet) but you are fast coming up to be the worse in NBA history that has shot so many. And despite what some fans think, a solo run to the rim that ends up in a foul when you miss the free throws is a very, very bad play for your team.

    (Here you can read about his other great source of wasted offensive efforts – Giannis is the king of violations.)

  • Giannis mid range myth – part 2 (comparisons)

    Giannis mid range myth – part 2 (comparisons)

    Giannis in the paint is legendary, right? He sure takes more than anyone else in the ‘less than 5ft’ charts. There he is , first in most field goals made at less than 5ft by an enormous margin, he takes almost double the shots of anyone else in the league. 13.2 attempted, 9.4 made. If you think about it from the analytics perspective it is often a wasted effort, particularly since he misses the free throws earned like this so much. (Part 1 of this analysis here.)

    In red players more efficient than him. Yeah, yeah, no big thing, right? Let’s look at the next distance, as per nba. com categories of distances. This is a ‘mid range’ shot. Right, right, Giannis has no floater….and no sky hook. Oh and he is also nowhere in the top 20:

    Well let’s move out a bit more then. A very mid range shot 10-14 feet from the rim. No Giannis again.

    Oh but here we are! 15-19 feet distance. Of all the ‘mid range’ distances we could be talking about, for some reason Giannis media hype just look at this. OK, let’s look, yep, he is 2nd in most made. At pretty mediocre efficiency though. In red all the players above him at the top for this season so far.

    And in green above his total. A pathetic 1.6 shots. That’s 3.2 points per game. Is that worth all the fuss? Hell no, especially since as I explained here, Giannis forgets his mid range against harder defences or in the playoffs. Remember we are sorting by field goals made at that distance in order for Giannis to be No2 in the rankings. If we sort by field goal percentage at that same distance he is waaaaay down somewhere in the third page of results.

    And of course he is non existent in the next mid range distance, 20-24 feet.

    Giannis is also one of the worse 3point shooters in the history of the NBA (more on that here), so let’s not even go there. So where did this myth come from? Nba. com has a ‘mid range’ category elsewhere but doesn’t say what exactly they are measuring, let’s take a look.

    In red all the players with high field goals made numbers with better FG% than Giannis. Almost everybody. And remember, this is Giannis in the easy first half of the season, Bucks now have the 4th hardest schedule left in their season, so expect Giannis to fall to stats similar to last year. Which is nowhere near an ‘impressive’ mid range.

    STATS USED

    NBA. COM

  • Giannis’ mid range myth part 1

    Giannis’ mid range myth part 1

    Again today, in an easy match up which the Bucks won easily and Giannis had no opponent, people started talking about his mid range. It sure looked good when it went in, eh? Let’s look at the facts. (Part 2 of this here)

    Against the Jazz with no Hendricks , Juzang , Cody Williams , John Collins or Walker Kessler the Bucks were basically playing around as if in their gym. Even so, I would say the picture isn’t looking good. He missed three shots next to the rim. (In the orange circle I added.) And he scored 4/6 in the ‘mid range’. Oh and he wasted a 3point attempt.

    Because Giannis has no mid range. It is clear when he is actually being defended by someone. Even without Porzingis, on the 4th of December 2024 this is a more realistic look at Giannis’ mid range.

    He isn’t even scoring them so well right next to the rim against shorter opponents. And just 3/8 from the ‘mid’ range. And of course the wasted 3point shot as usual. And here is Giannis against the Knicks January 12th 2024. Even worse!

    This data is pretty solid. Here is the shot chart for Giannis over his career. He clearly has specific positions and can’t do anything with his left hand.

    And here is playoff Giannis. Which isn’t even counting tough matchups seeing as he has only progressed in the playoffs twice in his many years in the NBA.

    In the playoffs he is pretty much a one trick pony and head on down the middle. Why is this a problem? Because I am not the only one looking at this shot charts. Opponents know how to neutralise him. And they do when it counts.

    So save me the talk about “Giannis mid range” becoming a threat to the league. The only thing it threatens is to further confuse the Bucks into incorrect decisions on how they should play as a team. A weapon is only a weapon when it is consistent when you need it. Not in trash time against easy teams.

    DATA SOURCE

    STATMUSE. COM

  • No trade can save the Bucks

    No trade can save the Bucks

    Bucks’ fans like to play a game called “let’s blame everyone except Giannis” which is often followed by another game called “let’s propose ludicrous trades that can’t happen”. Of course they want another championship, after all Giannis said he would “run it back” the day they won it.

    But Giannis is the reason they never will again. Watch even a small part of this video and think about it https://youtu.be/osY0NWe4M0w?si=Tt7OAdRQ91Zk63eR

    That is the modern NBA. The top teams and how they play. Fast, clever basketball with constant movement and players that can think fast and execute well. Can the Bucks ever play like that? Hell no! Because Giannis can’t.

    Part of Giannis’ amazing story is how he got to basketball late. He has no fundamentals, he can hardly dribble, for sure not ambidextrous and most of all, he can’t think basketball fast. He doesn’t even understand complex plays drawn out so the Bucks have to keep him out of those when necessary. It was apparent with the way coach Spanoulis tries to work around his limitations in the Paris Olympics. He kept Giannis off the floor a lot to try and get his team playing faster.

    It’s not about just how fast you can get down to the other end of the floor. Giannis is great at that. And it works often in the regular season. He grabs the easy defensive rebound because his team mates clear out to let him statpad. But then the problem: instead of passing the ball to a guard, Giannis starts running the floor looking for an easy run and dunk. Any coach will tell you that this chart is ludicrous:

    Giannis has the ball in his hands more than anyone by an enormous margin. Because not only does he bring the ball down, he then gets tangled in the opponents’ defence. If they are above average team even one player can confuse him and then what?

    He chews up the clock looking for that easy shot by the rim (mid range is a myth – post about that coming up soon). This hurts the Bucks in multiple ways. Often it’s a turnover. Giannis is top in the NBA in turnovers most years.

    When it’s not a turnover it’s a mediocre or bad pass with not much time left on the clock and not many options. So then everyone blames his team mates for missing! Giannis has always been terrible with turnovers, he has no dribble and no place holding the ball so much. At the end of last season he was the undisputed champ of the turnovers as always. Assist to turnover ratio is even worse.

    The Bucks have a similar problem in defence where Giannis is slow to switch or to even understand what is going on. Again, against easy opponents in the regular season he seems awesome. But in harder match ups he really has no clue why and how they are scoring against him. People talk about his stats, blocks and such but fail to compare regular season Giannis with playoff Giannis. The drop off is enormous.

    Can Giannis learn how to play modern basketball? The answer is ‘no’ or ‘absolutely impossible’. Can he find a role in a different team set up. We don’t know. He has a similar problem with the Greek national team despite a variety of different coaches trying to help him. For sure his dribbling skills are not improving. If anything the NBA officiating let’s him get away with murder most of the time and still he is near the top of the negative list of most offences for travelling, palming, 3second rules on both ends and offensive fouls. He simply can’t control his body well and he can’t think fast enough to adjust.

    SOURCES FOR THIS POST:

    YOUTUBE VIDEO AS PER LINK

    STATMUSE.COM