Greek Freak Analyzed

Tag: narrative

  • “Giannis Needs Help” Is a Misguided Narrative

    “Giannis Needs Help” Is a Misguided Narrative

    The narrative that Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks’ two-time MVP and NBA champion, “needs help” has been a persistent talking point among fans, analysts, and media. Every playoff disappointment or regular-season struggle prompts calls for the Bucks to acquire another superstar or bolster their roster to support their franchise player. However, this perspective oversimplifies the Bucks’ challenges and ignores a critical truth: Giannis himself is often a significant factor in the team’s shortcomings. While his dominance is undeniable, his playstyle, decision-making, and limitations contribute to Milwaukee’s struggles more than the lack of “help” around him.

    The Myth of Insufficient Support

    The argument that Giannis lacks adequate support often stems from the Bucks’ playoff exits, such as their first-round loss to the Miami Heat in 2023 or their 2024 defeat to the Indiana Pacers. Critics point to the roster, claiming it fails to complement Giannis’s skill set. However, this overlooks the quality of players Milwaukee has assembled. Khris Middleton, a three-time All-Star, has been a reliable second option, averaging 20.1 points per game in the 2022-23 season with a knack for clutch shot-making. Jrue Holiday, before his trade to Boston, was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and a steady playmaker. Damian Lillard, acquired in 2023, is one of the league’s premier offensive engines, averaging 24.3 points and 7.0 assists in his first season with Milwaukee. Brook Lopez, a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, anchors the paint, while players like Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton provide depth.

    This is not a barren roster. The Bucks’ supporting cast has consistently ranked among the league’s better ensembles, with Milwaukee finishing the 2022-23 season with the NBA’s best record (58-24). Blaming the roster ignores the fact that teams like the 2023 Heat or 2024 Pacers, who ousted Milwaukee, were not necessarily more talented but executed better. The issue isn’t a lack of talent around Giannis—it’s how his playstyle interacts with that talent.

    Giannis’s Playstyle: A Double-Edged Sword

    Giannis is a force of nature, a 6’11” freight train who combines athleticism, length, and defensive versatility in the past. His ability to drive to the rim, collapse defences, and finish through contact is impressive, evidenced by his career average of 22.9 points per game on 54.7% shooting (as of the 2024-25 season). However, his approach, while devastating, creates challenges that hinder the Bucks in critical moments. When it counts, Giannis comes up short.

    Over-Reliance on Drives

    Giannis’s game revolves around attacking the basket, often bulldozing through defenders to score or draw fouls. He led the NBA in free-throw attempts per game (11.0) in the 2022-23 season, a testament to his rim pressure. But this one-dimensional approach allows opponents to game-plan effectively. Teams like the Heat and Raptors (in 2019) have employed the “Giannis Wall,” packing the paint with multiple defenders to neutralize his drives. Without a consistent outside shot—his three-point percentage hovers around 27.7% for his career—Giannis struggles when teams dare him to shoot.

    This predictability forces the Bucks into stagnant offensive sets. When Giannis barrels into a crowded paint, it often results in turnovers (3.1 per game career average) or low-percentage shots. His insistence on driving, even against set defenses, disrupts Milwaukee’s flow, limiting opportunities for shooters like Lillard or Middleton to exploit open looks. Compare this to players like Nikola Jokić, who blends scoring with elite playmaking (9.0 assists per game in 2023-24), or Kevin Durant, whose mid-range and three-point shooting keep defenses honest. Giannis’s tunnel vision on drives can stifle his team’s offense, making it easier for opponents to dictate the game’s pace.

    Free-Throw Struggles and Pace Issues

    Giannis’s free-throw shooting, while improved, remains a liability at 65.8% for his career. In high-stakes playoff games, this weakness is magnified. Opponents often employ Hack-a-Giannis strategies, slowing the game and disrupting Milwaukee’s rhythm. His lengthy free-throw routine—often exceeding the 10-second limit—further bogs down the pace, frustrating teammates and fans alike. In the 2023 playoffs, Giannis shot 45.3% from the line against Miami, a glaring issue in tight games.

    This slow pace clashes with the modern NBA’s emphasis on speed and spacing. The Bucks ranked 19th in pace (98.5 possessions per game) in 2023-24, limiting their ability to capitalize on transition opportunities where Giannis thrives. His dominance in the half-court often comes at the expense of fluid team play, as teammates stand idle while he attempts to overpower defenders. Giannis simply can’t change the way he plays resulting in the entire team suffering.

    Decision-Making in Crunch Time

    Giannis’s decision-making in clutch situations is another area where he contributes to Milwaukee’s struggles. His choices in critical moments often falter. In the 2021 championship run, Giannis was phenomenal, but Middleton and Holiday frequently bailed him out in clutch scenarios. Fast forward to 2024, and his 4.4 turnovers per game in the playoffs against Indiana highlighted a recurring issue: forcing plays under pressure. Giannis simply can’t think fast enough when it counts, “he has no bag” for the top level of the NBA.

    For example, in Game 5 of the 2023 Heat series, Giannis attempted a game-tying drive with seconds remaining, only to be stripped in traffic, leading to a turnover. A better decision—passing to an open Middleton or Lopez—might have changed the outcome. His reluctance to defer, even when double- or triple-teamed, puts undue pressure on his teammates to compensate for his mistakes. Contrast this with LeBron James, who, despite similar defensive attention, averages 7.4 assists per game by finding open teammates. Giannis’s assist average (5.7 in 2023-24) is solid but doesn’t reflect the same level of trust in his supporting cast.

    The Coaching Carousel and Giannis’s Influence

    The Bucks’ coaching instability—Mike Budenholzer’s firing in 2023, Adrian Griffin’s midseason dismissal in 2024, and Doc Rivers’ uneven tenure—points to another issue tied to Giannis. Reports suggest Giannis has significant influence over team decisions, from roster moves to coaching hires. The trade for Lillard, while a coup, was reportedly driven by Giannis’s desire for a co-star, yet the fit has been clunky. Lillard’s ball-dominant style clashes with Giannis’s need for touches, leading to a disjointed offense (Milwaukee’s offensive rating dropped from 113.3 in 2022-23 to 112.4 in 2023-24).

    Giannis’s reported push for Griffin’s hiring, followed by his quick dismissal, suggests a lack of clarity in his vision for the team. This meddling, while not uncommon for superstars, disrupts continuity. The Bucks’ roster and system are built around Giannis’s strengths, but his influence often prioritizes his comfort over team synergy. For instance, the Bucks’ heavy reliance on drop-coverage defense, tailored to Giannis’s rim protection, limits their ability to switch and adapt against versatile offenses like Miami’s or Boston’s.

    Statistical Context: Giannis’s Impact vs. Efficiency

    To quantify Giannis’s role in Milwaukee’s struggles, consider his advanced metrics. His usage rate (31.2% in 2023-24) is among the league’s highest, reflecting his ball-dominant style. However, his true shooting percentage (61.3%) lags behind players like Jokić (63.1%) or Anthony Davis (62.4%), who balance efficiency with playmaking. Giannis’s high usage often comes at the expense of teammates’ involvement, as evidenced by Middleton’s shot attempts dropping from 15.1 per game in 2022-23 to 13.0 in 2023-24 despite similar minutes.

    Defensively his tendency to roam for highlight plays can leave the Bucks vulnerable, especially against pick-and-roll-heavy teams. In the 2024 playoffs, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton exploited Milwaukee’s drop coverage, averaging 8.7 assists per game. Giannis’s defensive discipline still wanes in crucial moments, contributing to breakdowns.

    The Counterargument: Does Giannis Really Need Help?

    Defenders of the “Giannis needs help” narrative argue that no superstar can win alone. They point to Milwaukee’s injury issues—Middleton’s ankle problems in 2023, Giannis’s own calf injury in 2024—as evidence that the roster fails him in key moments. They also note that Lillard’s defensive limitations and Middleton’s inconsistency place too much burden on Giannis.

    While injuries are a factor, they don’t fully excuse the Bucks’ failures. Teams like the 2023 Nuggets and 2024 Celtics overcame injuries through system cohesion and star adaptability. Giannis, by contrast, often sticks to his strengths rather than adjusting to opponents’ schemes. His refusal to develop a reliable jumper or refine his play making limits Milwaukee’s ceiling, regardless of who’s on the roster.

    Giannis Must Evolve and fans need to stop making up excuses for him

    The “Giannis needs help” narrative is a convenient scapegoat that shifts focus from the real issue: Giannis’s own limitations are a significant driver of Milwaukee’s problems. His predictable play style, clutch-time struggles, and influence over team decisions create challenges that no amount of roster tinkering can fully resolve. While he’s a generational talent, Giannis must evolve—whether by developing a jumper, improving his free-throw shooting, or trusting his teammates more in crunch time—to maximize the Bucks’ potential.

    The Bucks don’t need another superstar; they need Giannis to address the gaps in his game and adapt to modern NBA demands. Until then, the narrative that he “needs help” will persist, but it’s a distraction from the truth: Giannis is both the Bucks’ greatest asset and, at times, their biggest obstacle.

    Stats and data referenced are accurate as of the 2024-25 NBA season and sourced from Basketball-Reference and NBA.com.

  • Is Giannis washed? NBA on ESPN said it!

    Is Giannis washed? NBA on ESPN said it!

    This is the video that sparked a hundred wars in the comments section:

    The Case for “Giannis Is Washed”

    1. Post-Championship Playoff Struggles

    One of the primary arguments for labelling Giannis as washed stems from the Milwaukee Bucks’ postseason performance since their 2021 championship. Since hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Bucks have won just one playoff series in the last three years, a stark contrast to their dominance in the regular season. Critics point to early exits—like the 2023 first-round loss to the Miami Heat and subsequent disappointments—as evidence that Giannis can’t deliver when it matters most.

    In 2023, Giannis was hampered by a back injury, missing games in the Heat series, and the Bucks collapsed despite holding the NBA’s best regular-season record. Detractors argue that a true superstar should elevate his team regardless of circumstances, and Giannis’s inability to drag Milwaukee past Miami fuelled the “washed” narrative. The Bucks’ reliance on Giannis as their sole engine, especially without a fully healthy supporting cast, has exposed vulnerabilities that critics interpret as a decline in his impact.

    There is a solid line of reasoning which point to the Bucks dead end as the direct result of Giannis in fact.

    2. Injury Concerns and Team Health

    Health is a recurring theme in the “washed” argument—not just for Giannis but for the Bucks as a whole. Milwaukee hasn’t fielded a fully healthy roster in the playoffs since 2021, with key players like Khris Middleton and, more recently, Damian Lillard battling injuries. Giannis himself has dealt with nagging issues, from knee soreness to the aforementioned back problem. Critics argue that if Giannis were truly in his prime, he’d overcome these setbacks and carry the Bucks deeper, much like LeBron James or Kevin Durant have done in injury-riddled seasons.

    The absence of Lillard, who is likely to miss at least the start of the 2025 playoffs, puts even more pressure on Giannis. Skeptics claim that his physical, rim-attacking style—reliant on explosive athleticism—may be taking a toll, making him less durable and effective in high-stakes moments. If Giannis can’t stay on the court or compensate for missing teammates, some wonder if his peak has passed. More importantly it can well be argued that his injuries are a result of low IQ on Giannis’ part in several aspects of his game, stat padding mania and lack of intelligence in planning ahead.

    3. Perceived Lack of Skill Development

    Another pillar of the “washed” argument is Giannis’ offensive game, which critics say hasn’t evolved enough to keep pace with the modern NBA. Known for his relentless drives and dominance in the paint, Giannis remains a below-average shooter from beyond the arc, with a career three-point percentage hovering around 29%. In an era where versatility is king, his inability to stretch the floor consistently can clog Milwaukee’s offence, especially in playoff settings where defences pack the paint and dare him to shoot.

    While Giannis has improved as a playmaker—evidenced by increased assists and triple-double threats—critics argue he still lacks the finesse or mid-range game to counter playoff adjustments. Compare this to players like Nikola Jokić or Jayson Tatum, who’ve added layers to their offensive arsenals, and some see Giannis as one-dimensional. If he’s not bulldozing to the rim, the argument goes, his impact wanes, suggesting a plateau and that is why his trade value is declining.

    4. Narrative of Being “Figured Out”

    Playoff losses have led some to claim that Giannis has been “figured out.” Teams like the Heat and Raptors (in 2019) built defensive walls to neutralise his drives, forcing him to operate outside his comfort zone. When Giannis struggles to score efficiently or turns the ball over under pressure, critics pounce, arguing that his predictable style makes him easier to game-plan against. The “washed” label creeps in when people suggest he hasn’t adapted to these challenges, relying on athleticism over skill to stay relevant. In fact we went over several teams that have a single player that can shut him down. And the bad news? More and more teams have a “Giannis killer” in their roster…

    5. Age and Mileage Concerns

    At 30, Giannis is hardly old, but his high-octane style—constant rim attacks, defensive hustle, and physical play—raises questions about wear and tear. He’s logged heavy minutes over his career, including deep playoff runs, and some speculate that his body may not hold up as it once did. If his athleticism dips even slightly, critics argue, his game could suffer dramatically, given its reliance on physical dominance. This fear of an early decline fuels the “washed” talk, especially when compared to peers like Jokić, who rely more on skill than athleticism.

    6. Giannis’ impressive stats are made in easy games

    It is a statistical fact. Giannis’ fans go on and on about his averages. But these fall off a cliff in harder games. This season the Bucks couldn’t win a single game against the top teams in the East. Worse still, Giannis may have scored a lot of points but his mid range evaporates and even his free throws are much much worse in high intensity games. Worse still, he seems to hog the ball even more under pressure.

    This year, more than ever, Giannis is a liability in clutch situations, here I outlined just five of the more obvious likely scenarios where he insists on being on the floor, even though it could cost them the game.

    So is Giannis washed?

    Of course not. He is a dominant force in the regular season for many situations. The real question should be “is Giannis washed in the NBA in terms of actually making a difference in the playoffs?”