{"id":1203,"date":"2025-04-01T19:45:24","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T19:45:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/?p=1203"},"modified":"2025-04-02T14:33:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:33:44","slug":"debunking-the-giannis-offense-a-critical-look-at-the-videos-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/2025\/04\/01\/debunking-the-giannis-offense-a-critical-look-at-the-videos-claims\/","title":{"rendered":"Debunking the &#8220;Giannis Offense&#8221;: A Critical Look at the Video\u2019s Claims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Giannis created an era of copy-cats\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jMmCd42hGQg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The video <em>\u201cThe Giannis Offense: How a New Style Took Over the NBA\u201d<\/em>  boldly asserts that a revolutionary basketball strategy\u2014coined the &#8220;Giannis offence&#8221;\u2014emerged around 2019 and has since transformed the NBA. It credits Giannis Antetokounmpo and coach Mike Budenholzer with pioneering a system where big, athletic, non-shooting forwards initiate from outside, leveraging modern spacing to attack downhill. While the video\u2019s enthusiasm for Giannis\u2019 impact is infectious, its arguments crumble under scrutiny. From exaggerated claims of novelty to shaky stats and historical revisionism, this piece is more hype than substance. Let\u2019s tear it apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claim 1: A &#8220;Completely New Offence&#8221; Born in 2019<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video\u2019s cornerstone is that Giannis and Budenholzer unleashed a &#8220;completely new offence&#8221; in 2019, driven by spacing and downhill attacks from big forwards. This is a stretch. The idea of a big man handling the ball and attacking from the perimeter isn\u2019t new\u2014it\u2019s been evolving for decades. The video itself admits this, citing LeBron James as a &#8220;prototype&#8221; with his 2007 playoff drives and 2014 inverted pick-and-rolls in Miami. If LeBron was doing it 12 years earlier, how &#8220;new&#8221; can this be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s really happening here is an evolution, not a revolution. The NBA\u2019s spacing boom\u2014fuelled by the three-point explosion\u2014started well before 2019. The 2014-15 Golden State Warriors, with their small-ball lineups and Draymond Green initiating from the top, were already exploiting space for downhill drives. The video glosses over this, <strong>cherry-picking<\/strong> 2019 as a starting point because it aligns with Giannis\u2019 first MVP season. But correlation isn\u2019t causation. Spacing and transition attacks were trending league-wide; Giannis just rode the wave.  And if anything his change of style these past seasons show that even Giannis has given up, focusing more on <a href=\"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/2025\/03\/11\/statpadder-the-definition-of-basketball-stat-padding\/\">stat padding by going to the rim<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claim 2: Giannis\u2019 Screening Drop Proves the Shift<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video touts a stat: Giannis went from setting 26 screens per 100 possessions in 2017 to 9 in 2019, implying this reflects a radical shift to a &#8220;downhill&#8221; role. This sounds compelling\u2014until you dig into it. <strong>Screening stats are notoriously context-dependent<\/strong>. In 2017, under Jason Kidd, the Bucks ran a clunky, post-heavy offence with Giannis often parked near the paint. By 2019, Budenholzer\u2019s system emphasised pace and space, reducing Giannis\u2019 need to screen because shooters like Brook Lopez pulled defenders away.  And let&#8217;s be honest, years later, <strong>Giannis can&#8217;t screen<\/strong>.  In fact non cherry picked data from basketball Index show him to be one of the worse on ball screeners in the league.  He simply doesn&#8217;t understand angles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But here\u2019s the kicker: Giannis\u2019 screening drop doesn\u2019t uniquely signal a &#8220;new offence.&#8221; Bigs across the league set fewer screens as spacing increased. Per NBA tracking data (available through 2025),<strong> screen frequency for forwards league-wide dipped<\/strong> as teams prioritised early offence over half-court sets. <strong>Giannis\u2019 numbers reflect a league trend, not a bespoke innovation. <\/strong>The video\u2019s stat is a flashy distraction, not proof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claim 3: The &#8220;Giannis Offense&#8221; Is Distinct from Guard-Led Systems<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video contrasts Giannis\u2019 style with guard-led offences (e.g., Steph Curry or Damian Lillard pulling up from deep), framing it as a &#8220;big man who couldn\u2019t shoot&#8221; flipping the script. This oversimplifies things. Giannis\u2019 downhill attacks rely on the same principles as guard-led systems: spacing, transition, and exploiting mismatches. The difference is scale, not substance. Curry uses speed and shooting; Giannis uses length and power. Both thrive because defences are stretched thin by the three-point line.  After all the Bucks always had the best 3point shooting around Giannis in order to work.  (Even if <a href=\"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/2025\/03\/29\/the-nbas-worst-3-point-shooting-seasons-a-historical-dive-and-giannis-antetokounmpos-2024-25-campaign-to-be-the-worse\/\">he is heading for the worse 3pt% season in NBA history this year<\/a>!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The video\u2019s insistence on a binary\u2014guards shoot, bigs slash\u2014ignores overlap. LeBron, a big wing, shot jumpers <em>and<\/em> attacked downhill. Anthony Davis, a centre, has run pick-and-rolls as a ball-handler since his New Orleans days. <strong>The &#8220;Giannis offence&#8221; isn\u2019t a distinct species; it\u2019s a variation on a theme<\/strong> the NBA\u2019s been playing since the mid-2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claim 4: Historical Examples Support the Narrative<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video name-drops Michael Jordan (1991 Finals) and LeBron (2007 vs. Detroit) as precursors, suggesting their downhill drives planted seeds for Giannis. This is <strong>historical cherry-picking at its finest<\/strong>. Jordan\u2019s drive was a clutch iso play, not a system. LeBron\u2019s Game 5 heroics leaned on spacing, sure, but he was a one-man show, not a template for bigs. These moments don\u2019t foreshadow a &#8220;Giannis offense&#8221;\u2014they\u2019re just great players making great plays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, <strong>the video skips real antecedents<\/strong>. What about Magic Johnson, a 6\u20199\u201d point guard who ran transition attacks in the 1980s? Or Charles Barkley, bulldozing downhill in Phoenix\u2019s fast-paced 1990s system? The NBA\u2019s had big, athletic ball-handlers attacking space forever. Giannis refined it, but he didn\u2019t invent it.  And there is a reason Giannis is <a href=\"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/2025\/03\/20\/how-much-better-or-worse-is-giannis-than-other-seasons\/\">getting worse at almost everything from a stat point of view<\/a>: it was not sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claim 5: 12% of 2025 Possessions Prove Its Rise<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video cites &#8220;tracking data&#8221; claiming 12% of NBA possessions in 2025 involve a forward or centre running an inverted pick-and-roll or iso drive, with teams like the Grizzlies (19%) and 2021 Pelicans (20%) leading the charge. This sounds precise\u2014until you realise it\u2019s flimsy. First, it\u2019s unclear what &#8220;tracking data&#8221; means (no source is given). Second, 12% isn\u2019t an &#8220;explosion&#8221;\u2014it\u2019s a modest slice of a league still dominated by pick-and-rolls (over 50% of possessions, per public stats).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Grizzlies and Pelicans examples don\u2019t help. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zion Williamson are downhill threats, but their teams blend this with traditional actions. Memphis leans on Ja Morant\u2019s pick-and-roll wizardry; New Orleans pairs Zion with shooters like CJ McCollum. The &#8220;Giannis offence&#8221; isn\u2019t taking over\u2014it\u2019s a complementary tool, not a paradigm shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claim 6: Non-Shooters Uniquely Benefit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video argues this style is &#8220;the other side of the shooting revolution,&#8221; where non-shooters like Giannis thrive with space. This is half-true but overstated. Non-shooters benefit from spacing\u2014duh. But <strong>the video ignores how defences adapt<\/strong>. In the 2019 playoffs, Toronto\u2019s &#8220;Giannis rules&#8221; (walling off the paint) exposed his lack of a jumper. Even if he had improved as a passer, non-shooters still hit ceilings in half-court settings. The 2021 Finals kickouts the video praises? That\u2019s Giannis adapting to old-school defence, not a new offence breaking the mould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simmons\u2019 decline\u2014blamed on &#8220;back pain and free throw phobia&#8221;\u2014further undermines this. His downhill game faltered not just from injury, but because teams sagged off him, daring him to shoot. Non-shooters need elite skills elsewhere to make this work. It\u2019s not a universal hack.  <strong>This season much fuss has been made about <a href=\"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/2025\/03\/28\/giannis-antetokounmpos-mid-range-game-part-3-a-media-myth-exposed\/\">Giannis supposed mid range<\/a><\/strong>, pick a lane!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Claim 7: Modern Examples Validate the Trend<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video lists Zion, Jaren Jackson Jr., Deni Avdija, Jonathan Kuminga, and others as &#8220;disciples&#8221; of this offence. This is a grab-bag of players with different styles. Zion\u2019s a bulldozer, yes, but his injuries and team context limit the comparison. Jackson Jr. shoots 35% from three\u2014hardly a non-shooter. Avdija\u2019s &#8220;turbo&#8221; drives are fun, but Portland\u2019s offence doesn\u2019t revolve around him. Kuminga\u2019s vision struggles (noted in the video) make him a poor fit for the play making this supposedly demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These players use spacing to attack, sure. But calling it a cohesive &#8220;Giannis offence&#8221; is forced. Pascal Siakam turning his back to the basket? That\u2019s post play, not downhill slashing. Evan Mobley and Anthony Davis running inverted pick-and-rolls? That\u2019s just good coaching, not a new gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Real Story: Evolution, Not Invention<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the truth: Giannis is a freak with size and speed. Budenholzer\u2019s system\u2014pace, three-point shooting, and early offence\u2014amplified him. But this isn\u2019t a &#8220;new offence&#8221; born in 2019. It\u2019s an adaptation of trends (spacing, transition, versatility) that were already reshaping the NBA. The video\u2019s narrative is a tidy story, but it\u2019s built on hype, selective stats, and a shaky grasp of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why This Matters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This video isn\u2019t malicious\u2014it\u2019s just sloppy. It\u2019s the kind of content that sounds smart until you poke at it. In 2025, with data and film at our fingertips, we deserve better than overblown claims and mattress ads masquerading as analysis. Giannis was incredible; but his impact is diminishing in modern NBA basketball.   As I argue in this blog every day, the championship was an incredible fluke.  A lucky outlier.  Since then Giannis has never proven himself when it really counts.  Hell, I seriously believe he has faked his injuries to avoid seeming a fool in the playoffs.  Teams can shut him down, hell, <a href=\"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/2025\/03\/19\/the-nba-has-figured-out-how-to-stop-giannis-antetokounmpo\/\">you don&#8217;t even need a wall anymore, just one defender<\/a> that knows Giannis&#8217; two and only moves.   Anyone want to rewatch Draymond Green on him recently?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So let\u2019s not rewrite basketball history to sell a narrative\u2014or a hybrid firm mattress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-Comments on the video comments &#8211; a summary with my take &#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Giannis: A One-Dimensional Crutch for Non-Shooters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>@chickenfriedlobster claims Giannis has \u201ctransformed\u201d how big men play, but what\u2019s really transformed here? He\u2019s just a tall guy who can\u2019t shoot, <strong>leaning on modern spacing to mask his limitations<\/strong>. LeBron, as @solidussly7 and @timlett99 note, did this with a jumper and elite passing\u2014<strong>Giannis is a poor man\u2019s version<\/strong>, exploiting <strong>a gimmick that only works because defences are handcuffed by today\u2019s rules<\/strong> (@nydibs credits defensive 3-seconds, not skill). @sebastianleung2897 hails his ball-handling and finishing, but isn\u2019t that just athleticism papering over a lack of real guard skills? <strong>This \u201crevolution\u201d feels like a lifeline for players too stubborn to develop a shot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Flashy Fad, Not a Foundation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The video traces this downhill style to LeBron and Jordan (@Tomtainius), but @17thN.O\u2019s \u201c7-foot Russell Westbrook\u201d jab under Budenholzer stings\u2014<strong>Giannis is a transition bully, not a tactician<\/strong>. @Mitthrawnudo asks about Chet and Wemby, but Chet\u2019s barely used this way, and <strong>Wemby\u2019s too smart to lean on such a basic play<\/strong>. Even @Mitthrawnudo prefers Franz Wagner\u2019s finesse over Paolo Banchero\u2019s plodding\u2014<strong>Giannis\u2019s \u201coffence\u201d might already be pass\u00e9<\/strong>. @Homer-OJ-Simpson ties it to lax rules (no hand-checking, extra steps), suggesting it\u2019s<strong> less innovation, more loophole exploitation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The \u201cDisciples\u201d: Pale Imitations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The comment section\u2019s obsession with Giannis\u2019s \u201cdisciples\u201d feels desperate. @Fahronaces mentions Jalen Johnson, but injuries derailed that. @Damasen13 wants Bam Adebayo in this role, yet Miami\u2019s smarter than that (@jady4L ties Bam to Draymond, not Giannis). @TheNamesDitto and @VitalyGutkovich prop up Deni Avdija, but \u201cTurbo\u201d sounds more like a marketing ploy than a threat (@GG-vl7rn). @fresnoniiji clings to Jonathan Kuminga\u2019s potential, but @vicvinegarLLC\u2019s \u201chold right trigger\u201d dig exposes his brainless aggression. @smz257\u2019s Scottie Barnes take reeks of wishful thinking\u2014Giannis with LeBron\u2019s passing? Please. Giannis has the worse assist to turnover ratio in the league. Even @jdrmanmusiqking\u2019s Tyreke Evans nod implies Giannis stole the act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Underrated? Or Overrated?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Fans like @ualreadykno2K (third in MVP races) and @Apcjrahdocr (tier 1 for seven seasons) prop up Giannis\u2019s consistency, but @nile1790\u2019s 30-11-6 stat feels hollow\u2014where\u2019s the hardware?  He crumbles when it counts. @constablekennedy7705 and @johndenver7035 cry \u201cslept on,\u201d yet @colewrld901 lists <strong>endless excuses<\/strong>: injuries, Middleton, Dame. @SwashBuckler311 compares him to Kareem, but one ring doesn\u2019t match that legacy. @nigelee and @kumpadri marvel at his strides, but @stevenwhiters8928\u2019s coordination point cuts both ways\u2014<strong>most 6\u201911\u201d guys don\u2019t need to dribble because they have actual skills<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tactical Hype Outpaces Reality<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>@Tomtainius loves the inverted pick-and-roll, but <strong>it\u2019s a highlight reel crutch, not genius<\/strong>. @vanhoot2234\u2019s handle focus ignores Giannis\u2019s clunky decision-making. @bnsz8704 and @pinobluevogel6458 laud spacing evolution, but @loooooop-2\u2019s SGA twist shows smaller guys do it better. @Apcjrahdocr\u2019s Mobley-JJJ fantasy is a pipe dream\u2014Giannis\u2019s system collapses with another non-shooter (@video). @bubasaba credits Jason Kidd, but Budenholzer\u2019s the one stuck with this one-note plan (@kumpadri).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Fading Freak Show<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>@deetschicken\u2019s praise for <em>Thinking Basketball<\/em>\u2019s innovation-spotting feels misplaced\u2014<strong>this \u201coffence\u201d is a footnote, not a chapter<\/strong> (@Ljrubbo1). @aryamanmani4025 and @bradenstewart6270 fawn over the ad and delivery, but the substance? Thin. @dennisrossonero calls it a legacy, but @SapienGalore\u2019s \u201ctoo many 3s\u201d jab hints at a league moving on. Giannis is a freak (@ShakataelBebesito), but @waff6ix\u2019s \u201cbest PF ever\u201d take over Duncan or KG is laughable. This is less revolution, more a temporary exploit\u2014soon, defences will adjust, and the \u201cGiannis Offense\u201d will be a relic.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me just add, it&#8217;s not &#8220;soon&#8221; it&#8217;s here already.  Giannis is obsolete.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The video \u201cThe Giannis Offense: How a New Style Took Over the NBA\u201d boldly asserts that a revolutionary basketball strategy\u2014coined the &#8220;Giannis offence&#8221;\u2014emerged around 2019 and has since transformed the NBA. It credits Giannis Antetokounmpo and coach Mike Budenholzer with pioneering a system where big, athletic, non-shooting forwards initiate from outside, leveraging modern spacing to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[326,354,352,353,355,356,351],"class_list":["post-1203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy","tag-bs","tag-cherry-picking","tag-debunk","tag-myth","tag-sloppy","tag-theories","tag-video"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/giannis-offence-2.jpg?fit=259%2C194&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1203"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1221,"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1203\/revisions\/1221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greekinter.net\/giannis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}