Milwaukee Bucks Player of the Week (Oct. 23 – Oct. 29)

Oct 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) dribbles the ball between Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin (7) dribbles the ball between Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Milwaukee Bucks Player of the Week Rankings

  1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
  2. Greg Monroe
  3. Matthew Dellavedova

The Greek Freak played in both games this week and averaged 37.1 minutes, 26 points (on 59 percent shooting), 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks. He led the team in points, rebounds, and blocks, was second in assists, and tied for second in steals. Additionally, he had the second best plus/minus on the Bucks at +5.5.

Giannis Antetokounmpo did it all and he did it all well. When you are either first or second in every major statistical category for your team for a week it is a good one. Giannis could feasibly do this every single week of the regular season. If he did that it would be an amazing accomplishment and yet no one would be surprised.

The only problem with Giannis’ awesome week is determining what to talk about first. Scoring seems like the natural way to go. Antetokounmpo scored often and efficiently because he dominated the paint. If you watched any Milwaukee Bucks action this week you surely saw plenty of fluid and ferocious dunks from the Greek Freak.

Giannis was able to score at will against the Hornets and the Nets. Other teams may pose a larger challenge but then again Giannis is a 21 year old guard/forward hybrid who rebounds like a center and defends like a wing. It would be unwise to bet against him continuing to dominate the paint this season.

The fact that Giannis is the Bucks leading rebounder and their main ball handler is mind blowing. It is hard to explain how he is able to do that. If he keeps rebounding like this he is going to have a special season. Through week one only five players in the NBA have averaged at least 25 points and 10 rebounds per game. Those players are Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant, and Antetokounmpo.

Defense is the other end of the floor where Giannis excelled. He is one of 10 NBA players to have averaged at least 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks over their past two games. But the stats don’t tell the whole story. He is disruptive even when he doesn’t create the block or get the steal. He patrols the paint better than most and can guard just about anyone on the perimeter.

One really positive sign Giannis showed us this week was his shooting from deep. He took a few three pointers and looked comfortable doing it. He shot three treys in two games and made one of them. Nothing special but the one he made looked really nice and should give him confidence to continue to fire them up going forward.

Giannis had a pretty flawless week. That is always enough to make it to the top of the player of the week summit. No one can touch the Greek Freak when he is playing like this. If he maintains this high level of play all year an All Star game appearance is imminent.