Major Key For Charlotte: Make Giannis’ Life Hard
This is likely the first major key most opposing teams actually talk about when they look forward and see the Milwaukee Bucks on the schedule. Great players are what make great teams so, well, great.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is certainly a great player, and aside from Khris Middleton he’s one of the only Bucks able to create his own offense. No disrespect to Middleton, but while he’s coming back from his injury Giannis stands head and shoulders above the other Bucks.
It’s easy to say the Hornets should try to stop Giannis. It’s harder to figure out how to actually do it, as the Greek Freak’s exemplary play has proven this season. Most of the All-Stars in the NBA don’t have a real weakness that allows them to get shut down, but teams can make life hard for Giannis.
The Hornets can do that by doubling him without fouling him. Giannis does a lot of damage from the free throw line, where he’s scoring nearly six points per game from. It’s important to stop him from getting to the rim, and from the foul line. If that means some other Bucks get open shots, that’s the price to pay.