5 Notes On Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Playoff Performance So Far

Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball past Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in the first quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball past Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in the first quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball past Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in the first quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball past Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll (5) in the first quarter in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounnpo has been carrying the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs. These five notes help explain how he’s doing it, and how he could be even better.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been extra freakish in the 2017 NBA Playoffs. The Greek Freak has now led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 2-1 series lead over the favored Toronto Raptors, and that Game 2 loss was a close one.

The Bucks could take a 3-1 lead with another win in Milwaukee, where they last beat the Raps by a whopping 27 points. Although that blowout was a team effort by the Bucks, Giannis still put up an impressive 19 point, eight rebound, four assist, two steal and two block stat-line against Toronto on Thursday.

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Giannis has been effective throughout the playoffs thus far. Antetokounmpo has 71 points through three games. Back when he and the Bucks made the postseason back in 2015, Giannis managed to score 69 points–in the entirety of the six-game series.

This is a new day in Milwaukee, one where the Greek Freak is capable of leading his team farther than a first-round exit, it appears. But just how is Giannis operating at such a high level with the stakes at their highest, considering Antetokounmpo averaged just 11 points per game in the playoffs last time he appeared in them?

The following five notes about his performances in the 2017 NBA Playoffs so far help to explain just why Giannis Antetokounmpo has been so effective thus far, although it’s hard to encapsulate Giannis’ game in any one article.