Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo will be historically rested for an MVP

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be historically rested for an MVP: The pros

Asked to describe Giannis using only one word, that word for many would likely be “physicality”, or something to that effect. Antetokounmpo is at his best, and almost borderline unstoppable, when barreling his body toward the basket. It essentially becomes a Giannis vs. the world scenario when the defense does try to stop him. Giannis has actually spoken on this himself:

"“It’s got to be the whole team effort. They got to load. They got to double-team me. When I get to the paint, they got to swarm at me. That’s the only way.”"

It’s even more brutal when he does actually get inside, which evidently happens often, to the point where the refs could call a foul every time he does, if they felt like it. That sort of beating adds up over time, even for a player built how Giannis is. For that reason, Milwaukee fans should feel grateful for the team minimizing his minutes until the playoffs.

The Bucks live through Giannis’ physicality; their survival in the playoffs will rely on his ability to keep that physicality going for as long as possible. The last thing they want is what happened to Kevin Durant last season — or even Kawhi Leonard for that matter, who was hobbling on one leg at times last playoffs as he led the Toronto Raptors to a championship.

Given that everyone who wants to go through Milwaukee also has to go through Giannis, this would be less than ideal, they can’t afford him having to take his foot off his gas pedal one bit. It seems best that he’s been taking it easy this season, on top of a four month break. But some might ask, has he possibly been restricted too much?