Milwaukee Bucks: A deep analysis on sparkplug Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Thanasis Antetokounmpo lays it on the line for the Milwaukee Bucks

Every team needs a bruiser – someone to get physical and push the opponents out of their comfort zone. We can all agree that Thanasis is that man in Milwaukee. Outhustling a team enforces a right to victory, and the basketball gods often agree.

The most significant of these hustle plays undoubtedly comes on the offensive glass. In an instant, snatching a contested board can shift the momentum more than almost any other play. Thanasis averages 4.1 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes, good for second among non-centers. These boards translate into the most demoralizing stat for a defense, that being stolen possessions.

In today’s NBA, defending a team for 24 seconds is an enormous task. Complete team cohesion is absolutely essential in a league where certain players, like Milwaukee’s reigning MVP, command a full unit’s attention. If a team succeeds in stopping Giannis and the Bucks for an entire possession, they’ve earned the right to initiate their offense – unless someone like Thanasis snatches the rebound from under their noses.

Thanasis terrorizes the offensive glass, sapping energy from the opponents and feeding it into his teammates.  Check out this play from that Raptors game, and keep an eye on Thanasis, though it won’t be difficult.

At this point in the game, the Bucks have begun to cut into the deficit, but still struggle to generate efficient offense. Giannis draws significant attention on his cut to the paint, but fades away for a heavily contested hook, despite having two open shooters on the perimeter.

By any estimate, Toronto has won this possession. Even if Giannis were to somehow convert this, forcing a team into low-percentage looks reflects a job well done. And yet, Thanasis skies in from the elbow, out-muscling multiple Raptors to corral the miss, awarding Milwaukee a second chance.

In addition to being a fiend on the glass, Thanasis boasts a strong defensive IQ, making him an easy insert into any defensive scheme.