Milwaukee Bucks: Keys to victory in vital Game 3 versus Atlanta Hawks

The Milwaukee Bucks need Giannis Antetokounmpo to play to his strengths in Game 3 versus the Atlanta Hawks

Much like Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been playing to his strengths thus far against the Hawks to begin this series.

In these first two games, the Greek Freak has steamrolled his way to the basket consistently, and the results speak for themselves. According to NBA.com/stats, Antetokounmpo has shot an efficient 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) in the restricted area and 4-of-8 from the paint outside of the restricted area. On the other hand, he is scoreless from elsewhere on the floor by shooting 0-for-3 from the mid-range, and 0-of-5 from behind the arc.

Understanding that he plays his best basketball close to the hoop and that the Hawks are not best equipped to build the formidable wall to slow him down, Giannis has been playing much smarter offensively. Atlanta’s starting big man Clint Capela has proven to be a top-tier shot-blocking big man, but that has not deterred Antetokounmpo from going at him with a full head of steam to create multiple highlight-reel plays in this series.

Interestingly enough, the Greek Freak has looked far more composed at the free throw line by shooting 9-of-12 over these first two games. Despite reports from The Athletic suggesting that the Hawks have grown frustrated with Antetokounmpo’s timely free throw routine and would like 10-second violations to be enforced, the two-time MVP has not let it impact him. He looks calm whenever he steps to the stripe and has made good by shooting 75 percent in this series.

All in all, Antetokounmpo is playing smart basketball by playing to his strengths and not settling for jumpers that the Hawks would love for him to take. He has also been getting his teammates involved with 15 assists tallied over these first two games. His play in this series speaks to his maturity and how much growth he has shown as a player, and he must keep up these efforts because it is hard to stop him when he is playing at this caliber.