Giannis' return hit Bucks with reality check they could have predicted

Monday night against the Celtics, Giannis Antetokounmpo made his long-awaited return for the Milwaukee Bucks, ending a 15-game absence dating back to January 23. While the prospect of having the Greek Freak back sparked excitement, it was easy to forget that, despite his superhuman nature, he is still mortal.

He is still subject to the effects of missing for over five weeks, and it showed on the court. With Giannis out of rhythm, the Bucks stumbled to another blowout loss. Afterward, he admitted to being somewhat rusty, out of his regular flow following his extended absence.

"Felt good. Felt a little bit rusty. Obviously, something new in my career, being out for such a long time, and not just one time, multiple times in a season. It definitely disrupted my rhythm, but at the end of the day, I just try to take it day by day, game by game."

Giannis wasn't his usual dominant self versus Celtics

That definitely sounds like a superstar getting his feet back beneath him. That's how it looked on the court, too, though Giannis still delivered some signature sledgehammers and finger roll finishes at the rim. He finished with 19 points in 25 minutes, but shot just 7-for-18 from the field. That is the only time he has gone below 50 percent this season. He missed all six attempts outside the restricted area. Even within it, he was atypically inefficient (7-for-12). 

It wasn't just the shooting touch. In another anomaly, Giannis had more turnovers (three) than assists (two). Beyond the box score, the challenge of reintegrating the two-time MVP into the offense manifested in several awkward sequences. 

If anything, his teammates were overly deferential. With Giannis nearby, Kevin Porter Jr. passed up a wide-open floater at the basket to kick out to Myles Turner in the corner. Turner passed it back to Giannis for a dunk, but the whole exchange was out of sync. Something was a little off all night. 

String of injuries admittedly bumped him off his game in return

As Antetokounmpo observed, he has confronted new difficulties this season battling recurrent injuries. First, he missed time with a groin strain. Then he strained his calf. Then he strained it again. Although Giannis has dealt with injuries before, they haven't kept him off the court to this extent. On and off the floor, he has played much of the season on a minutes restriction. 

The additions of Cam Thomas and Ousmane Dieng, who re-entered the starting lineup versus Boston, further complicate the transition. Giannis had never played with either of them. He's seen them play, providing enthusiastic support from the bench, but that's a lot different than sharing the court in a real game. Both sides need time to learn the other's strengths and tendencies. 

For his part, Antetokounmpo is taking it slow. "I'm just happy that I'm on the court," he said, the dominant refrain of his postgame interview. The Bucks are happy, too, of course, but their error margin is razor-thin. Hopefully Giannis and his teammates can iron out the initial adjustment period before too long.