Sometimes, there are players who are so unstoppable that there is almost no way to slow them down. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of those players, and Italian national team coach Gianmarco Pozzecco is well aware of that. The coach had some eye-catching, to say the least, words on how he will do his part to slow down the Greek Freak at EuroBasket.
“Probably we will do this in the first quarter, so he will not play in the second, third, and fourth quarters. A friend of mine is a really good sniper. This is the only option that we have, I already talked about it with my staff. There’s no other option. To stop him is not possible.”
Shocking quote is a testament to Giannis' dominance
That's certainly one way to give a player their flowers. It's extreme, but Pozzecco is clearly giving the superstar forward the highest praise possible. Technically, he's not wrong.
Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominance is nothing new. For many years, the Greek Freak has utilized his strength and athleticism to bulldoze his way to the hoop for a bucket in a way few players have ever been able to do. There simply isn't an easy game plan out there that teams can embrace to hope Giannis has an off night when he's on their schedule.
In the past, teams could just pack the paint and dare Giannis to shoot a jumper, smothering him to the point where he couldn't get near the hoop. Without a reliable shot in his arsenal, it was indeed a hole in his game that held him back at times, stalling Milwaukee's offense, especially if other players were cold. However, those days are long in the rearview.
Last season, Giannis was one of the most productive mid-range scorers in the NBA, keeping defenses on their toes by evolving a part of his game that many thought wasn't possible. Defenders can stand in the paint all they want, but the two-time MVP is going to fire away in the mid-range and connect often, allowing them to pick their poison.
It's a skill that has already been on full display once again during EuroBasket, giving Bucks fans hope that this part of his game is here to stay. The 3-pointer will never be in his arsenal, as it would make him potentially the most complete player ever, but if he can hit a few mid-ranges here and there, it only increases Giannis' already unstoppable status.
Milwaukee Bucks fans are hoping that Giannis' time representing Greece will serve as a warm-up for what they hope will be a resurgent NBA season. Just like with Greece, any success Milwaukee sees will firmly rest on Giannis Antetokounmpo's shoulders. Fingers are crossed.
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