Milwaukee Bucks, interview with AJ Green: “Me, Giannis and the Finals”

How much are the Milwaukee Bucks really worth? The record says 11-11, but it is the story of two different segments of a season that started very badly, with 8 knockouts in the first 10 games, and then of a rebirth made up of 9 victories in 10 games around the stars Giannis Antetkounmpo and Damian Lillard at the same time interrupted by the last two defeats. Even in the defeat of Boston, however, there is a sign that the Bucks are back on track, that the promise made by Doc Rivers at the worst moment, that is, that the 2021 champions will make the playoffs, was not far-fetched and that reaching the top level of the Eastern Conference is not impossible. “I believe we can win and we have the pieces to do it” said AJ Green, who with his teammates will be in action against Brooklyn at 9.30 pm Italian time in one of the NBA Sundays matches, the European prime time matches.

REBIRTH

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Milwaukee was 2-8 on November 10th after losing at home against Boston: since then they have turned around, finding the continuity they needed to go back up. “We started badly this season, but the difficulties brought us together – Green tells Gazzetta dello Sport in an Italian exclusive -. We made the choice to continue building and learning and to do it together, as a team, without thinking about solving things alone. If we maintain this same mentality, I am convinced that we can get where we want, because it is hard to beat a team that wants to work and is always ready to learn.” Milwaukee has changed pace on both ends of the court, traveling in the last 12 games with the 7th most efficient attack in the NBA, rising to 115.5 points per 100 possessions against 110.6 in the first 10 disastrous games, and switching to defense from allowing 115.7 points per 100 possessions to limiting opponents to 110. “We showed at times that we have the right pieces to win – continued Green -. We must continue to trust each other and want to improve to aim to reach the Finals.”

STARS

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The title obviously goes to the superstars Giannis and Dame, two who had obvious chemistry problems at the beginning of the season and who in the last few games have learned to play together to do so for the benefit of the team. In the first 10 games Bobby Portis was the only one other than Antetokounmpo and Lillard to average double figures: in the last 12 games the players averaging over 10 points have become six and now that Khris Middleton is also back things could improve further. Also because Giannis is guiding this team as a true leader that he feels is his, well beyond the numbers of the best scorer of the season (32.5 points per game, to which he adds 11.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists with 61% from the field for exploits that made him the second favorite for MVP after Nikola Jokic). “Giannis brings us joy, a smile, his constant desire to have fun off the pitch – said Green -. You need it during the season. He is an example when it comes to basketball, an extremely disciplined worker who puts getting better first and makes you want to do the same. Outside he is one of those who cares about his teammates, someone who helps keep things light and in the right perspective: having him helps the team to be even more united.”

EXAMS

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Brooklyn will be a test, both because with their 10-13 record the Nets are doing much better than expected and because Milwaukee must prepare the assault on the NBA Cup, which for the Bucks continues on Tuesday by hosting Orlando in the quarterfinals with at stake a trip to Las Vegas for the Final Four. Reaching the bottom of the cup could give the Bucks further push for what Green is sure of, that despite the disastrous start and the many defects Milwaukee remains a championship team. Also because now everyone has understood their roles, what coach Rivers asks of them. And those victories arrived which contributed, together with the wonders of Antetokounmpo and Lillard, to turning the season around.