Focused on us. Best record east or west. Statement game.
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This game is nothing special for the Bucks. The more important statement games for the Bucks are the two games next week against Charlotte and Indiana - two teams they may very well see in the playoffs. Those are the games you want to put the hammer down on. For LeBron, it's a big deal, and I wouldn't be surprised for him to put up 35-15-12 to show Giannis he's still the real best player in the world. For the Bucks, it's just another game against a borderline playoff team in the West.
I'd actually rather have them rest some guys to be ready for the back-to-back at Utah Saturday (and then the Monday game at Phoenix).
It's a National TV game so the Bucks would be fined by the league if they sat anyone out to rest. What is probably means is that we'll see everyone tomorrow night and then no Giannis on Saturday.
oshbaul posted:The Lakers are luring Andehtokouumbo.
Durant is right. It's basically only downside to go to the Lakers if you are a superstar level guy. If you win, it's because of LeBron. If you lose, it's your fault. Kevin Love isn't a superstar, but he was a multiple time All-Star before going to Cleveland. In Cleveland, despite sacrificing his individual game, they were still alternating between wanting to trade him or playing him.
If Giannis leaves, I think he's more likely to go to New York.
He ain’t leavin. Period.
The Bucks play offensively the way they did against a much scrappier Sacto team, they’ll put up 140 in regulation.
The Lakers are just bad defensively... really bad.
Rumor on the west coast: Warriors internally have had conversations about waiting until Giannis hits FA. July of 2020, yes? Offering Giannis the world, if they lose Durant in July 2019.
W's have a brand new stadium in 2019 to keep full
No- Giannis is signed through 20-21. In the summer of ‘20 they can extend him for the Supermax. The difference is like $70M.
He ain’t going nowhere... the Bucks have a new aRena to fill too...
AtTheMurph posted:The Lakers suck.
Yes they do and it would make me very happy if the LeBrons missed the playoffs this year.
Music City posted:No- Giannis is signed through 20-21. In the summer of ‘20 they can extend him for the Supermax. The difference is like $70M.
He ain’t going nowhere... the Bucks have a new aRena to fill too...
Giannis is really unique case, because he has a chance to become the most globally marketed NBA superstar in history, and I'm not being hyperbolic.
Clearly, he has a massive following in Greece and in Europe. I didn't realize until a few weeks ago how many commercials he does in Greece/Europe. Check some of these out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njhM4FLgtCA
You combine this following in Europe with the fact that the NBA is clearly making moves to become more active in Africa, with the launching of the 12 team league in several countries in Africa. Who is positioned to be the most popular NBA player in Africa? Giannis by a landslide. His parents were Nigerian and his last name literally means "king from across the sea" in the local Nigerian dialect of his parents. When the NBA starts this league in Africa, there will be billboards in every city in Africa with him on it - There are 1.2 billion people in Africa. That's a lot of Nike shoes.
The point is that he doesn't need to live in NYC or LA or the Bay Area for marketing. The marketing opportunities are coming to him.
If nothing else, Giannis seems very dedicated to his coach... and Budenholzer has unquestionably succeeded in putting himself in Giannis’ camp.
And this is what sets Giannis apart from the modern professional athlete- he doesn’t feel the need to “control his destiny” by deciding what coach is worthy of being his. That’s the Lebron thing, the Derrick Rose thing. That’s the “AAU” thing, where from the moment they were something they’ve been built up, told they’re above everything, given everything by hangers on trying to make a buck.
Giannis will be the same sized- perhaps bigger- star as Lebron, and he never experienced that. He’s coachable, tirelessly dedicated to being great, and isn’t surrounded by the exhalters who are leaching whatever they can by being “Team Giannis”. Team Giannis is the Antetokoumpo family, and humility runs deep...