I have watched a lot of the coverage of the Bucks and in particular Giannis and his brother in Paris this week- his star power on the European continent and his comfort level there with Thanasis makes it real easy to see what is glaringly true- he’ll be the biggest global star the NBA has ever seen. His popularity is only going to grow, and it won’t matter a hill of beans if he’s doing it in a Bucks uniform or a Knicks uniform.
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And this doesn't even take into account the reach he's going to have in Africa.
Who is the "home" team for this game?
Hornets are the home team.
It’s amazing- Americans don’t really know how to appeal the European fans. They just try to bring American “cool” to the party, and for a time it worked. The Dream Team demonstrated that.
But it’s the 21st Century. The European continent wants a great Euro star- and now they have it. And he’s the best in the world. Sending Giannis to Europe is going to catapult his stardom. The Bucks will be going to Europe every year, now...
The European continent wants a great Euro star- and now they have it.
Jordan , Kobe, etc.....were huge in Europe. But you are right - the reigning NBA MVP is one of theirs, a European !!
France has a massive NBA Fan Base - #1 in merchandise sales in EU, Team France beat Team USA in the World Cup, etc.....
Great experience for the Bucks Organization !!
"La" Giannis? Way to mis-gender him. 
We are so goddamn lucky to have Giannis and on a world stage he rises to a completely different level.
Doncic is awesome and Dirk was really good but neither guy can do what the Freak can do. Not an international player anyway.
I suppose it’s supposed to be “le”? Don’t know shit about French...
When (not if) Giannis plays another 5 years in Milwaukee, I wonder if basketball fans in Europe will start traveling to Milwaukee to see Bucks games?
They already are
Tschmack posted:We are so goddamn lucky to have Giannis and on a world stage he rises to a completely different level.
Doncic is awesome and Dirk was really good but neither guy can do what the Freak can do. Not an international player anyway.
Dirk seems like a good guy and he's a first ballot HOFer, but he doesn't have the star power and charisma Giannis does. The player who reminds me of Giannis the most (not the basketball skill set, but just the aura and effect on other players) is Magic Johnson.
Bucks off to a lousy start in Paris. Still early, but down 12-4 to start. 3 turnovers in the first 8 possessions.
Giannis with 3 fouls in 13 minutes. One on a charge.
Down 64-63 in the third. Bucks 4-20 from 3 and 11-16 from the line.
Giannis struggling from the line. 3 for 6. Multiple turnovers.
Bucks down 8 and looking really out of rhythm.
Bucks pull even at the end of the third with Giannis on the bench. 78-78. Both the win and the 100 point streak are in question.
Finally took a lead, but still 6 for 21 from 3 and 14-20 from the line.
Bucks put the hammer down and outscore the Hornets 24-12 in the first 8 minutes of the 4th.
40 wins before the end of January.
Coach Bud with his 100th win
He’s got a record of 100-28 in regular season games
That’s insane.
Tschmack posted:He’s got a record of 100-28 in regular season games
That’s insane.
6 of the regular season losses last year were in games Giannis sat out.
You win almost 75% of your games and they must be doing something right.
I’m hard on Middleton... more than most. But today, game gets tight, he gets 7 down the stretch to make sure Charlotte doesn’t steal one. He’s struggled all game, but hits 3 critical jumpers. That’s what he has to be for this team.
Good article on Giannis’ creative contributions of points on the team. No shocker he’s #1.
Music City posted:I’m hard on Middleton... more than most. But today, game gets tight, he gets 7 down the stretch to make sure Charlotte doesn’t steal one. He’s struggled all game, but hits 3 critical jumpers. That’s what he has to be for this team.
Compare these two players this year. Both are former second round picks now on max contracts. They are virtually identical in height and weight and neither is considered an elite athlete by NBA standards (which is why they were second round picks in the first place).
Per 36 minutes
Player A: 21.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 44.3% FG, 25.5% 3FG, 83.5% FT, +2.0 Defensive win shares.
Player B: 24.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 49.8% FG, 41.9% 3FG, 89.1% FT, +2.1 Defensive win shares.
Player A has quit on two different teams and is a notoriously difficult teammate. Yet, when Player A was left off the all-star starting five in the East it was controversial. Player A is obviously Jimmy Butler.
Player B is Khris Middleton, who wasn't even mentioned as a candidate to be an All-Star starter despite being the second best player on a 40-6 team.
Cool comparison -- Tweet that shit out to idiots
Middleton has quietly had a very good season. From all accounts his teammates love him. Not sure he will ever be worth the contract he signed but to his credit he has improved.
I used to be a Jimmy Butler fan but his bullshit antics in Chicago and Minnesota can’t be overlooked and I’m sorry being a hard worker doesn’t mean you can be a complete ass and kill team chemistry.
Tschmack posted:Middleton has quietly had a very good season. From all accounts his teammates love him. Not sure he will ever be worth the contract he signed but to his credit he has improved.
I used to be a Jimmy Butler fan but his bullshit antics in Chicago and Minnesota can’t be overlooked and I’m sorry being a hard worker doesn’t mean you can be a complete ass and kill team chemistry.
There's several bad contracts for max money out there. Middleton's is nowhere near the worst. The five years instead of 4 makes it much more risky.
MichiganPacker2 posted:Music City posted:I’m hard on Middleton... more than most. But today, game gets tight, he gets 7 down the stretch to make sure Charlotte doesn’t steal one. He’s struggled all game, but hits 3 critical jumpers. That’s what he has to be for this team.
Compare these two players this year. Both are former second round picks now on max contracts. They are virtually identical in height and weight and neither is considered an elite athlete by NBA standards (which is why they were second round picks in the first place).
Per 36 minutes
Player A: 21.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 44.3% FG, 25.5% 3FG, 83.5% FT, +2.0 Defensive win shares.
Player B: 24.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 49.8% FG, 41.9% 3FG, 89.1% FT, +2.1 Defensive win shares.
Player A has quit on two different teams and is a notoriously difficult teammate. Yet, when Player A was left off the all-star starting five in the East it was controversial. Player A is obviously Jimmy Butler.
Player B is Khris Middleton, who wasn't even mentioned as a candidate to be an All-Star starter despite being the second best player on a 40-6 team.
Player C per 36 minutes. Another max player for virtually identical 5 year money that Middleton is getting.
20.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 47.8% FG, 35.9% 3FG, 80.1% FT, +2.3 Defensive win shares. 27 years old (11 months younger than Middleton). Virtually the same size.
Player C is Tobias Harris
None of these 3: Butler, Middleton, or T. Harris is a HOF-level superstar guy, but they are all being paid like it. Of the 3, Middleton fits the best with Giannis (although Harris wouldn't be bad with him). Butler needs the ball too much to fit with most other superstar level guys.
