SUMMARY
- The Milwaukee Bucks are currently tied 1-1 with the Indiana Pacers in round one of the playoffs.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a calf strain while playing against the Celtics, and is still out of action.
The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their series, all without their star player Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak suffered a calf strain when playing against the Boston Celtics. The player did not come into contact with any of the players on the court at the time but still managed to suffer a serious injury. But that shouldn’t be surprising considering the level that NBA players perform at often.
The Bucks’ main man missed the Bucks’ last 14 regular season games, which speaks at length about the severity of his injury. The Bucks managed to beat the Indiana Pacers in the first game, thanks to Damian Lillard’s brilliance. He made 35 points and stepped up in Giannis’ absence, and he might have to continue to do that for the upcoming games as well.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return date remains a question mark
Recently, NBA insider Shams Charania mentioned on ‘RunItBackFDTV,’ “I’m told [Giannis Antetokounmpo] has at least started to do some stationary jump shooting…But still not much cutting, no scrimmaging, no all out running yet…I think the Bucks have to be prepared to keep playing on without Giannis.”
“I’m told [Giannis Antetokounmpo] has at least started to do some stationary jump shooting…But still not much cutting, no scrimmaging, no all out running yet…I think the Bucks have to be prepared to keep playing on without Giannis.”@ShamsCharania updates on Giannis… pic.twitter.com/sYSnmlm9KB
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 24, 2024
Initially, NBA fans feared that Giannis suffered an Achilles injury. That would have ruled him out for the rest of the season without a doubt. But since it’s a calf strain, Bucks fans are still hoping for his return to lead them to the title. However, considering his current injury situation, it looks like Dame and the rest of the Bucks players have to step up and fill in Giannis’ shoes.
Can the Bucks get past the Pacers without Giannis?
The 29-year-old averaged 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in 73 games during the regular season. Putting up a double-double while playing that many games is not an easy task, and Giannis has pulled it off like it’s nothing. Moreover, his presence in the paint is something that the Bucks will miss as well.
There’s still hope that Giannis could return for the next round, if the Bucks make it through. But beating the Pacers will not be easy for the Milwaukee-based franchise. The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton, are an insane team, on both offense and defense. The way he can break down the court after contesting an opponent’s shot is truly astonishing. Moreover, their chemistry on the court is a sight to behold as well.
Haliburton’s shooting and playmaking, combined with Buddy Hield’s presence in the paint, as well as Benedict Mathurin’s scoring prowess, make the Pacers unstoppable when they play their cards right. For the Bucks to win, Dame would have to continue his current form, as he has made 35 and 34 points in the first two games. The other Bucks, including Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis, would have to help Dame.