Milwaukee Bucks: Will we see Giannis’ first ‘moment’ in Game 6?

With the Milwaukee Bucks’ backs against the wall in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo has an opportunity to earn his first signature moment of his career

By all accounts, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a superstar. He has helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals and is just two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1973-74.

However, after going up 2-0 against the Toronto Raptors, the Bucks have lost three straight games and find themselves heading into a win-or-go-home Game 6 in Toronto – the types of games that often shape a superstar’s early career.

Which leads us back to Giannis.

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While Giannis has quickly catapulted himself into the top 5, or so, players in the NBA, this is his first deep run in the postseason and had not advanced beyond the first round until this year. He also hasn’t had his first “moment” in the playoffs.

You know, the type of “moment” that sets himself apart from the rest of the “stars” in the league. Kind of like what we’ve been seeing from Kawhi Leonard all throughout this year’s playoffs, punctuated by his Game 7 game-winning shot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Like the moment that LeBron James had with the Miami Heat‘s back against the wall against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012. Like Michael Jordan‘s shot heard around the world to close his career (the first time). Like Kobe and Shaq’s arrival moment in the 2000 Western Conference Finals vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.

We could go on and on, but the point being that Giannis has yet to have his moment of arrival in the NBA Playoffs. And perhaps he hasn’t really gotten that opportunity until now. Game 6. On the road. Win or go home. This is it.

Giannis has proven to be a great player. After all, if he wasn’t he wouldn’t be averaging 26 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the postseason. But Game 6 is where the special players step up. That’s the place where the special players live for.

It’s the moments that separate the great from the special. For Giannis, that time is now. And it really couldn’t come at a better time. After seeing his Bucks lose three straight, there are many that are beginning to question Giannis and his ability to put the team on his back and close this fairytale run through the Eastern Conference.

Against the Raptors, Giannis has found difficulty finding his offensive rhythm. It certainly hasn’t been as easy to score against Toronto as he did against Philly. Specifically, Kawhi has done a wonderful job checking Giannis.

Per Tom Haberstroh, Giannis is just shooting 35 percent from the field when being defended by Kawhi. To put that into perspective, Giannis shot 58 percent from the field during the regular season and is shooting 50 percent in the playoffs thus far.

It’s been a problem, one that Giannis has had difficulty in solving. But, it’s something that all the special players have the ability to do when it’s needed most.

That’s where we are heading into Game 6. Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors smell blood. The Bucks are wounded and Giannis is the only player that can save them. Will we see Giannis’ first defining moment in Game 6 on the road? If the Bucks are going to keep their season alive, we have to.