Milwaukee Bucks: Fair or not, a ‘legacy game’ awaits Giannis in Game 3 of the NBA Finals
Giannis Antetokounmpo faces a ‘legacy game’ in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Through two games of the 2021 NBA Finals, with the Milwaukee Bucks down 2-0 in the series, Game 3 will be the biggest game of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s career thus far. And as history will remember, it will be the first – of hopefully many – “legacy” games for Giannis.
Despite it perhaps being a bit unfair, what transpires in Game 3 between the Bucks and the Phoenix Suns will forever be attached to Giannis. It’s generally what happens to stars. History won’t remember the context.
History won’t remember if Jrue Holiday or Khris Middleton are no-shows. History won’t remember a historically bad shooting night or terrible decisions from a head coach. In the end, history will only remember whether Giannis came through or didn’t – and, more often than not, winning and losing becomes the ultimate scoreboard for that.
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Even after great performances in Games 1 and 2, specifically, Game 2 in which he finished with 42 points and 12 rebounds on nearly 70 percent shooting from the field. Because the Bucks are down 2-0 in the series, the nitpicking of Giannis has already begun.
Whether that be members of the media or fanbase critiquing his free-throw shooting struggles or his effort while on the floor – not accounting for the fact that Giannis is playing on a bad leg and we probably don’t even know how bad the injury is or might be.
But that’s the cruelty of basketball and its history.
All eyes will be on Giannis heading into Game 3
And that’s what Giannis will be up against in Game 3 against the Suns. The good news is that Giannis will have his home crowd in Game 3. And, generally, a supporting cast plays better at home than on the road.
Especially for Giannis, he absolutely needs that to be the case. And history is on that side.
Both Holiday and Middelton are better players at home than on the road. They are more efficient offensive players and after going a combined 12-37 shooting in Game 2, Giannis is going to need all the support that he can get.
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Fair or not, there’s plenty weighing on the shoulders of Giannis heading into Game 3. It’s a legacy game for Giannis and the Bucks.