By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo Saturday’s performance against the Nets was historic.
The Greek Freak become the first player in NBA history with at least 35 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game while shooting 85 percent overall while becoming only the fourth player in league history to average at least 35 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists through the first three games of a series after Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kevin Garnett.
“Playing the same team for the third time, you kind of know where shots are going to come from,” Antetokounmpo said in his Zoom postgame session. “You know how they’re going to guard you. You know what to do when you roll, you know what to do when you post up, you know what to do when you come down the floor. You know where the help is coming from. You get, not more comfortable, you just get more aware out there.”
And that brings us to the bigger topic. Antetokounmpo explained his approach to the game, which he expects for the rest of the team to follow: “I was just trying to play hard. Obviously it was the early game today. Usually, we’re not as focused. When the game starts, we’re a little bit lazy. So I was just trying to set the tone, play hard, guard my guy, take up the individual challenge, try to be active. Just be all over the place. I knew this game was big for us. We had to do what we did in Game 2″.
“We believe in our selves and our team, but at the end of the day you are not a champion”, said Antetokounmpo.
“We are gonna play like the underdogs and we decided to do that from Game 2 at Orlando”.