By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped a triple-double to start the Eastern Conference Semifinals powering the defending NBA champions Milwaukee Bucks to the win in Game 1 versus the Boston Celtics.
As expected, he was on the receiving end of physical defense. The Greek Freak discussing Celtics defense revealed he actually prefers feeling beat up after games.
“First of all, I don’t know, maybe I’m weird. I thrive through physicality,” he explained following Game 1 at TD Garden, “Like a lot feeling beat up after games, I don’t know why. That got me thinking like I’m a weirdo, but when the game finishes, I just gotta look at my body and feel like I’m beat up… I was physical, they were physical, I feel like I gave everything for my team. Obviously, everybody feels a little bit beat up, our team, their team, but at the end of the day, it’s the playoffs, you gotta get ready, mentally and physically for Game 2 and you can never take anything for granted. You have to come out and set the tone again.”
Antetokounmpo, 27, had 24 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists, and two blocks in Game 1. Game 2 will be held in the same venue on Tuesday.
“Defensively we were there tonight,” he mentioned on setting the tone on the best-of-seven series, “It starts from everybody, from Jrue [Holiday], from Wes [Matthews], from me and Brook [Lopez], Bobby [Portis], everybody that steps on the floor we’ve got to like have that individual pride and keep guys in front of us and then as a team we’ve got to finish with the rebound.”
“At the end of the day, no matter what happened on offense, we’re going to score the ball, we’re going to turn the ball over, it doesn’t matter who’s going to shoot,” added the two-time NBA season MVP and last year’s Finals MVP, “Defensively we’ve got to do it together. We’ve got to make it as tough as possible for them.”
Photo Credit: YouTube