I remember feeling it 4 years ago.
In 2017, Milwaukee lost their first round series 4-2 against the Toronto Raptors, but Giannis averaged 25 and 10 while Khris Middleton averaged 15, 5, and 5.
Giannis had just won the league’s Most Improved Player of the year award and was truly budding into the Greek Freak.
I called them the team of the future.
And they were, but it took a while.
Ian Fitzsimmons said Giannis won it the hard way…
After their loss to Toronto, they would lose to Boston in the first round the following year, causing the change at head coach from Jason Kidd to Mike Budenholzer.
They began to thrive after the change. Budenholzer’s spacing for Giannis allowed him to attack the rim and kick out to open shooters, embracing the modern NBA filled with 3 points shots and attempts at the rim.
Then the postseason came. Like the Suns in these Finals, Milwaukee dropped a 2-0 lead against the Kawhi led Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals, then barely won a game in the bubble against the Miami Heat.
Budenholzer refused to make adjustments and Giannis still couldn’t beat the wall or knock down the outside shots he was taking because of it.
The problems still showed at times on this year’s run, but eventually Milwaukee adapted, while Giannis bought in to what makes him one of the best players in the league.
He scored 50 points, inexplicably knocking down 17 of his 19 free throw attempts, and grabbed 14 rebounds.
It’s a Finals performance I’ll always remember, and a reminder that the future is here.
