The only players since the merger to average a combined 47 pts-reb-ast in a finals series are Jordan, LeBron, Kareem, Dream, Shaq, Magic and now Giannis. For a guy to go from selling DVDs on the streets of Greece between practice to feed his brothers to where he is right now is an incredible story. Also, this is the guy who straight up rejected superteam culture and locked up with a small market team. I know he had beef with Harden and that his game is simplistic but there's no way I can't appreciate what he's done.
I dunno, I’m excited to see guys like Giannis, Middleton, Lopez, and Jrue win it instead of the usual suspects. This playoffs has been a breath of fresh air, a chance to see some other really talented players get a chance on the big stage. LeBron’s a great player, but he’s not the ONLY great player. You can like Giannis or not like him. But he’s effective and he plays really hard. I don’t see why the way he plays(or the level of skill he has) is that different from Westbrook, or even Shaq for that matter. Nobody is saying Shaq is not a superstar just because he’s not a shooter. For all the **** he gets on this board, I actually think Giannis is more coordinated and skilled than you would think. He is pretty effective on post ups and in the mid-range. He is actually a pretty good passer too.
The whole "he's not skilled" thing is one of the dumbest narratives to come through the NBA. There are ton of big bodies and crazy athletes who've played in the NBA over the last many decades. If it was so easy, a bunch of them would have been uber-successful too.
The officiating is a big part of it. Think about if Yao was officiated like giannis, how much better he would’ve been.
I've never had any reason to bash Giannis at all. So, I've always respected his game and he seems like a great guy. The beef between him and Harden is ... a beef. I don't even remember Giannis having the first word in that. I'll leave at that. He's done very well for himself on a very small market team. He's already 7 feet and 250 pounds and lighting fast, he does not need to do much as a guard to be effective. For someone his size. he's exceptionally talented, even for all-star/all-time big men, he can dribble and shoot as well, if not better than the average 7 footer (now/past NBA). He's pretty good passer for a 7 footer. Moreover, people will criticize him for being too much, like guard, yet other people will criticize for using his brute strength and physical gifts to dominate his opponents. He's the future of the game, along with Luka, Jokic, Trae, Fox, Morant, and a few others.
He's having a crazy finals. But also **** this guy. If CP3 finishes the choke job of this series idk who I'll hate more CP3 or Giannis.
His journey and story to the NBA is an inspirational one. Growing up in poverty in Greece, where he wasn't even a citizen. Selling watches and bags on the streets as a child. Sharing basketball shoes with his brothers to play in. Not playing basketball till the age of 12. This tall lanky and skinny kid would eventually be a 2 time MVP and perhaps a champion in the NBA is an incredible story.
Giannis lineage is from the same ethnic group in Nigeria as Hakeem Olajuwon. His father played soccer in Nigeria. Their last name is derived from their yoruba name AdeTokunbo
Please don't act like the NBA is a church league. A player does not have to be set in stone to have established position in terms of a collision.
Good point. If he was a finesse player, haters would say that he was soft and shy from contact. Another funny thing is that some people call him a dirty player while rooting for Chris Paul who has had the dirty reputation for all his career. Personally I prefer the finesse style over the physical style. But I don't dismiss his accomplishment just because he utilizes his physical advantage.
Magic did it in 1987 So maybe that stat is since 1980 when Jabbar last did it, and they just forgot Magic, because ... Bob Pettit did it twice Russell did it five times Elgin Baylor did it twice Wilt did it three times Rick Barry did it Jerry West did it Honorable Mention Moses did 46 in a fo-0 rout, probably gets it if games were closer Bird did 46.6 thru 6 games, and 45 for whole 7 GM series
You’re talking secondary/help defenders. Primary defenders are allowed their space while moving. Just bc a dribbler has a primary defender shuffling his feet does not mean he can then drive into his body, since the defender has beaten him to that spot ... still moving or not ...the defender owns that space, rule is different for help defenders. Not to say this is about your exchange wrt Giannis ... just saying there are two rules that govern defending while moving — One for primary defenders and one for the help defenders.
Thanks for the fact check lol I just got that from the BS pod this morning. Went back and checked and he did say post merger so I guess he just missed Magic. Still elite company for someone like Giannis especially at his age.
