Giannis Antetokounmpo will officially miss tonight’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Bucks announced on Twitter.
The two-time MVP had been listed as doubtful after hyperextending his left knee in an awkward fall Tuesday night. Tests conducted Wednesday showed no structural damage to the knee, but a timetable hasn’t been put forth for his return.
“When you talk about the range of possibilities, I think where this has landed has to be looked at as a positive,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told Eric Nemh of The Athletic. “It’s still a really difficult fall. … It’s part of sport. It’s part of the playoffs. We’ll manage it both from a Giannis perspective, from a team’s perspective, and we’ve just got to keep moving, get ready for Game 5.”
Nehm also examines how Milwaukee fared during the regular season when Antetokounmpo didn’t play. He notes that the Bucks went 6-2 when Giannis wasn’t active and the rest of the rotation was available.
Budenholzer hasn’t announced who will take Antetokounmpo’s place in the starting lineup and indicated that a decision may not come until shortly before the game, Nehm tweets.
“At some point, you’ve got to pull the trigger and make a decision,” Budenholzer said. We’ll probably do that and then we’ll probably tell you we don’t know who we are playing and planning on starting and then at tip-off or whatever, you guys will get it.”
I don’t believe there is any structural damage
That has already been confirmed
Would still appreciate a Sillivan breakdown of Giannis’s market value
A) assuming structural damage
B) if we confirm there’s no structural damage
Hawks have cap room to upgrade offseason
Bucks and 76ers won’t be easy to upgrade the roster
Giannis $228m
Middleton $177m
Holiday $160m
Embiid $228m?
Harris $180m
Simmons $177m
Bucks and Hawks don’t really need any major upgrades to roster…they are both almost on the verge of being in the finals. Just some bad luck that Trae and Giannis got injured. And 76ers upgrade is easy, it’s just going to happen through trades. Most likely of Simmons.
Actually (without denying he’s a heck of a player) one could argue the Hawks are just as good without Trae. Defensively they get much better when he sits and offensively there are many guys who can step up and pour in points (Lou, Gallo, Bogdanovic, Collins, Huerter…). The absence of Giannis is much more difficult to deal with.
Wowwwwww
Without major upgrade
Hawks, 76ers or Bucks could be knocked out by Heat and Nets the first round playoffs
Let’s say Heat sign Kawhi.
Nobody in the East will be relevant unless Nets deal with multiple injuries again. If the injuries do happen, they are all pretty much equal.
Bucks don’t have many good options in putting together a starting lineup or the rotation. They didn’t have much depth to begin with, and then lost DiV. PC is one of the few guys left who has played real minutes for them. Of course, this year, all that probably means they’ll win by 30.
PERs
Portis 20, Tucker 6
Lopez 15, Middleton 18, Holiday 20
Forbes 13, Connaughton 11
MIL gets “wingier” with 6-6 ThanasisA 10, and 6-8 Jordan Nwora 16, 45%3. Both get abt 8 rebs per 36′.
Several posters have said all year MIL needed to get another big. FO probably thought, If we lose GA we’re doomed anyway. But the road turned out wide open!
Giannis 29, Donte 13
Agreed in the sense I’d love to write off Middleton and Holiday, yet also wouldn’t be surprised if they both drop 40 tonight.
They could go small w/ Middleton, Jrue, Forbes, Pat C, and Tucker and try and play Capela off the floor, but for that to work Tucker will have to actually huck a few corners 3’s into the basket.
Having said that, I don’t think we know if Trae is playing yet, which is probably the single biggest factor that will decide MIL’s odds of winning tonight.
People who think the Suns should be heavily favored in the Finals are really underestimating the Hawks. Assuming they get past the Bucks (they should with Giannis out), and both Young and Capela are healthy by next week, the Hawks have a good chance to become the lowest seeded team to win a championship since 1995.
Agree if Trae can recover in time. Bone bruises from what I’ve read can be a little tricky.
Bucks should not lose to Hawks . Even without Giannis. Suns are the most talented and focused team left. Bet it ALL on the Suns. Chris is not letting this opportunity get away. Giannis is a great player. But he is not a closer. Has no killer instinct. I can see this now. It’s why Bucks keep finding ways to mess up. Giannis and their coach are not Killers. They are happy to be here.
How about them Knicks. Real killers there…