The Bucks suffered their fourth loss in the past five games on Wednesday, falling to seven games below .500 (18-25) on the season.
While being defeated by the defending champion Thunder is hardly a cause for concern on its own, Oklahoma City was missing several key players, and the Bucks’ average margin of defeat in their past three losses has been nearly 24 points. On top of that, star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed concern after the game about chemistry issues, per Steve Megargee of The Associated Press.
“We’re not playing hard,” Antetokounmpo said. “We aren’t doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry’s not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own. At times, I feel like when we’re down 10, down 15, down 20, we try to make it up in one play, and it’s not going to work.”
With second-leading scorer Kevin Porter Jr. sidelined due to an oblique strain that could keep him on the shelf for a while, the expectation was that Antetokounmpo would carry a greater offensive load beginning on Wednesday. The two-time MVP did score a team-high 19 points, but he took just 11 of the Bucks’ 81 total field goal attempts, well below his season and career averages.
“I’m not the guy that will yell and cuss his teammate out and demand the ball,” Antetokounmpo said after the loss. “I’ve never done that in my career. But I feel like I’ve played with teammates that kind of understand the gravity that I can cause for our team, in how I can create for teammates and for myself, and how I can help the team be more successful.
“But maybe for some reason, I don’t understand — maybe because we’re young, maybe because we’re not playing well, maybe because guys think it’s their turn, they want to carry the team on their back and try to turn this around – but I really don’t get it. I really don’t.”
The Bucks are now a game-and-a-half out of the No. 10 spot in the Eastern Conference and are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since the 2015/16 season. Given Antetokounmpo’s past comments about wanting to compete for a title, trade speculation figures to continue swirling around the 31-year-old with the February 5 deadline right around the corner.
Several teams have reportedly been hanging onto their top trade assets in the hopes that Antetokounmpo will end up on the trade block, but the Bucks star has said on the record that he never intends to request a trade out of Milwaukee and there has been no indication the front office would proactively look to move him.
Reports throughout the season have indicated that the Bucks are looking to buy, not sell, to upgrade the roster around Giannis. With Milwaukee struggling to keep pace in the playoff race, it will be interesting whether the front office doubles down on that approach or reconsiders it during the next two weeks.
Giannis to lakers for 2035 second rd pick + bronny james
I think the Lakers hang up
Does Giannis want to go to the Lakers? I hear he prefer the East Coast.
Adam Silver: They’re the Lakers. They should be the best. Make that Giannis to the Lakers for nothing. And then they send Kevin Porter, Jr. and Myles Turner to L.A. for not getting back to them fast enough.
OKC should be on line 1…they have the picks, and young talent to make the trade
People call me a Warriors Homer. But, I’ve been saying that for months now. OKC still have two high picks from previous drafts that have yet to reach the floor. Something has to give.
I’m not too familiar with the OKC ownership group, but are they willing to go way over the aprons? Looking at their future commitments, I know they are going to start having to make some hard decisions on their roster construction.
This or next year would probably be the best time to trade for another max salary contract before they run into the CBA restrictions.
Dezpo-
We will find out OKC’s apron appetite this summer with the team options of IHart and Dort
They haven’t even exceeded the tax yet but are scheduled to jump up over apron 2 next summer if they pick up those 2 options
Both OKC and SAS have stated they are not pursuing him.
The minute the maxed out Chet they took themselves out of any max contract trades.
I’m going with Giannis doesn’t want to be traded Neither does Milwaukee’s FO so they will make trades to help him. Maybe my Celts will get involved. We need to get the payroll down under all taxes this year so we can more forward. This is the #1 goal.
I’d take Bobby Portis. Wondering about Jericho Sims as our 3rd center. Celtics bring out the best in overlooked players I believe.
I wonder if he’s referring to Rollins chucking up bricks from 3 land?
Giannis will be a Laker soon, period.
Déjà Vu from 1975, Milwaukee traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers for a bunch of players and cash. LBJ can’t retire without win another ring, Adam Silver always will please the Lakers with whatever they want, so sooner than later Giannis Antentokoumpo will be a Laker.
WARRIORS RECEIVE:
G Antetokounmpo
T Antetokounmpo
T Murphy III
H Jones
Y Missi
PELICANS RECEIVE
J Morant
J Kuminga
BUCKS RECEIVE
D Green
L James
B James
GRIZZLIES RECEIVE
B Portis
K Looney
J Fears
S Bey
LAKERS RECEIVE
J Butler
this makes ZERO sense
DAVEY J RECEIVES
A Lobotomy
It works money-wise though, so on salary cap stuff, it makes 100% sense.
🤣🤣🤣
Steph to the Bucks confirmed! Steph doesn’t want to play for an old rebuilding team, he wants to go join Giannis and play alongside his protege Ryan Rollins.
It’s gonna be Kuzma, Portis, and AJ Green to Golden State the summer for Steph. Davey looking for the nearest tall building.
How do I get an invite to this bong circle ?
V Interested
If you live in California, marijuana is legal. You can just go buy some at the store.
No idea what that has to do with this proposed NBA trade, one that actually DOES make sense, money-wise, unlike half the trades proposed on here…
I don’t think Giannis wants to go to yet another lotto team.
@Davey
Lakers give up LeBron’s expiring contract for an injured and contracted next year Butler.
Bucks give up their best ever player for two elderly men and a G leaguer.
Pels give up their best player, their young pg and their depth for Morant and your bench player.
Grizzlies getting a lot of junk for Morant.
I wish I could post the gif itself, instead I’ll just have to post the wording.
What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Rational thought and the name Davey never belonged in the same post
Giannis< Kareem other than that everything else you said was legit
Giannis will be a Warrior soon, period.
Lakers cannot outbid GSW.
Stick a fork in him…called it way back
He stated… without question that he’s not asking for a trade!
Y’all keep believing that clown at ESPN instead of the actual player.
Honest Q
Assuming your a Bucks fan
Do you really want to keep Gianni’s if he fails to sign an ext this summer heading into a year where he could walk for nothing ?
I realize it’s easy for non buck fans to draw up trades but what does Buck nation want if there’s no extension coming for certain ?
I’d be on the blower to San Antonio but, I’m not a bucks fan. Young guns with high upside and a truckload of picks.
Fox, Giannis and Wemby would be quite formidable. I’d love to see two bigs who can run guys off the perimeter and not get burnt on switches together. Absolute carnage.
The Spurs are more likely suitors than the Thunder for sure. He and Wemby would indeed be terrifying. Wemby is so young that timeline fit isn’t an issue; targeting someone a little younger than Giannis isn’t important because Wemby will have a long enough prime that he’ll go through multiple generations of costars. Unless he demands the Knicks, which I highly doubt, SA is the top contender.
We’ve seen some success with a double big lineup over the last few seasons, but that would be different. Not exactly drop coverage bigs, are they.
The Thunder should be in on Giannis, in my opinion. It’s going to be really hard to keep the band together. Giannis, Chet and Shae….scary.
My way of thinking in making a play for Giannis with this CBA is consolidating your assets while sacrificing some depth.
That’s about to change though!
This website is lapping up as much Giannis slop as it can. Grasping at straws. He’s asking the team to make trades to help him by complaining about the young guys.