Milwaukee Bucks two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the workforce’s six-game, first-round playoff sequence loss towards the Indiana Pacers on account of a calf pressure.
Antetokounmpo and head coach Doc Rivers performed exit interviews on Friday, and each have been requested about how shut the eight-time All-Star was to returning to motion. They’d very totally different solutions.
Rivers’ response appears the alternative of what Antetokounmpo claimed when he indicated that he “wasn’t even shut.” One would assume the participant would know their physique higher than anybody concerning a return from harm, however the medical workers has an enormous say in a possible comeback.
It is also curious that Rivers mentioned he wasn’t certain if fellow eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard “ought to have performed” in Sport 6 on Thursday. Lillard missed Video games 4 and 5 with an Achilles ailment.
It feels like Rivers felt Lillard was wholesome sufficient to play, however issues have been out of sync for a lot of Thursday’s contest. The longtime Portland Path Blazers star completed the loss with 28 factors on 7-for-16 taking pictures (4-for-12 on three-pointers) with simply 4 assists towards three turnovers.
Small ahead Khris Middleton stepped up huge for Milwaukee, which was with out Antetokounmpo for all six video games and Lillard for 2 contests.
The three-time All-Star was one of many NBA’s greatest gamers within the first spherical of the playoffs, averaging 24.7 factors, 9.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 38.3 minutes over the six contests with a .482/.355/.900 taking pictures line.
