Michael Scotto: Giannis Antetokounmpo: “No matter when you feel down, things don’t look like they’re going to happen, believe & keep working. Don’t let anybody tell you what you can be & can’t do. People told me I can’t make free throws. I made my free throws tonight, & I’m a freaking champion!” pic.twitter.com/Npt82e5kD0
Free throws Rumors
StatMuse: Giannis shot 17-19 on free throws tonight. The highest mark of his playoff career (min 15 FTA) and the 3rd highest overall of his career. Clutch. pic.twitter.com/PUaIjwUbkq
Jordan Schakel: I’m a guy who can come in and make shots and play hard on defense like Cameron Johnson on the Phoenix Suns. Joe Harris has a larger role for the Brooklyn Nets but I see him as a shot-maker who plays hard and plays the right way. Somebody like Bruce Brown from the Nets doesn’t shoot like I do but he plays so hard. He fills a role that they need even though it may not be his position. I’ve done that before in my career, too. I’m somebody who can come in and do whatever the coach asks me to do and do it to the best of my abilities. I make my free throws. I make open shots. I have a low turnover rate.
The Bucks have controlled the possession battle through five games, which has given them an edge despite poor shooting. Milwaukee has attempted more field goals (plus-31) and free throws (plus-25), grabbed more offensive rebounds (plus-32) and turned the ball over less (minus-14) than Phoenix. The Suns have the more efficient offense in terms of actual shot-making (a 60.4 true shooting percentage vs. the Bucks’ 56.1 true shooting percentage), but that doesn’t matter with how many more opportunities the Bucks are getting.
Chris Haynes: Chris Paul said they have to be better on the rebounds they couldn’t gather from the missed free throws by Giannis Antetokounmpo: “Everybody is anticipating him to miss, even him.”
Q: Who is the biggest threat? Fran Fraschilla: I would say Australia just because of their great chemistry, camaraderie and toughness. They know how to play Team USA. They play the FIBA physical style of play which is reminiscent of NBA circa 1990s, and our Americans are used to touch fouls and two free throws. It’s something I think we’ll figure out by the time we get to Tokyo.
Monty Williams: 'We had 16 free throws tonight and one person had 17'
Dave McMenamin: Suns coach Monty Williams: “I’m not going to get into publicly complaining about fouls … but we had 16 free throws tonight. One guy [on the Bucks] had 17”
