When two superstars go head-to-head
James Harden said in an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that he wished he could be seven-feet tall and just dunk referring to Giannis Antetokounmpo. The defending MVP responded: “It hasn’t been a back-and-forth,” he mentioned before the win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, “I’m not that type of guy, I never try to take stabs at somebody. Maybe sometimes it might come out like that, but I’m definitely not. At the end of the day, if that’s what he believes, that’s what he believes.”
“My game is not just power for sure,” he replied to gathered reporters following the 2019–20 NBA Regular Season contest, “I came in when I was 18, I was 180 pounds, so to power through big guys was kind of tough. But obviously, it’s going to be times where you’ve got to power through guys.”
“Amazing,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said when he was asked about all the judgment that his superstar receives. “I don’t know who is criticizing him. He’s a winner. He brings it in every way, shape and form. He brings it in practice, in the locker room, he’s a great leader, he’s a great player. He does everything.”
In my opinion, we all know how all this started. After Giannis won the MVP award last season, James Harden was invited to a radio show and he elaborated on why he should have won the award talking and disparaging Gianni's abilities. Antetokounmpo kept that in his mind and when he got the opportunity after the All-Star Game, he presumed upon it and responded to what Harden had said and also what Rockets had stated through their Twitter account last summer.
Giannis is indeed a very pure and gracious guy that doesn’t like to get involved in situations such this one, but he is also a competitor and I am not sure if he knows how social media works and how it enlarges statements like this — and of course, journalists will ask questions about that. Antetokounmpo didn’t need to say what he said at the press conference. If a player wants to make a statement that has to take place on the court. Let’s see how far can Giannis and the Bucks go in the playoffs because leaders or people who call themselves great they have to show it when it matters. Giannis got shut down by Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors last season, he was looking completely lost out there and couldn’t really enforce his team as much as he desired. Harden said to Rachel Nichols that he thinks that the Rockets can win it all this season, right? Isn’t that what all the players say, because that’s the ‘’right’’ thing to say? Two seasons ago, it was Chris Paul that got injured and they lost to Warriors in Game 7 or at least that was the excuse that was roaming around. Last season with a healthy Chris Paul and including Kevin Durant getting hurt in this series, everyone thought that this one was the opportunity for the Rockets to eliminate the Warriors, but what happened? Curry and Thompson prevailed over the Rockets who were missing shot after shot…. As you understand, we have heard several excuses and shouldn’t tolerate more. I am telling you, I don’t want to hear about ‘’oh we have to do a better job defensively’’…when the Rockets decided to trade Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks and now they don’t have a big man that would secure them with rim protection and they play small-ball. I don’t want to hear that at the end of the season.
Both guys have remarkable skills — Harden is a great scorer and a very good shooter, he averages 35 points per game, but hey he gets half of his points from the free-throw line. However, Harden looks unstoppable in offense with his ball-handling, shooting and passing ability, but in the regular season, because in the playoffs when the teams start playing defense, then he struggles with his shot and even if Mike D’Antoni sleeps well during the night when he knows that he can count on Harden, what happens every year in the playoffs? They can’t get the last ticket that will take them to the Finals — to compete for their main goal. No need to point out the fact that he doesn’t play defense — a significant factor that deprived him of winning the MVP Award for the second time (back-to-back). This season though, with the addition of Russell Westbrook a lot of questions torture our minds and I believe that people are divided into two groups: the first one contains those who believe that when you have two guys that constantly need to have the ball in their hands to be successful — they don’t see this combination going far in the playoffs — and the second group is filled with people who can see two dominant players, who can create their own shots, but also create for others. This season he averages 35.2 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists, shoots 44.3% from the field, 36.3% from the perimeter and 86.35 from the free-throw line (10.2–11.8 Free-throw made and attempted per game).
Giannis wasn’t a good shooter at the beginning of his career, but he worked hard and developed his skills. His footwork is on point, his defense is remarkable and arguably he and Jazz’s center Rudy Gobert are the two best defenders in the league. If you remember correctly, he was reluctant to shoot from the perimeter and sometimes from mid-range. He would go to the paint every time, dunk on players or pass it to the open player for a 3-point shot. Look at him this season: even if he shoots a little bit over 30% from the perimeter, at least he is confident enough to take this shot if he is wide open. He can do a lot of things and I could write a ton of words about his uniqueness and how he stands out from others. Maybe not the best player on my list but when it comes to skills, he is one of the best players in the league that hasn’t reached his peak yet and I am just saying, imagine how good he would be if he increases little bit his numbers (FG% and 3P%). He is young and a bright future in the makings. Let’s look at what he does on the court and put anything else aside. This season he averages 29.7 points per game, 13.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, shoots 55.3% from the field, 31.7% from the perimeter and only 62.2 from the free-throw line (4.8–6.6 Free-throw made and attempted per game).