Fans were heartbroken after Damian Lillard was ruled out indefinitely due to his injury back in March. This has placed immense pressure on the Milwaukee Bucks and more as they are headed to the playoffs. 5X NBA Champion Magic Johnson was one of the few who made a bold prediction for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks vs. Pacers game. However, he was quick to backtrack on his earlier claims. Ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks’ defeat against the Pacers in Game 1, Udonis Haslem showed his faith in the team.
Considering Lillard’s absence due to his blood clots, Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson took to X to claim that the Pacers would come out with a win again this year. In the latest episode of The Time-out podcast, Miami Heat legends Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade analyzed the chances for both teams.
For the Milwaukee Bucks, Haslem predicted that the Bucks might be able to get past the first round. “I just think that Doc (Bucks HC) has done a great job since Dame got hurt of putting the ball in Giannis’ hands and running that point forward offense. And I think that’s been a little bit of a difference And I think that has helped with Dame being out and I think Kevin Porter Jr has stepped up. So I think they have enough to get through the first round,” Haslem said.
Haslem’s optimism, hinged on the Bucks’ depth stepping up, but his faith took a hit after Indiana’s 117–98 Game 1 blowout. He believed guys like Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma could ease the load on Giannis, yet the Pacers’ relentless offense exposed Milwaukee’s reliance on their star.
Haslem believes that with efforts from every player on the roster, the Bucks have a chance for the first round. And even, Johnson, who had earlier chosen the Pacers, found new faith in Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Just a few hours after his first X post he wrote, “I changed my mind, I think Giannis Antetokounmpo will put the Milwaukee Bucks on his back and lead them to victory over the Indiana Pacers!”
The Bucks-Pacers rivalry, one of the NBA’s spiciest, added fuel to these predictions. Last season, Indiana bounced Milwaukee 4-2 in the first round, and bad blood from the 2023 NBA Cup and a game-ball scuffle after Giannis’ 64-point explosion kept things heated. This year, the Bucks won three of four regular-season games, but Indiana’s home-court edge—their first since 2014—loomed large in Game 1.
Jan 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Udonis Haslem speaks after his jersey was lifted to the rafters during the retirement ceremony during halftime of the game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
But he too made a similar claim which is that the other players Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Kyle Kuzuma must play at their best for the team. However, despite receiving all the encouragement, the Bucks lost. Antetokounmpo delivered his best performance as promised, but he clearly struggled without much help from the team. While that has only added to the pressure, Antetokounmpo will still be focusing on his plans.
Giannis Antetokounmpo brings Tom Cruise in for playoffs plans
Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks won the championship back in 2021. Since then, the team has been pulling out all the stops to win their second championship title. Antetokounmpo sat out last season due to a calf injury as the Pacers had secured a 4-2 series win over the Bucks. Now, he has a chance to go up against the rival team. Considering the past, the stakes are higher than ever.
And what does the Milwaukee Bucks star think of the situation? “We gotta do a better job just communicating, getting back. And then, when we get back, identify where the ball is. And when we identify where the ball is, then we gotta protect our home, which is the paint. If we do those things, we put ourselves in a better position to be successful,” he said. He isn’t giving up. “I love playing in… pressure, stressful situations. I’m like Tom Cruise. Have you ever seen the movies, the Tom Cruise movies that he does all the stunts? I think he gets an adrenaline rush,” he said (as per NBC).
The Greek Freak plays at his best when it comes to the Indiana Pacers. Antetokounmpo was impressive in Game 1. He scored 36 points, shooting 14 of 23. AJ Green added 15 points, while Gary Trent Jr. had 14 points. But it wasn’t enough, as the Bucks were handed a 117–98 loss by the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It remains to be seen if the Bucks will be able to flip the narrative or history will repeat
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