All you need is support to get through anything and everything. But what happens when that support is weak? You get a 98-117 loss in a game that matters the most. Gainbridge Fieldhouse saw as their home boys, the Indiana Pacers crushed the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their 7-game playoff series. Giannis Antetokounmpo, despite scoring 36 points, stood in silence; a mere spectator.
You see, it was only the Greek Freak delivering a trademark performance. The rest of the team seemed off, reeling away again. Despite a revamped roster, a full Doc Rivers immersion, and the league’s best 3-point rate, Game 1 felt all too familiar — another stumble on the playoff stage. He admitted that the Bucks didn’t have enough urgency in a game that they could’ve won. But there is more to the story than the simple angle of emergency.
“We didn’t play well. Our offense wasn’t good,” Giannis Antetokounmpo told the media in the post-game presser. “Shots don’t fall like it was in Game One. Guys get anxious. They’re kind of inching towards the ball because they want the ball, they want to make a play. They want to get themselves involved in the game. I don’t think it’s from bad, you know, bad eel.”
Apr 10, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) gets ready to play the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
According to the 30-year-old superstar, his teammates got anxious (nervous?) on the floor and started forcing things, trying to grab the ball and make plays to contribute. He believes their intentions were good, not selfish, but it led to a lack of rhythm and patience in their game. Meanwhile, one of the biggest letdowns of the night was Kyle Kuzma‘s performance.
He had a night to forget. Despite the stage, he missed all 5 shots and both free throws, unable to find his rhythm. No rebounds, no assists, no steals, no blocks — just two drawn fouls to his name. It was a frustrating outing, and it stung even more as the Bucks dropped Game 1 at home, 117-98, slipping into a 0-1 hole in the series.
Now, the Bucks need to shrug this dust of defeat off their shoulders and move ahead. However, there is another issue looming at large that Antetokounmpo seems to have figured out. Therefore, he has an urge for his locker room.
Giannis Antetokounmpo points out a major issue in the Milwaukee Bucks locker room
It felt like déjà vu from last year’s 4 to 2 heartbreak. Giannis Antetokounmpo poured in 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, doing everything he could. But with Damian Lillard still out, Indiana turned up the pressure. Traps, double teams, and cold shooting led to just 2 of 16 from deep in the first half and 9 of 37 by the end. So, the Greek Freak cleared one message for the Bucks locker room.
He told the media: “I feel like everybody’s trying to do the right thing. Everybody has the right intentions. But we just got to be better. Just having patience and trusting one another. Trusting that the ball is going to find us. Trusting that we’re going to make plays. Hopefully, the game will be better.”
Mar 13, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Giannis admits the team means well and is trying to do the right things. However, they need more patience and trust in each other. Still, he remains hopeful things will improve moving forward. Game 2 isn’t too far away, and if things like these trust issues with the ball and the sense of urgency aren’t catered to, then it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the Conference Finals would be a distant dream, let alone the Finals.
The Milwaukee Bucks aren’t broken, but they’re definitely bent. Giannis Antetokounmpo is doing it all, it’s visible, it’s evident; yet the team looks out of sync. Now, with trust wobbling and urgency missing, the clock’s ticking fast. Fix it in Game 2—or kiss those Finals dreams goodbye.
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