[Wojnarowski] ESPN Sources: The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to be without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the start of their opening round series against the Indiana Pacers, but are hopeful treatment on his left calf strain will allow him to return sometime later in the series.

44 comments

1. Damn I actually thought he’d make it back in time Giannis is Superman

2. Oh boy they are finished

3. At least he will be back

4. Doc Rivers adds another excuse to his arsenal.

5. Sheesh…

6. glenn has a reason now

7. Hali about to be a playoff star

8. Pacers in 6 then.

9. If you looked at the Bucks record you’d assume they had zero issues the entire season lol

10. Let Glenn Rivers cook

11. Dame and Doc vs Hali and RC

    🍿🍿🍿

12. That’s tough

13. Dame about to explode for 30 on 6/20 shooting and 16/16 free throws.

14. Doc is one of the GOATs at squeezing greatness out of a depleted roster. Bucks will win the series

15. Every one is dumping on what the Bucks are gonna be with Glenn at the helm, but they’re forgetting what sorta work he can do when he’s missing his best player. Might be a blessing in disguise for them

16. Bucks fans getting PTSD

17. This is going to be one of the most memorable series for Dame, for better or worse

18. Couldn’t beat the Pacers with him, so…no harm done.

19. What happens if the bucks lose in the first round?

20. Bucks haven’t had a postseason with all 5 starters healthy in over 5 years

21. Bucks are so thin as is that they didn’t have hardly any room for error if they wanted to compete for a title.

    Depends on how many games he misses/how he looks when he’s back but it’ll take all time performances from Dame, Middy and even Portis to win a 7 game series with how the role players have looked. Even that might not be enough with how this Pacers team has looked of late.

22. this is actually 5head because Doc always does better with worse rosters, so they’re gonna win without Giannis and then the moment he comes back they’ll start losing

23. You know maybe the bucks will be able to win the series without him . Doc has been known to win series without there best player

24. Maybe I’m reading between the lines, but this sounds like he could miss at least a couple of games.

25. If they split their first 2, and giannis comes back for game 3, they might have a chance.

26. Send in the other Antetokounmpo

27. Man Pacers are going to feast and run circles around the Bucks aging stars.

28. Doc Rivers is a walking curse

29. And that is why the Celtics were coasting to end the season

30. Everybody saying we will feast clearly did not see our record against bad teams this year. Not saying the Bucks are a bad team, but they are obviously significantly worse without Giannis.

31. Giannis tried pretty hard this year to get things going it seems and then this happens. He must be really disappointed in the season overall especially not being able to even play now

32. Doc’s about to go on his Last Stand shit

33. if dame couldn’t carry a roster in his prime he sure as hell ain’t doing it now

34. that feeling when you got tired of trying to drag Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, and Jusuf Nurkic to first round exits and left, but now you’re dragging Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Malik Beasley to first round exits.

35. This was expected. He needs time to recover but he might not even be able to play in the series, its really Dame time now.

36. Well, looks like Bucks will have to rely on Dame to get the job done… unless our hero Glenn can pull off some voodoo magic.

37. Don’t worry. I’m sure the refs will carry the load.

38. Tough break for them. Losing Giannis is a huge blow but Indiana’s offense, Turner dragging Lopez out to the 3pt line, Dame’s defense, I legitimately don’t know how the Bucks stop the Pacers from scoring 130 PPG.

39. His absence won’t be their biggest problem. Also Dame and co. should be able to win the first series without Giannis. But Doc is gonna Doc.

40. If he doesn’t show up and the Buck lose mainly because of that, you think Doc will get to keep his job and say it’s not his fault the star player got hurt?

41. yikes no bueno. dame time i guess.

42. This smells two first round exits in a row

43. Pacers about to steal a series, see ya in the 2nd round (i hope!)

44. Regardless of whether or not he comes back by the end of series and whether or not they win it, it should be noted that this is the 4th time in the last 5 years that Giannis has an injury that could or did end his team’s season.

    2020 injured in 2nd round vs Miami, season over.

    2021 injured in ECF vs Atlanta, season could have been over if not for Jrue/Khris/Book going nuts and Trae also getting injured.

    2022 healthy

    2023 injured in round 1 against Miami. Season over.

    2024 injured in round 1 against Indiana. Season could be over because of it.

    Wolverine-like healing or not, maybe Giannis’ playstyle is just too physically taxing for him to play a full regular season and playoffs consistently.