The Indiana Pacers may have received some luck with news that the Milwaukee Bucks may be without Giannis Antetokounmpo at the start of their first-round playoff series. While Damian Lillard shines, it’s evident that the Bucks are considerably weaker without their former back-to-back MVP.
However, the Pacers aren’t being complacent. In fact, they’re already mindful of the potential impact of Giannis’s absence from Game 1 on Sunday, and potentially beyond.
In recent Milwaukee Bucks news, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has underscored the threat posed by Bobby Portis.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is fully aware of the possibility that Giannis might not be available for the series opener and could potentially miss the entire series due to his calf injury. Carlisle acknowledges that without Giannis, the Bucks present a significantly different challenge. He emphasizes Bobby Portis as a major threat in Giannis’s absence, highlighting Portis’s recent impressive performance.
Carlisle points out that Portis has elevated his game since Giannis’s injury, starting in the Bucks’ last three regular-season games and delivering impressive stats. With averages of 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and strong shooting percentages, Portis has become a key player for Milwaukee.
While Portis poses a challenge for the Pacers, Carlisle implies that facing him is preferable to battling Giannis.