“When the heat is the hottest, Giannis melts down”: Skip Bayless calls the Bucks star a small fish in a big market

Skip Bayless termed Giannis Antetokounmpo as a regular-season wonder who lacks the killer instinct of a superstar on Undisputed.

The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 114-108 in Game 5 of the western conference semi-finals. Nets superstar Kevin Durant had one the greatest performances of his career as he torched a 49 point triple-double.

The Bucks had the perfect opportunity in Game 5 to conquer the Nets at their home, especially since they were coming off two consecutive wins and Kyrie Irving was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Giannis had a great game scoring 34 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Nonetheless, the Bucks couldn’t do the job. The former DPOY was heavily criticized as he ducked to guard Durant.

This was Giannis’ chance to silence all his critics, who have doubted him come playoff time. The former back-to-back MVP has always underachieved in his post-season appearances.

Also read: “Kevin Durant shook off Giannis Antetokounmpo and trash talked him”: Nets star gets moral victory after rebounding Bucks MVP’s free throw miss

Skip Bayless while talking about Giannis’ Game 5 performance had this to say: “I don’t get Giannis as a basketball player, because he ain’t that guy. He’s not what I call a superstar, because he doesn’t have those intangibles. There’s no killer will, no step on your throat”

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Playoff woes

There is no denying that Giannis is a generational talent. The Greek Freak is one of Greece’s best export to the United States of America. A former back-to-back MVP and 2020 Defensive Player of the Year. A step away from being an all-time great.

However, Giannis has been unable to replicate his regular-season success in the playoffs. In his first MVP season, Giannis averaged 27.7 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, and 1.3 SPG. The Bucks were the 1st seed in the NBA with an impressive 60 wins.

During the 2019 playoffs, Giannis averaged 25.5PPG a visible drop from his regular-season PPG. The Bucks, despite winning the first 2 games lost to the Toronto Raptors in the conference finals. The Greek Freak averaged 22.7 PPG and shot a discouraging 58.3% from the free-throw line.

The next consecutive season saw Giannis collect his 2nd MVP trophy as well as be crowned DPOY. The 5x NBA All-Star averaged 29.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, and 5.6 APG. The Bucks were once again the top seed in the NBA.

However, they lost to the Miami Heat in the conference semi-finals at the Orlando Bubble. The 2x MVP averaged 21.8 PPG in that series as he shot 21.4% from the 3-point line and 53.7% from the free-throw line.

Also read: “Without James Harden and now no Kyrie Irving, this will be one of the biggest choke jobs”: Charles Barkley Hints At How Destructive A Playoff Exit Could Be For Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co.

One of Giannis’ biggest drawbacks has been his inability to develop the jump shot. The game has changed in such a way today that shooting is an essential part of a player’s arsenal.

Giannis still has a shot at redemption with Game 6 being at Milwaukee. Kyrie Irving is out for the series and James Harden doesn’t seem 100% coming back from a hamstring injury.