Giannis Antetokounmpo still impressed with the block, but ready to focus on Game 5 of the NBA Finals

PHOENIX – Two days after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ridiculous blockage against Phoenix Suns center dunk attempt Deandre Ayton at the end of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar still can’t explain exactly how he pulled it off.

“It’s amazing what your body is [able] to do, “Antetokounmpo said on Friday.” When you think about winning, you go to the extreme.

“I can’t explain the play. But, in the end, it’s in the past. When you talk about the past, it’s your ego that’s talking. It’s about the past. It’s over.

“I have to move on. I have to keep making winning plays. I have to keep competing. I have to keep finding ways to help my team be great. Great moment. I enjoy the moment. Great moment. . [But] we have to move on. “

The basketball world, on the other hand, has changed little in the 40 hours or so since Antetokounmpo’s dismissal with 74 seconds left in Game 4, preserving Milwaukee’s two-point lead at the time and helping the Bucks even the series to two games apiece as he returns here for Game 5 on Saturday night.

There have been comparisons to LeBron James’ epic block of Andre Iguodala’s layup in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, and debates rage on which of them was the most impressive game, as well as whether other big blocks from past playoffs.

For Antetokounmpo, the focus is on something much more tangible: securing a victory in Game 5, which would give Milwaukee the opportunity to win their first championship in half a century with a victory at the Forum. Fiserv Tuesday night in Game 6.

It’s an approach based on past experiences and learning about the dangers of feeling too good after a strong performance.

“I think I would say life. Usually in my experience when I think of, ‘Oh, yeah, I did that, I’m so awesome, I was 30, I was 25-10 -10 “, whatever the case maybe. … Usually the next day you’re going to shit, you know?” Antetokounmpo said with a smile. “It’s that simple. The next few days you’re going to be terrible.

“I found a mindset to have that when you focus on the past, it’s your ego. ‘I did that. We were able to beat this team 4-0. I did that in the past. I’ve won that in the past. ‘When I focus on the future it’s my pride. “Yeah, next game, game five, I do this and that and that. I’m going to dominate. “It’s your pride speaking. It doesn’t happen. You’re right here.

“I kind of try to focus on the moment, in the present. It’s humility. It’s being humble. It doesn’t create any expectations. It’s going out there, enjoying the game, competing. at a high level. I think I’ve had people throughout my life, that’s helped me with that. But it’s a skill that I tried to, like, sort of … master. It has worked so far, so I’m not going to stop. “

If Antetokounmpo’s play is any guide, he shouldn’t change much as he approaches. In the first four games of those NBA Finals, Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists and was generally able to get anything he wanted.

Even in Game 4, after which he admitted he could have been more aggressive, he finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocks in 43 minutes.

More importantly for the Bucks, they were able to come out of a 0-2 hole to start a playoff series for the second time in those playoffs and recover from a deficit in the series for a third time in a row. In the last two playoffs, the Bucks have faltered when challenged – first by the Toronto Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, then last year in the semifinals of the conference by the Miami Heat in the NBA bubble.

So what has changed this time around?

“I think we’ve worked extremely hard throughout the year to develop winning habits,” Antetokounmpo said. “Just every competitive game. I feel like when you participate in every game you put yourself in a position to win.

“We don’t care about the result. We don’t care about the score. We just care to go out there, make a lot of plays, compete as hard as possible, do it together. Sometimes when you are 0 – 1 or 0-2, whatever it is you don’t really care. You care about how you can get one, how can you get a second. Then you create kind of momentum and good things are happening.

“So I think we have to give credit to all the winning habits we’ve built throughout the year to know that when we’re down we always find ways to win games.”

After winning both games in Milwaukee to tie the series, it’s now up to the Bucks to find a way to steal one on the road and officially take control of the series in Game 5.

They hope to do so by sticking to the same script that brought them back in this series – and the same that caused them to run multiple deficits to advance in this playoffs.

“Same goal, same intention that we’ve had this whole run,” said Bucks goaltender Khris Middleton. “Stay locked up, play the right way, compete, play as hard as you can. That’s it.”