The NBA MVP votes have already been placed with the regular season finally over. While we all must await the award announcement, basketball never stops. The playoffs are now in full swing with all three MVP candidates putting their fingerprints on their team’s success. It was quite clear that Giannis Antetokounmpo did exactly this in the Milwaukee Bucks' Game 1 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Voter fatigue is a major factor in MVP voting and oftentimes prevents the proper victor from coming out on top. After being named the league’s MVP in 2019 and 2020 it is clear that Giannis has continued to add layers to his game. Setting a career-high by scoring 29.9 points per game this season, the Greek Freek made a strong case for his third MVP. He put this on full display in the opening matchup where he played a massive role in the Bucks' 93-86 victory over the Bulls in Game 1.

2 Reasons why Giannis proved he is MVP:

2. Defense Matters!

Many people get caught up in the obsession with advanced stats that sometimes overcomplicate the game of basketball. While they have impacted the game in a major way and there is absolutely a place for them, basic eye test observations also cannot be thrown out. Perhaps the place this is most evident is on the defensive end.

Offensively, Giannis can nearly do it all. He has improved as a ball-handler, a shooter, and a passer during his rise to stardom. His rare blend of size and ability to move make him a nightmare to match up with. But perhaps more impressive than this is his ability to anchor the Bucks' defense. Giannis plays an extremely valuable role by protecting the basket. In Game 1 he tallied two blocks and altered countless others that were not noted on the stat sheet. This ability to defend at the rim is arguably the most important defensive attribute in an NBA system and becomes especially clear in the postseason.

The trio of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nik Vucevic shot 21-71 (29.6) from the field in the opening matchup. Vucevic especially struggled and shot 9 of 27 in the game. Giannis’ defensive impact was certainly felt by Chicago and was a major reason why the Bucks were able to secure the victory.

1. Bucks only go as far as Giannis takes them

It is a massive credit to the Milwaukee Bucks how they have built a roster around Giannis to complement his skill set. With that said, it is still greatly on his shoulders to drive the team to victory. In the opening game of the playoffs, Giannis and Wesley Matthews (2-3 FGA) were the only members of the Bucks to shoot over 50% from the field. Jrue Holiday (6-16 FGA) and Kris Middleton (4-13 FGA) both struggled and forced a heavier burden on the Greek Freak.

In total, Giannis ended the opening game with 27 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 10-19 from the field. He was dominant on both sides of the ball and the Bucks would not have had a chance if it wasn’t for their superstar. It seems pretty certain that Nikola Jokic is set to repeat as the league MVP, but it is not for lack of impressive play from Antetokounmpo. His performance on Easter is a prime example of how impactful he is to playing winning basketball and should be a lesson to MVP voters about why defense should be valued more moving forward.