The Milwaukee Bucks fell short against the Toronto Raptors in Game 6, ending their pursuit of an NBA Finals appearance. Regardless, head coach Mike Budenholzer is still optimistic about what the future holds for forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Raptors found a way to contain Antetokounmpo throughout the series. Despite his struggles, Budenholzer knows full well that he will only get better, via Bucks Twitter:
“Giannis is gonna get better…We feel like he's got a lot of room to grow. Our entire roster can grow.”
Budenholzer's optimism is certainly understandable. Giannis Antetokounmpo has made tremendous strides in recent years as one of the most dominant players in the NBA. The Bucks were finally able to provide a solid supporting cast around him. It resulted in a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and a leading candidacy for Giannis as league MVP.
Milwaukee had been heavily favored to win the East at the start of the playoffs. The Bucks nearly managed to solidify that notion by taking a 2-0 series lead against Toronto. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there: The Raptors managed to rattle off four consecutive wins. It is no secret that Antetokounmpo struggled to find his rhythm with forward Kawhi Leonard serving as the primary force on a defense which tried to limit his opportunities. The Raptors managed to do just that: Giannis finished the series averaging 22.7 points on 44.5 percent shooting from the field.
Although the end result was disappointing, it should be noted that Antetokounmpo is still only 24 years old. He still has yet to reach his prime and is already considered to be the front-runner for MVP. The onus will be on the Bucks' brass to continue building around his skill set for years to come.
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