The Atlanta Hawks are arguably the biggest surprise of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. They have gone way further in the postseason than even what most of their fans projected the team to reach before the start of the 2020-21 NBA season. After upsetting the New York Knicks in the first round and making Ben Simmons' value drop in the conference semifinals, the Hawks are now dealing with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. So far in the series, Trae Young and the Hawks have been dealing with a force partly reminiscent of the one the franchise dealt with years earlier in the form of LeBron James.

Giannis Antokounmpo isn't LeBron James, but he's been putting bodies in the bag in the Eastern Conference Finals as if to reprise the role of the four-time NBA MVP  during the time when the Cleveland Cavaliers had made a habit of smoking the Hawks in the playoffs.

In Game 1, Antetokounmpo poured in 34 points to go along with 12 rebounds, nine assists, a pair of blocks, and a couple of steals in 41 minutes. Although all those ultimately went to waste because Trae Young happened in the fourth quarter, it was clear that the Hawks would have to first greatly suffer at the hands of Giannis if they are to pull off another series upset for the third time in a row.

In Game 2, Antetokounmpo blasted the Hawks for 25 points, while also coming up with nine rebounds and six dimes in just 29 minutes of absolute show of dominance.  Unlike in the series opener, this time, the Bucks got it together and delivered the performance that was expected of them as the series favorites.

Through two games in the 2021 ECF, the Greek Freak has averaged 29.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists while shooting 58.1 FG%.

Atlanta once had to endure back-to-back playoffs in 2015 and 2016 getting wiped out by LeBron James and the Cavs.  But just when they thought that they're way past that traumatizing time in the franchise's history, here comes Giannis Antetokounmpo to remind the Hawks that the road to NBA glory will always have to go through the baddest men the league has to offer.

If anything, at least, Jeff Teague seems to be on the right side now.