Google News Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo encourages Jrue Holiday to 'remain aggressive'
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Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't ready to give up on his teammates as he wants Jrue Holiday to remain aggressive. On Thursday night, Holiday struggled in Game 2 of the NBA Finals versus the Phoenix Suns, finishing with 17 points on 7-of-21 from the field.
"Just keep talking to him, keep telling him to be aggressive," said Antetokounmpo, after finishing with a postseason career-high 42 points of his own in 40 minutes, when asked what his message for Holiday would be heading into Game 3.
"No matter what's going on, you've got to stay aggressive and you cannot get in your feelings. It's hard not to. You know, Nba Finals, 20,000 people booing you and all that, it's kind of hard. "But at the end of the day, it's not about me.
It's not about him. It's not about Khris [Middleton]. It's not about Coach. It's about all of us. ... If there's a game that you're 3-for-12 or whatever the case might be and you can rebound the ball or get a steal or do something else to help the team win, that's what it's all about right now.
I think he understands that. "I know he's going to be there when we need him the most and I don't worry about it. He's a great basketball player. He's played great all year and he's going to continue to play great for this team."
Holiday gave credit to Antetokounmpo
"I think we had a lot of open shots that we didn't make," Holiday said.
"I know me personally, there were a couple layups there that I usually make that kind of rimmed in and out. Had some good looks. "Giannis had a great game getting to the basket, penetrating. I feel like we did a pretty good job of penetrating and making plays for other people, but just got to do it a little bit better." The Suns were great beyond the three point line, finishing 20-of-40 on their free throw attempts.
"I think a little bit of overhelping," Middleton said, when asked to diagnose what allowed Phoenix to get free so often from deep. "[Paul] and Book, they were able to get into the pick-and-roll play and get in the middle.
Draw a crowd to helps sometimes. Sometimes we overhelp and sometimes they hit tough shots. They did a good job of spreading the floor, getting to the middle and then drive-and-kick and find the shooters."