NBA Playoff season is in full swing, and there are a lot of stories bubbling as the first round gets going. The big question right now: Do the Milwaukee Bucks still have a chance, or are they already toast?
That’s the question Shaq, Sir Charles and the rest of the Inside the NBA team tossed around last night (as of this writing), as the Indiana Pacers evened the first-round series against the Bucks with an impressive 125-108 win on Tuesday night.
In the game, Pacers star Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 37 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists on 16-of-23 shooting. Myles Turner (22) and Andrew Nembhard (20) also topped the 20-point mark for the Pacers in Game 2.
Of course a huge factor in the game was the absence – again – of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s been sidelined with a calf injury that happened in the last few days of the regular season. And it’s the absence of the Greek Freak that has our man Shaq questioning if the Bucks have any chance to win this first-round series.
The BIG Podcast with SHAQ
Last night, the Bucks were led by point guard Damien Lillard with 34 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Center Brook Lopez also contributed 22 points, three assists, and two blocks. A good showing, for sure. But not nearly enough for the struggling Bucks.
On TNT last night, Shaq put it right out there: “We all know they (Pacers) play different at home then they do on the road. They’re going to play a much faster pace, and if that three-ball is falling and Siakam is playing like that… They (the Bucks) don’t have a chance.”
Charles Barkley was in agreement, once again noting the big difference for the Bucks to be playing without Antetokounmpo. “They beat them four out of five with Giannis. Without Giannis, I don’t think they got any chance of beating those guys.”
The Bucks / Pacers series goes to pivotal Game 3 early Friday evening… 5:30 PM EST on ESPN.
Meanwhile, out west, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Phoenix Suns, 105-93, on Tuesday night at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves now lead the Suns 2-0 in the first-round NBA Playoffs series.
Also from Inside the NBA, Kenny Smith says he’s really liking the play of T-Wolves up-and-coming star Jaden McDaniels. The 3rd year forward led all scorers with 25 points, 8 rebounds and three assists.
After the game, Smith had nothing but praise for McDaniels’ performance and said it seems the young star is ready for prime time in his NBA career.
“One thing about McDaniels, Shaq. He’s on the verge of not being an other,” Smith said. “He has the skill set to not be an other.” By “other,” Smith is talking about bench players…non-stars who are not yet recognizable names in the game.
The playoffs continue, and so do the stories. So far, so good!