What to expect from Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum down the stretch

It’s now two out of three games, best team wins. Or is it best player?

It’s very likely the conference semifinal series between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks will be decided by what’s left of Jayson Tatum and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

This is no disrespect to Al Horford, who’s suddenly 35 going on 25. Or Jrue Holiday, who’s been a terrific ball distributor and ball denier. Or Jaylen Brown, so steady for much of this series. Or anyone else who might surface with a strong effort between now and whenever the final buzzer sounds on this intense best-of-seven.

This is because these close playoff matchups are usually rescued by the player who’s supposed to do the rescuing. And who’s more qualified than Giannis, the league’s most accomplished player of the last four years, and Tatum, one of the league’s best players of the last four months?

That’s what will make this series, tied 2-2, worth watching over the next handful of nights. With the margin of error and window starting to close for both teams, the Celtics and Bucks will instinctively go to their comfort zones, their franchise guys, their security blankets. You watch where the ball lands if the remaining games go down to the final two minutes. You watch who’ll start hiding and who’ll start demanding.

Here’s a hint: Giannis and Tatum will do the latter.

Source: https://www.nba.com/news/what-to-expect-from-giannis-antetokounmpo-jayson-tatum-down-the-stretch