Richard Jefferson had strong words for Giannis Antetokounmpo after he admitted he didn’t want to switch on Jimmy Butler during the last minutes of Game 1. Butler had a terrific Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks, dropping 40 on the #1 seed in the East to take the 1-0 lead in the series. 4
Butler was unstoppable, he was feeling himself and nothing and nobody could stop him. The Bucks tried almost everything to contain the Miami Heat swingman, but nothing worked. They could use Giannis Antetokounmpo to guard Butler, but that wasn’t the case. Jimmy B went off with 40 points, including 13 points out of the 17 that the Heat scored in the last four minutes of the game.
Antetokounmpo was asked if he requested to guard Butler in the last minutes of the game and his answer was negative.
“To guard him? No, I didn’t. Why would you ask that? I’ll do whatever coach wants me to do.”
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo on whether he asked to switch onto Heat’s Jimmy Butler during late-game explosion: “To guard him? No, I didn’t. Why would you ask that? I’ll do whatever coach wants me to do.” pic.twitter.com/IFpR5pk1s1
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 1, 2020
As to that, Jefferson replied calling out Giannis for his answer and the way he approached that situation. He mentioned that Giannis was the newly-crowned DPOY and he had to give it a shot at guarding Butler. The Bucks tried everything to stop except putting Giannis against Jimmy.
“He asked that cuz you are the Defensive player of the year and Jimmy just had a career high 40. My question is why did YOU ask him why did he ask that question,” Jefferson wrote on Twitter.
He asked that cuz you are the Defensive player of the year and Jimmy just had a career high 40. My question is why did YOU ask him why did he ask that question 🤷🏽♂️🤔 https://t.co/J69zIzKOty
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) September 1, 2020
Miami were great from deep, they knew how to respond to the Bucks defense and that unlocked the game for them. Butler’s performance was very helpful, yes, and now the Bucks will try to show a different face in the next games.
This is the time for Giannis to prove he is that guy and prove his doubters wrong. He was limited to 18 points, scoring just three points in the fourth quarter while shooting 1-of-4 from the field and the free-throw line and contributing six turnovers.
The Heat look inspired and plenty of people around the league see them as the favorites to win this series.
