Doc Rivers is back in the analyst chair, and he wasted little time turning his attention to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Speaking with Bill Simmons, Rivers described the former Bucks star as a tough player to coach during his Milwaukee run. “He’s not easy.
He plays at this crazy downhill pace. He’s really a difficult guy.
He has this great passing ability, but he doesn’t have a super-high…”
Rivers then added a broader critique of what Antetokounmpo still has to learn. “The thing he still needs to learn is the value of execution how important it is, when you’re in practice and at shoot around, to lock in on execution. Now he has a coach who’s as good as there is at execution.”
That coach is Erik Spoelstra, who has been trying to use Giannis’s transition ability in Miami. The Heat have pushed the pace, but that approach has also come with problems on the defensive end, where they have been much worse than expected in a 3-6 start.
Rivers also made it clear he believes Giannis can be even more effective in the right setup. “You have to learn how to play with Giannis,” Rivers said.
“It’s unusual you have a player who’s not a great shooter, but great scorer. The spacing has to always be right.
You feel like you’re in the way as a player with Giannis. He also feels like you’re in the way.
I felt this in MIL, Giannis with the ball in his hands too much is not as good. I think Giannis when he doesn’t have the ball is always hard.
You have to figure out where to put him. I love him as a roller but he doesn’t love rolling.
The games they won (in finals) was when Jrue (Holiday) or (Khris) Middleton had the ball. If you get it right he can change your team but it’s hard to get it right.”
He didn’t stop there. Rivers said, “He’s not the defender he used to be.
I noticed teams were trying to get him to switch onto them. Weak side he’s fantastic, but you can attack him on the ball.
I think that’s what teams are doing now.”
Jason Kidd, who coached Antetokounmpo early in his career, pushed back on that assessment. Kidd said, “Giannis’ superpower to get downhill and he makes plays.
So understanding Doc saying that his IQ, I disagree with that. I think Giannis understands how to play the game.
His forcefulness getting downhill is what it’s…”
Antetokounmpo has still produced numbers that would normally look like an MVP case: 27 points, 13 rebounds and six assists per game. But the wins haven’t followed, and as long as that remains true, his game is going to be under the microscope.
Rivers has a long history of explaining away difficult stretches, and that context hangs over his comments here. He knows Giannis, and he knows the league, so the criticism can’t be brushed aside completely. Still, the tone of his remarks made it hard to see them as only about Miami.
In Other News...
Heats Road Trip Just Exposed A Bigger Early-Season Problem
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More than the final margin, the troubling part for Miami was how often the same issues showed up at once. The Heat were outrebounded and outpaced, two problems that have already helped drag them to a 3-6 start and a 1-3 mark on the road trip, leaving the bigger question of whether this is just a rough stretch or something more fundamental about how theyre opening the season. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Already Have A Rotation Problem They Cant Ignore
Miamis early-season unevenness has already exposed a familiar issue: the Heat are still searching for the right mix around Bam Adebayo. Adebayo has looked more assertive on offense lately, attacking with better aggression and efficiency, and Klay Thompson has given the group a needed perimeter threat even after a rough night against Golden State. But with the team sitting at 3-6 and hovering in 10th in the East, the margin for patience is getting thin.
The bigger concern is that the supporting cast has not settled in the way Miami needs. Andrew Wiggins has not brought consistent energy, and Tim Hardaway Jr. has seen his minutes trend down as the staff looks for a more reliable answer. For a team that usually prides itself on clarity and accountability, the rotation already feels unsettled, and the Heat have to sort through it quickly before the early wobble becomes a longer-term problem. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Ugly Start Puts Giannis Questions Front And Center
A rough opening stretch has already pushed the Heat into uncomfortable territory, and it has done more than raise questions about the standings. Around the league, the sluggish start has revived a bigger conversation about Giannis Antetokounmpo and whether Miami can keep the situation on track after he chose to join the team.
For now, Giannis is not expected to ask out, and the expectation remains that he will extend with the Heat either by the end of the season or after exercising his player option. Still, January is coming fast, and with contract-extension eligibility approaching, Miamis play over the next few weeks could carry real weight in how the rest of this story unfolds. [Read more 🡒]