Key Takeaways from Bucks-Hawks: Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals

LAS VEGAS – Just a year ago, in this very city and tournament, the Bucks were taken by surprise by an underdog team led by a blazing-hot point guard. As fortune would have it, the Bucks have returned...only to face a strikingly similar challenge.

This time, Trae Young and the Hawks were no match for Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton, or for the smoke the Bucks gave Atlanta in the stretch run of their Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal, a 110-102 victory.

“We were a little sharper this time,” said guard Damian Lillard. “We came correct.”

So Milwaukee moves on, putting more distance between a slow start to the season and dropping another hint that those discouraging days are over.

“I think this is going to carry over,” said Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Here are Five Takeaways from the Bucks’ win to reach Tuesday’s championship game.

1. These aren’t your early-November Bucks

They started 2-8. They’ve won 12 of 15 since. All the noise, the circling vultures, the projections of doom and the possibility of this being a lost season have suddenly vaporized.

“Outside of Milwaukee,” said coach Doc Rivers, “people were wondering what’s going on. Not us.”

Maybe, just maybe, the Bucks fit the description of being an East contender again. This much is factual — they will contend for a championship trophy in 2024-25.

As for the one awarded in June? Rivers says that’s the obvious goal but isn’t thinking beyond the most immediate championship, the one awarded on Tuesday. He implored his team to prioritize it — not that he needed much prodding, given how the Bucks have been reborn after a slow start.

“Accept the challenge and let’s put our name out there that we’re trying to win it,” he said.

The chance to seize the Cup would give their turnaround a stamp of authenticity. From the depths of early November until now, the Bucks have had a few reversals in their favor — better defense, the return of Khris Middleton from injury and heightened confidence.

All of that was on display throughout their run in the Cup, and especially against the Hawks, when the Bucks delivered all the ingredients necessary to win.

“The only thing that matters is winning,” Giannis Antetokounmpo said.

The Hawks scored only two points in the final 2:15, when it was a three-point game. From there, the Bucks took ownership.

2. A Giannis takeover

This is what franchise players and MVP contenders do — they assume command of a tightly contested game and put their fingerprints everywhere. They not only make a difference, they are the difference.

Such was the case with Giannis in the stretch run when he was impactful at both ends of the floor and made the plays that determined the outcome.

The Bucks needed a hoop? Giannis (32 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, four blocks) answered with a tough turnaround mid-range shot at the three-minute mark. They needed a stop? Giannis found himself isolated on the smaller and quicker Trae Young on the perimeter — that usually turns out poorly for the defender — and Giannis forced a miss.

The Bucks needed someone to get their jersey dirty? Giannis dove on the floor for a loose ball, drawing a foul in the process.

He explained: “I’m doing whatever it takes to win the game. I’m happy I did because it translates to the whole team we got to do whatever necessary to close this out.”

And then there was this …

3. A big block stirs a big memory

Before we go any further, some perspective is in order: This wasn’t the fourth quarter of an NBA championship game.

That said, the block of Clint Capela by Giannis and Brook Lopez on a lob with 2:35 left was strikingly similar to Giannis’ swat of Deandre Ayton late in Game 4 of the 2021 Finals.

The block four years ago – with less than two minutes left – led to a Giannis dunk and ultimately changed the tenor of that series, now tied 2-2. This one was a collaboration with a 7-foot teammate; each had to make a split-second adjustment once Capela caught the lob.

“What matters is being able to be selfless, sacrifice your body,” Giannis said. “You could see on that play both me and Brook went up and fell down. That’s winning plays. This is what it takes to win games, doesn’t matter if it’s an NBA Cup game, regular season game, NBA Finals game. In order to win games you got to have plays like that.”

Lillard: “Anytime you get in a one-possession game, once you get down the stretch, the game comes down to who’s going to come up with timely stops. It was about to be a great play by the Hawks. Fortunately we got two 7 footers in the paint who came up with the play.”

Rivers: “How many times do you see that lob getting blocked?”

One other time, actually.

4. Khris still playing catch-up

Middleton played just his fourth game since returning from ankle surgery and is on a restricted minutes diet. All the Bucks want are glimpses of the pre-injury version of this former All-Star and, at times, they’ve seen it. His ability to return to form could determine whether the Bucks grab the trophy.

Saturday brought a mixed bag. Middleton (six points, four assists) was fine for stretches, but also committed one of three turnovers on an inbounds that could’ve proved costly in the final minutes (it didn’t).

Rivers brushed the outing aside, saying: “He hasn’t played and at times you could see that a little bit. You’ve got to keep trusting him because the more minutes he plays it’ll come back. Getting him back is huge for us.”

Middleton had two days off before the Hawks’ game and will have the same rest time before the title game.

5. Keeping Trae in check proves tricky

The goal for the Bucks was simple enough — keep Young doing what he does. Which means, prevent him from hitting big shots and creating big shots for others.

Young leads the league in assists and that’s what the Bucks tried to diminish. It’s a pick-your-poison decision defending Young and his passing is what Milwaukee wanted to take away.

Mission accomplished, in a sense. Young did have 10 assists, but his fellow teammates didn’t hurt Milwaukee. scored more than 15 points; Jalen Johnson and DeAndre Hunter (each with 15) in particular came to Vegas on a roll.

“We wanted to make him play 1-on-1,” Rivers said. “Trae can have those games where he hurts you (scoring) but when he does he doesn’t find anyone else.”

Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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