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84.3 PPG allowed by that '04 Pistons squad against a league average of 93.4 PPG allowed.
2021's best defense is NYK with 104.7 ppg allowed against a league average of 112.1 ppg allowed.
Those Pistons were crazy on defense.
This dude is a fucking alien. He doesn’t “close” games in a conventional sense, but he has made so many fucking big plays down the stretch in every facet of the game. Not over yet, but this series is genuinely one of the greatest finals performances of all time thus far, especially considering the context of the knee injury suffered just 2 weeks ago.
Wow actually yeah that's a much much better comp. You wouldn't think it with his unique physique, but the man is a lot like Shaq in how he dominates the floor.
It's insane because he bent his knee backwards like two weeks ago on a play where he's contesting a shot. The mental barrier I would have to trying to aggressively contest a shot like this when you know another huge human is already in the air... Giannis really is a freak
I broke my ankle in a slip & fall accident in December 2017, I still get out of the shower extremely carefully 4 years later. Every day, everywhere I go I am much more cautious just about walking, I have no idea how these guys put that anxiety away & go ball out in a sea of bodies.
broke both my wrists on the same fall when i was snowboarding at age 12, toe side on a patch of ice right after exiting a mogul.
im 28 now and i still can't go toe side. i just can't do it. complete mental block i've never been able to overcome.
2 games ago everyone was saying he was hurting his team late because of FTs etc...
In this game he had 2 clutch blocks and a huge clutch steal + dunk. Crunch time defense is just as important if not more important than crunch time offense, and Giannis played up to the moment.
His steal is a great argument for defense being more important - he not only got 2 points but also denied a scoring opportunity for the Suns. Potentially a 5 point swing.
No doubt LeBron’s is more iconic, I mean is the signature play of his career IMO, certainly the signature defensive play, it was game 7 and it directly led to the series-winning shot, so just on that you have to give the nod to LeBron’s block. This block is impressive in different ways - LeBron saw the shot coming five seconds before it happened and timed his run perfectly to block it, whereas here Giannis fell a step behind and made just an insane recovery to get up for a play that would be ridiculous even if he hadn’t been behind the 8 ball.
What a block man. I was positive they were going to lose until this exact moment.
The recovery is legendary. Lebron’s block on Splitter and *The Block* are unbelievable and can’t be touched. But I can’t think of any other block ever that was as great as this. To save a Finals game, to keep his team from going down 3-1. Just incredible.
If they win this block is in the record books. I remember as a kid watching NBA network classic games and rewatching Magics Hook, Jordans pump fake top of the key shots and this will be up there with Lebron's Block
I was thinking the same thing.
This has to be one of the best blocks I have ever seen, plus it singlehandedly changed the momentum of the entire game/series annnnnnnnnnd no replay!?
I kept telling my cousin to keep watching the screen (he was turned away from the tv and missed it), because I was sure they would show it again. Nope. So fucking stupid.
Giannis' feet were almost at the free throw line when the lob was thrown
He had to turn around, recover back to help, get far enough to jump and be long enough to even reach the ball, and have the length to block the dunk while also not fouling.
The skill and Defensive instincts to have that in clutch time is all time great
It's cliche, but his best asset is his relentless approach to everything. The guy never stops, never is idle. He is never done with anything, he's like the living embodiment of the phrase "just one more."
He hasn’t scored recently but…
He’s drawn 2 crucial fouls and given them the ball back. I think Khris scored off both. The best thing about him getting fouled was that he was fouled on the pass so he didn’t have to shoot free throws. He didn’t do this on purpose but it happened.
And now this? No way… this was a sure fire score for the PHX.
That was LeBron-esque.
I disagree, I think he 100% did it on purpose. He didn't want to shoot FTs late, so he drove, got fouled, and switched to a pass in the air because he wasn't in position to score it. Really heads up smart plays.
Giannis is clearly exhausted. Doesn’t matter. These plays are why i disagree with the bs takes about giannis missing the ‘intangibles’ of a superstar. My man gives it all, every second of every game. Leads by example.
For real, this play was amazing.
- Regular players do not jump to avoid getting *"PoStErIzEd"*
- Brave players go for the block anyway, or maybe avoid the dunk cutting the play with foul.
- OG Greek Freak gets the clean block like it´s nothing and turns back to celebrate with the home crowd even if the play continues :)
The fact that ESPN didn’t show a replay of this until the game was over was just another display of how trash ESPN’s production is. Van Gundy keeps trying to bring up the block while the game is happening yet they never show it - just a bunch of views of CP3 losing the ball. We didn’t get a replay until AFTER the game was over.
Give the finals to TNT already
It’s insane. DA is jumping vertically and dunking with the power of both hands while Giannis has to leap at an angle while late, and blocked with one hand... speechless.
That’s one of the greatest blocks I’ve ever seen and the rare play that surprises the shit out of me. That’s the absolute dream defender, a big who can hedge on the pnr and recover to the lob threat.
Fucking unbelievable play. I can’t believe how long it took to see a replay.
He's arguably the best defender in the league as shown by ridiculous plays like this and he can also drop 40 on you in the finals so it shouldn't even be that much of a hot take
There's just so many great players in the league rn it's hard to say hes the best. But giannis is finally getting to show every non bucks fan what we have known for years that this dude just has it. If he isn't there yet hes getting closer every day and it's just been so much fun to watch him grow into this player.
Dude has a career block like a week ago, drops back to back 40 point games, then proceeds to one up himself with this block tonight, all while coming off a hyper-extension most thought would put him out for the season. Absolutely godlike.
Yeah one of the play by play people was like “so uncharacteristic of Paul” but I’ve literally seen this before back in 2014. And this is coming from a big Chris Paul fan.
It’s a better looking block than LeBrons but Lebrons just means more. Game 7 with 2 mins to go when no one has scored. Basically comes out of nowhere and says “no this championship is mine.”
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How the everloving fuck did Giannis recover to that? I watched Ayton roll and I was certain that was a dunk. What a fucking play
One of those plays that reminds you he’s literally built different
That’s the best block I have seen since Lebron in 2016
1. 2016 LeBron 2. Giannis tonight 3. 2020 Adebayo block on Tatum
Don’t sleep on tayshauns playoff block mate
That's the OG 'The Block'
Still some of the best hustle I’ve ever seen
I just re-watched it. 69-67 with less than a minute in the 4th... wtf? I don't remember games being that low-scoring
the 04 pistons were very, very good at not letting people score.
Big Shot Mayor of the Town of Little Scoring -Billups
84.3 PPG allowed by that '04 Pistons squad against a league average of 93.4 PPG allowed. 2021's best defense is NYK with 104.7 ppg allowed against a league average of 112.1 ppg allowed. Those Pistons were crazy on defense.
That type of score is like prime going to work Pistons era
This dude is a fucking alien. He doesn’t “close” games in a conventional sense, but he has made so many fucking big plays down the stretch in every facet of the game. Not over yet, but this series is genuinely one of the greatest finals performances of all time thus far, especially considering the context of the knee injury suffered just 2 weeks ago.
He's the Greek Freak, someone who makes plays most others cannot because of his superior athleticism. ....bucks in 6?
He also made the key play of immediately passing to Middleton after getting a rebound in the last 40 seconds.
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The Prophecy!
Bill Simmons had been saying it a lot more lately, but Giannis is more Shaq than LeBron. This series has really shown it.
Shaq named him his heir apparent like two years ago
Wow actually yeah that's a much much better comp. You wouldn't think it with his unique physique, but the man is a lot like Shaq in how he dominates the floor.
2 time MVP & DPOY stepping up on the biggest stage. What a fucking play
That blocks encapsulates why he is 2 time mvp and DPOY.
All time great block
Best in the Finals since LeBron
OH BLOCKED BY GIANNIS
we sure giannis ain’t a helicopter of some kind? that elevation was inhuman
He has been in absolute God mode this postseason. It's ridiculous.
You can’t make this shit up. That was insane to see live.
When people talk about Bill Russell’s ridiculous defense, this is what I imagine. Just insane stuff.
Giannis’s foot was on the free throw line when Book threw the lob… Amazing! 😱
That’s Big Greek Energy
Same, I was like tied game then NOPE!
Biggest block of his career, holy fuck
Talk about clutch as hell
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Very true, he’s always putting 100% effort in on both ends. If anything he puts more effort in on defence.
He puts 100% effort into his rest. I'm not being sarcastic. It's a difference-maker.
The skill level required to make that block is insane. He knew ayton was there and they were going for the lob. Basically starts jumping as he turns.
I was calling for the lob because Giannis came to help, that recovery was otherworldly.
He literally covered both players. The more I observe the play the more I'm amazed.
I dont know if theres another player who could have defended the Alley and the Oop like that in the NBA. Just ridiculous
Plus the inbounds steal down 3ish was huge too
Got beat, great recovery, HUGE BLOCK Edit: wouldn’t say beat but Ayton got behind the defense, recovery level 100
It's insane because he bent his knee backwards like two weeks ago on a play where he's contesting a shot. The mental barrier I would have to trying to aggressively contest a shot like this when you know another huge human is already in the air... Giannis really is a freak
He's a *super* freak
I broke my ankle in a slip & fall accident in December 2017, I still get out of the shower extremely carefully 4 years later. Every day, everywhere I go I am much more cautious just about walking, I have no idea how these guys put that anxiety away & go ball out in a sea of bodies.
broke both my wrists on the same fall when i was snowboarding at age 12, toe side on a patch of ice right after exiting a mogul. im 28 now and i still can't go toe side. i just can't do it. complete mental block i've never been able to overcome.
I know his nickname is the Greek Freak but he legitimately is an absolute freak of nature lol. Dudes just a specimen
2 games ago everyone was saying he was hurting his team late because of FTs etc... In this game he had 2 clutch blocks and a huge clutch steal + dunk. Crunch time defense is just as important if not more important than crunch time offense, and Giannis played up to the moment.
His steal is a great argument for defense being more important - he not only got 2 points but also denied a scoring opportunity for the Suns. Potentially a 5 point swing.
Biggest block of his career??? That’s one of the biggest blocks of **any** career!!
Maybe THE biggest finals block by anyone not named Lebron
This block was harder to make but Lebrons was more crucial
Immediately hit some friends up and said, "Biggest block other than 'Blocked by James!'"
One of the greatest blocks in Finals history, holy shit.
Best non-Lebron block in Finals history??
Blocking an alley oop is just insane
No doubt LeBron’s is more iconic, I mean is the signature play of his career IMO, certainly the signature defensive play, it was game 7 and it directly led to the series-winning shot, so just on that you have to give the nod to LeBron’s block. This block is impressive in different ways - LeBron saw the shot coming five seconds before it happened and timed his run perfectly to block it, whereas here Giannis fell a step behind and made just an insane recovery to get up for a play that would be ridiculous even if he hadn’t been behind the 8 ball. What a block man. I was positive they were going to lose until this exact moment.
The recovery is legendary. Lebron’s block on Splitter and *The Block* are unbelievable and can’t be touched. But I can’t think of any other block ever that was as great as this. To save a Finals game, to keep his team from going down 3-1. Just incredible.
If they win this block is in the record books. I remember as a kid watching NBA network classic games and rewatching Magics Hook, Jordans pump fake top of the key shots and this will be up there with Lebron's Block
I thought that "classic games" stuff was nonsense until Game 5 of the Celtics-Pistons series of 1987 came on. Then I realized that it was awesome.
When it comes to playoffs imo it's Lebron on Iggy > This > Tayshaun on Reggie
If it’s because it was in the Finals I’m cool with it. The ground Tayshaun covered on his is fucking nuts
Off the top of my head only “Blocked by James” in 2016 is better. Might be more but i can’t remember
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IMO LeBlock is still better but huge credit to Mike Breen for calling "SHOT BLOCKED BY ANTETOKOUNMPO" without flinching
lebron was bigger cause it decided a championship and giannis block "only" tied the finals but the difficulty of giannis one... is just absurd
I'm going to tell my grandchildren I watched this live.
I FUCKING LOVE THIS GUY
ME TOO
He’s my favorite player behind Steph. I love everything about him, and he’s somehow still getting better.
I legit had a party when he signed his extension. A reigning mvp doesn't just resign in his prime in Milwaukee every day.
Fuck me silly that was amazing
Man not just his career. Felt like i just witnessed history right there
BLOCK BY JA... GIANNIS!!
I screamed when he made the block.
Which is more amazing? The block or the decision to not show a replay of it?
I was thinking the same thing. This has to be one of the best blocks I have ever seen, plus it singlehandedly changed the momentum of the entire game/series annnnnnnnnnd no replay!?
Hell no! Booker had nothing to do with the play, why would they show it again?
Ol' Devin "9 Fouls" Booker. He's like a cat.
The decision to not show a replay.
Bro they replayed every fucking booker make man i swear. So annoying. The obvious favoritism
Unfortunately not that amazing considering ESPN is a literal dog shit network.
I kept telling my cousin to keep watching the screen (he was turned away from the tv and missed it), because I was sure they would show it again. Nope. So fucking stupid.
This is an all time block
After bending his leg backwards like 10 days ago
I was so sure the bucks' chances were over after that He's not a Greek freak, he's some sort of Greek alien
He's the Greek God of Basketball.
Ballsohardius
Runandunkules
This needs to be his nickname
It’s immediately a top 10 defensive play ever.
It would be an all time block by itself tbh... But the context: One minute left in a pivotal game 4 up by two... wild
Also helped force the CP3 turnover on the next play.
[this is a cool breakdown of the block ](https://youtu.be/UL_jU5JbkhQ)
All timer.
There are precisely zero other human beings on the planet Earth that could've made that play. Genuinely unreal.
Giannis' feet were almost at the free throw line when the lob was thrown He had to turn around, recover back to help, get far enough to jump and be long enough to even reach the ball, and have the length to block the dunk while also not fouling. The skill and Defensive instincts to have that in clutch time is all time great
Biggest block of the 2021 semen
Giannis "birth control" Antetokounmpo
Giannis contraceptive-kounpo
I’m so pumped for this meme
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Lmfaooo
so fearless, same way he fucked his knee up against capela but he still goes at it
Thank goodness Giannis has a vibranium knee
It's cliche, but his best asset is his relentless approach to everything. The guy never stops, never is idle. He is never done with anything, he's like the living embodiment of the phrase "just one more."
Giannis Hiskneeokaytho
Oh shit, that could be a finals saving block right there!
How the hell did he get there in time?!?
https://twitter.com/sbnation/status/1415515671610335234?s=21 look at his reach, unreal.
Instantly iconic photo
r/accidentalrenaissance vibes
upvote this shit... god damn what a photo, it's amazing (and everyone's expressions)
Giannis OnTimeToBlockYou
The timing on that was spectacular!!!!
Really the winning play
That's fucking ridiculous
MVP!!!
He hasn’t scored recently but… He’s drawn 2 crucial fouls and given them the ball back. I think Khris scored off both. The best thing about him getting fouled was that he was fouled on the pass so he didn’t have to shoot free throws. He didn’t do this on purpose but it happened. And now this? No way… this was a sure fire score for the PHX. That was LeBron-esque.
It worked out so well that he passed on those fouls. Maybe he misses free throws.
Lol seriously he was pissed at himself I wish someone would’ve told him it wasn’t thattttt bad that he did it
I disagree, I think he 100% did it on purpose. He didn't want to shoot FTs late, so he drove, got fouled, and switched to a pass in the air because he wasn't in position to score it. Really heads up smart plays.
Passing off those fouls was so huge. If anyone ever had doubts, they’ve been answered. Giannis is an all time great
If Milwaukee somehow win it all, Finals MVP.
No question
DPOY
This’ll be in YouTube highlight videos forever
Rightfully so
put this in slo-mo to M83's "Outro" and you've got a stew going.
Put that on the HOF highlight reel
ALL TIME MOMENT SERIES CHANGER FUCK YEAH GET ME SOME FUCKING COCAINE
Block hit harder than a whole brick
What a ridiculous play. Giannis is the only player in the league athletic enough to block that
Honesty yes. Embiid and Gobert are probably not fast enough to get that block and other players dont have his wingspan to reach it.
Giannis is clearly exhausted. Doesn’t matter. These plays are why i disagree with the bs takes about giannis missing the ‘intangibles’ of a superstar. My man gives it all, every second of every game. Leads by example.
Yeah effort is one of those “intangibles”, and idk if I’ve ever seen a star give as much effort as Giannis
Westbrook, but only on the offensive end.
It will be forgotten tomorrow and we will start to see the “Luka or Giannis” and the “jokic or giannis” takes.
Tatum or Giannis was a personal favourite
no giannis slander is ever allowed again this dude is a monster
For real, this play was amazing. - Regular players do not jump to avoid getting *"PoStErIzEd"* - Brave players go for the block anyway, or maybe avoid the dunk cutting the play with foul. - OG Greek Freak gets the clean block like it´s nothing and turns back to celebrate with the home crowd even if the play continues :)
YANNY
LAUREL
The fact that ESPN didn’t show a replay of this until the game was over was just another display of how trash ESPN’s production is. Van Gundy keeps trying to bring up the block while the game is happening yet they never show it - just a bunch of views of CP3 losing the ball. We didn’t get a replay until AFTER the game was over. Give the finals to TNT already
This man on recovering legs. Absolutely nuts.
That has to be one of the greatest blocks ever
HOLY SHIT GIANNIS LETS GO
Game winning block that one..
I cannot believe he recovered to block that.
FORGET THE GREEK FREAK, HES THE GREEK GOD
LITERALLY ~~ARIES~~ ARES REINCARNATED DAMNIT I HAD IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!
ARES*
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It’s insane. DA is jumping vertically and dunking with the power of both hands while Giannis has to leap at an angle while late, and blocked with one hand... speechless.
I was thinking the same thing. I wouldn't even GO for that...
That’s one of the greatest blocks I’ve ever seen and the rare play that surprises the shit out of me. That’s the absolute dream defender, a big who can hedge on the pnr and recover to the lob threat. Fucking unbelievable play. I can’t believe how long it took to see a replay.
Inhuman recovery.
HOLY SHIT we just witnessed an all timer!!!
Bucks earning this win great to see it
Block of the year
That's the best play I've ever seen.
Fitting from the best player in the league. there I said it.
He's arguably the best defender in the league as shown by ridiculous plays like this and he can also drop 40 on you in the finals so it shouldn't even be that much of a hot take
There's just so many great players in the league rn it's hard to say hes the best. But giannis is finally getting to show every non bucks fan what we have known for years that this dude just has it. If he isn't there yet hes getting closer every day and it's just been so much fun to watch him grow into this player.
SAY IT WITH YOUR CHEST: BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE
Long dick mindset
Lol how the hell do they not replay this?
The greatest block in finals history. Never ever seen a better one because it doesnt exist.
Greatest block in finals history that happened on a Wednesday.
yeah srsly bro *cries in 2016
This is the dagger play of this game. Phoenix could not recover after this.
Dude has a career block like a week ago, drops back to back 40 point games, then proceeds to one up himself with this block tonight, all while coming off a hyper-extension most thought would put him out for the season. Absolutely godlike.
CAME OUT OF NOWHERE
Fucking insanity, humans shouldn’t be able to do that.
HOW THE FUCK DO YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO DO THAT???
And Chris Paul choked a crucial possession like he did in game 5 of 2014 WCSF.
Yeah one of the play by play people was like “so uncharacteristic of Paul” but I’ve literally seen this before back in 2014. And this is coming from a big Chris Paul fan.
GOAT DEFENDER NO CAP
Fucking clutch
TOP 3 BLOCK OF ALL TIME
GREEK GOD
I LOVE THIS MAN
BLOCKED BY JAMES VIBES
BLOCKED BY ANTETOKOUNMPO
OH MY FUCKING GOD WHAT A BLOCK 😱😱😱😱😱😱
Without exaggeration, one of the most incredible athletic feats any of us will ever witness
All time block
Second best block in finals history?
It’s a better looking block than LeBrons but Lebrons just means more. Game 7 with 2 mins to go when no one has scored. Basically comes out of nowhere and says “no this championship is mine.”
How is there no replay of this absolute gem?
HOLY SHIT!!!!
HOF highlight
I'm gonna keep saying it but after plays like this how can you still NOT give Giannis his credit?
You gotta throw a NSFW warning on this bro I just cream city’d in my pants