The Milwaukee Bucks etched themselves into unfortunate history with Wednesday’s 128-126 loss to Miami, becoming the sixth top seed to get eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
During the postgame news conference, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm asked star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who tallied 38 points and 20 rebounds, if he considered the season a failure.
The two-time MVP responded honestly, stating there are “no failures in sports,” just better days than others, which Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal respectfully disagreed with.
“When you’re a great player, and they expect you to win and you don’t win, in my mind, it is a failure,” O’Neal said on “Inside the NBA.” “I played 19 seasons, and I failed 15 seasons. When I didn’t win, it was a failure.”
“[Antetokounmpo’s] not a failure as a player, but is it a failure as a season? I would say yes,” O’Neal added. “I can understand and respect his explanation, but for me, when we didn’t win, it was always my fault, and it was definitely a failure.”
Although Antetokounmpo’s remarks have some merit, not every season will end in a championship parade, the context matters in the Bucks’ case. Regardless of the Game 1 back injury Antetokounmpo suffered, it can’t be used as an excuse considering Milwaukee was the title favorite and boasted most of its 2021 championship roster.
As O’Neal stated, Antetokounmpo isn’t at fault individually; despite missing 13 free throws Wednesday, it was a collective meltdown, highlighted by Games 4 and 5’s fourth-quarter collapses.
In Monday’s 119-114 loss, Milwaukee led 98-87 when Heat forward Jimmy Butler checked in with 8:11 remaining. Butler, who finished the game with a franchise playoff record 56 points, then singlehandedly outscored Milwaukee 21-16.
Butler’s playoff heroics continued in Game 5, leading the Heat, who trailed by 16 points heading into the fourth quarter, to another come-from-behind victory. According to ESPN Stats & Info, it was the largest comeback entering the final period of a series-clinching win in league history.
Milwaukee will now have to watch Miami, the first play-in team to advance to the second round, face the Knicks as it begins an offseason of introspection.
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