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"We had the opportunity to talk about everybody's role" - Giannis Antetokounmpo credits All-Star break for Milwaukee’s surge
Things looked bleak for Milwaukee at one point. The All-Star break came, and the Bucks have become a different team since then.
A welcome respite
Giannis Antetokounmpo said the short break worked wonders for the Bucks as it gave them the needed time to figure things out after they struggled a few games into the tenure of coach Doc Rivers.
"I think we had time, six or seven days, to kind of think about what this coaching staff and what the team expects from us," Giannis said after the Bucks rolled to their third-straight win with a dominant 123-85 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
The Bucks went 3-7 in their first ten games under Rivers. The rough ten-game stretch included two disappointing performances when the Bucks lost their last two games before the All-Star break. The two defeats were dealt with by Miami Heat and the Memphis Grizzlies, who were missing a group of key players at the time.
It appeared the Bucks did their homework during the lull as they racked up three straight wins since the All-Star break. The three consecutive wins are Milwaukee's longest winning streak under Rivers.
"Coming back from the break, we had the opportunity to talk about everybody's role. And what the team expects from us. So keeping everyone accountable. I got to play better defense. I got to attack more. I got to share the ball more," Giannis said.
Gearing up for more battles
Mentally and physically, the break was a welcome respite as the Bucks try to make a big push in the second half of the season, Giannis said.
"Mentally, obviously, we were able to rest, take a break and also physically. It's been a hard season for all of us. But now we're back and we're got to keep better," said Giannis, who tallied 24 points and eight rebounds in the 38-point win over the Hornets.
Milwaukee will be tested in the coming days as it will play six of its next seven games on the road.
