BY DAVID THORPE

In the first-round sweep of the Heat and the seven-game struggle to oust the Nets, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo looked amazing in most respects—but stubborn in trying to prove he can score from the perimeter. He made just one of 16 3s in that Heat series and eight of 31 against Brooklyn. The practice court, or December games, are a great time to prove you can shoot, but he seemed to be on a mission in the playoffs, often trying four or more in a game. He never had a stretch of three playoff games without at least 10 tries.

Until Game 3 against the Hawks. That’s when Giannis started crushing skulls. Atlanta had no one to keep him out of the paint, he shifted focus to becoming the best paint player on the planet. It has been like that ever since. 

This Giannis can win a title.