On Wednesday, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that star Giannis Antetokounmpo would miss the remainder of the regular season with a calf strain. There’s no timetable for the two-time MVP’s return yet, but head coach Doc Rivers didn’t sound particularly optimistic when asked about having him back in time for the playoffs.
“I’m hoping. I mean, I don’t know, I’m just hoping,” Rivers told Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
Antetokounmpo left Tuesday’s game against the Boston Celtics in the second half with the dreaded non-contact injury. However, concerns quickly faded after an MRI confirmed he’d only suffered a strained calf rather than an Achilles injury, which some had feared. Regardless, Rivers had little, if any, details to add on the severity of Antetokounmpo’s strain or how long it will keep him out.
The Bucks’ situation is becoming increasingly desperate. They hold a slim one-game lead over the New York Knicks (47-32) for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the possibility of losing their spot in the season’s final days, paired with the potential of starting the postseason without the “Greek Freak,” has only worsened the situation.
It seems everything is breaking the wrong way for the Bucks at the worst possible time. They’d dropped four straight games before winning on Tuesday, but now they must move forward without Antetokounmpo, whom the team is 3-3 without this season.
As things go downhill, the stress seems to be getting to Rivers, who got a little snippy when responding to questions about how Antetokounmpo was holding up.
“A lot of guys, this is what they do for their love and enjoyment of life and when they can’t do it, it affects them,” Rivers said. “So, that’s probably how he’s doing.”
Rivers himself hasn’t brought much positivity to the Bucks since taking over for Adrian Griffin. After going 30-13 under Griffin, the team is just 16-17 with Rivers at the helm. If that wasn’t bad enough, his comments about Antetokounmpo will have the optimism meter falling even further into the negative.
