MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Gardner: This week in the NBA

Charles F. Gardner
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Greg Monroe of the Milwaukee Bucks attends Jordan Brand: 2017 All-Star Party at Seven Three Distilling Co. on Friday in New Orleans.

TOP BUCKS PLAYER

Greg Monroe showed why he should be strongly considered for the league’s sixth man award. That award normally does not go to a big man, but the 6-foot-11 Monroe has thrived off the Bucks bench. In Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak heading into the all-star break, Monroe averaged 22.3 points and 9.7 rebounds. He had 25 points and 13 rebounds against his former Detroit team on Monday and added 25 points and eight rebounds in the Bucks’ 129-125 win at Brooklyn on Wednesday.

BUCKS LOOK AHEAD

The Bucks return from the break with plenty of work ahead if they hope to make the playoffs. They have 27 games left and need to go 16-11 just to finish the season with a .500 record. They start with two home games against Western Conference foes — Utah on Friday night and Phoenix on Sunday afternoon.

BUCKS QUOTE

Bucks all-star Giannis Antetokounmpo, after hearing Warriors forward Kevin Durant say the Greek Freak should be an all-star every year the rest of his career: “I believe I can be here as an all-star as long as I play basketball. But the most important thing is I believe it.”

TOP NBA PLAYER

Boston point guard Isaiah Thomas kept up his prolific scoring pace, averaging more than 30 points in three games. He had 29 points against Dallas and 33 against Philadelphia, both in Celtics victories. The 5-foot-9 all-star scored 29 points and dished seven assists in a one-point loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.

TOP NBA TEAM

Washington won four straight games entering the break, including victories over Oklahoma City and Indiana last week. Bradley Beal scored 22 points and hit 6 of 7 three-pointers in a 120-98 rout of the Thunder, and all-star point guard John Wall had 15 points and 14 assists. Otto Porter hit 6 threes and scored 25 points in a 111-98 road victory against Indiana. New coach Scott Brooks has helped the Wizards climb to a 34-21 record and third place in the Eastern Conference.

NBA QUOTE

Golden State Warriors and Western Conference all-star coach Steve Kerr: “It’s tough coaching a team that only has four NBA all-stars, but I’ve just tried to make the best of it this year.”

NBA RANKINGS (through Friday’s games)

Top 10: 1. Golden State, 2. San Antonio, 3. Cleveland, 4. Houston, 5. Boston, 6. Washington, 7. Utah, 8. Los Angeles Clippers, 9. Memphis, 10. Toronto.

Middle 10: 11. Atlanta, 12. Oklahoma City, 13. Los Angeles Clippers, 14. Chicago, 15. Detroit, 16. Indiana, 17. Denver, 18. Milwaukee, 19. Miami, 20. Sacramento.

Bottom 10: 21. New Orleans, 22. Portland, 23. Dallas, 24. Minnesota, 25. Charlotte, 26. New York Knicks, 27. Philadelphia, 28. Los Angeles Lakers, 29. Phoenix, 30. Brooklyn.

ONE MAN'S OPINION

It’s all about Giannis this weekend in New Orleans.

The Bucks’ newly minted all-star is one of the fan favorites at the league’s showcase game, scheduled for Sunday night.

And the 22-year-old from Greece has been soaking it up, whether he is taking photos of the media crowd, chatting with his teammates or watching Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry in the celebrity game Friday.

Let’s see if he can cap it off with a memorable performance.

Even as a rookie, Antetokounmpo would do something amazing almost every game. Blink and you would miss it, but you could see the awesome potential.

Now those moments are coming on a regular basis. Yes, he has arrived in a huge way. He’s no longer Milwaukee’s secret steal from the 2013 draft but a franchise player.