The East still runs through Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 29: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards as Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center on March 29, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Giannis Antetokounmpo sent a message with his performance on Thursday night – the East still runs through the Milwaukee Bucks.

The amount of talent in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2022 playoffs is incredibly exciting – Butler and Lowry’s Heat, Durant and Irving’s Nets, Tatum and Brown’s Celtics, Harden and Embiid’s Sixers, DeRozan and LaVine’s Bulls. But Giannis’ Bucks are still the team to beat.

The East still runs through Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks

Milwaukee held off the Brooklyn Nets in an overtime win bristling with playoff intensity, 120-119. The MVP of the game was no doubt Giannis Antetokounmpo, who put up 44 points on 21 shots, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out six assists. The Greek Freak also forced overtime with this clutch step-back three-pointer:

This game was more than a one-point win over a conference rival; it was more than the step-up in the standings Milwaukee took toward the one seed, too – this game was a statement. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the NBA, and the East runs through him.

The East standings show a tight playoff race, with the top 6 seeds all presently within 4.5 games of one another. That, in conjunction with all the big names that shuffled teams this year – Lowry, Harden, Simmons – might lead one to believe that the East is wide open this year.

But that’s just not the case.

The Bucks are 34-9 this season with their big three of Holiday, Middleton, and Antetokounmpo all playing, a 65-17 pace over the course of an 82-game season. That’s not far off from the Suns’ league-leading mark, and it’s well above any other East contender. The Nets, for reference, are 7-5 with their star duo of Durant and Irving both active.

Thursday night’s game was close – as any series between the Bucks and top contenders like the Nets will likely be. But the Bucks have more reasons for optimism than just their one-point victory.

The Bucks shot just 29 percent from deep in the game, well below their 39 percent season average mark. The Nets, conversely, shot a scorching 49 percent, well above their season average (also 39 percent). Should these numbers even out over a seven-game series as expected, the Bucks should have an easier time with the Nets.

Milwaukee also saw uncharacteristically poor shooting nights from stars Khris Middleton (who went 4-for-12) and Jrue Holiday (6-for-18). It’s encouraging that, despite their struggles, Giannis can bear the load for the team.

Elsewhere in the East standings, teams are facing challenges. The Heat have been on a skid of late, the Celtics recently suffered a big injury to defensive anchor Robert Williams III, and on the same night that the Bucks bested Brooklyn, the Sixers lost to the Detroit Pistons – a team just one game over the worst record in the league.

The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending champions, and despite posting an underachieving record this season, they have shown no real signs of decline when their big-name players suit up.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo playing like the best player in the world, it’s looking like if any other team wants the Eastern Conference crown, they’ll need to figure out how to slow him down.