Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks argues with referee Zach Zarba #15 during the first half in Game Two of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Phoenix Suns Arena on July 08, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ralph Freso/Getty Images/AFP
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s taking a beating. Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton vows he’ll keep being aggressive. So referees will get plenty of attention in game four of the NBA Finals.
Visiting Phoenix carries a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven showdown into Wednesday’s contest, where the battle near the basket between the global big men could steal the show.
“I take a pretty good beating down there,” Greek forward Antetokounmpo said Tuesday. “I have a scratch right here and scratch right here. They’re making my pretty face ugly.”
Bahamas center Ayton was whistled for his playoffs-high five fouls in Sunday’s 120-100 game three loss, limiting his contributions while two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo scored 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
“I’m not going to let none of those foul calls change my aggression,” Ayton said. “But it was pretty frustrating. We really wanted that game and we needed a little bit more effort. They played harder than us.”
Suns coach Monty Williams, whose team went 11-of-16 at the free-throw line, noted Greek forward Antetokounmpo had more shots by himself than the entire Phoenix team, going 13-of-17 from the line while the Bucks went 20-of-26.
“The free throw disparity is what it is. They had one player with 17 free throws. We had 16. That’s not complaining. That’s stating facts,” Williams said.
“I wasn’t pulling something out of a cloud. You get where I’m coming from? Those are facts. That’s what it was.”
Williams denied he was trying to send a subtle message.
“I try to be respectful,” he said. “I don’t want to play the game that way. It’s just not who I am. Maybe I’m wrong in that. I’ve seen coaches implement that. I just know I’m not that good at it.”
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said such remarks are nothing new in the playoffs but also don’t figure to impact the calls in future contests.
“It’s like the age-old ritual of the playoffs,” Budenholzer said. “I don’t know that it has any impact. Some players, some teams actually feel like they’re penalized for doing it.
“I actually think the referees just call the game and coaches go and talk about the game. We have the best referees in the league and we’re always still frustrated with them. They’re still the best in the world. It seems like it’s always the same and I don’t think it has any impact on the game.”
Ayton wouldn’t mind if he heard fewer whistles while he works.
“I’m not going to let that game bother me. I’ve been playing defense where I can play big and just embrace contact,” Ayton said. “It’s pretty hard in the playoffs where you can get a foul or not. It’s just me being sturdy and doing what I do best.
“Mainly just show my hands early, letting the refs know where I’m at, feeling the refs out throughout the game, on my physicality, how I’m playing my defense.”
Hits in the face no fun
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates during the second half in Game Three of the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on July 11, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP
Antetokounmpo is still going to be powering his way to the hoop for dunks as well.
“I just try to focus on what I have to do and how can I help my team be successful,” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s all I’m going to spend my energy on.”
Milwaukee guard Pat Connaughton took his share of fouls, some in the face, while only being whistled for one himself.
“I definitely took quite a few,” he said. “I’ve got to be careful what I say based off the whistle on some of the facial shots I took and who got called for the foul and who didn’t.
“It’s physical. It’s a contact sport. It’s fast moving. You don’t always see it coming. It’s the toughness, the grittiness, the things that help teams win, help me be a factor.
“I don’t necessarily enjoy getting hit in the face, but I enjoy being in the game and that just comes with the territory.”