Chris Middleton’s return and coexistence with Damian Lillard makes Giannis Antetokounmpo quite happy, as seen in his comments after the Bucks’ comfortable win over the Thunder.

THAT John Antetokounmpo was once again sensational at Bucks win over Thunder. But the 30-year-old Yiannis was not alone. By Chris Middleton to come back and write triple double and him Damian Lillard always on the sidelines, Bucks saw after a while what it’s like to play drunk.

Something that was of course happy for Giannis himself, who wants to see his team also play when it counts the most, namely in the playoffs.

Antetokounmpo’s statements

“I just tried to play hard, be competitive. To try to find my rhythm. Middleton came back, Lillard came back and they had the ball. They got a lot of shots, so I tried to do something different, go after every rebound. I was able to get some, win some other possessions for the team. It was a good day.

We knew they had big players. I think we just played the game. Obviously, we could do better. We played the game our way, but I think our effort was really high at the start of the game. It was a good day defensively. I think the tall ones did their job. Portis, I think in the third or fourth period, ran the length of the court for a layup and then a layup. I tried to pick and roll and roll to make it easier for Dame and Chris and I think it was an overall good day for the team defensively and offensively. I hope we can keep it up».

To Middleton: “We can easily play with Chris. We didn’t play together for three months and he got on the floor and we could find each other. I think the pace of the team was good, the ball was moving. Defensively we were good. There can be no moments when it is “Dame Time” or Chris’s time or my time.

We have to continue to play through the flow of the offense and I think that’s what we did today. Chris, who is back, Dame, who is on the floor, me, Brook, Bobby and everyone who is healthy and on the floor round out the team. I hope we can build good habits in the next 20-25 days and play good basketball when it counts the most».

For absence in the previous period: “You value your teammates. The games that Dame doesn’t play are harder for me. When Chris doesn’t play, it makes the game harder for me, Dame and Bobby. When we’re all together, I think the game will be easier for all of us. We just keep playing good basketball, keep moving the ball.

There will be nights that will be my night, some that will be Chris’s, and some that will be Dame’s. Everyone out there is a threat, our bench is incredible and keeps getting better. I feel the appreciation that everyone is healthy and available to play.

Because we were not healthy, sometimes we played well, sometimes not, sometimes we created an excuse in our mind, but now we are all here, there are no more excuses. We have to continue to play good basketball and hopefully we will be good».

For the relationship that exists in the group: “I think over the year we’ve seen a lot of changes, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of injuries, so we’re just happy to be here. Despite what we have faced, we are keeping our spirits high. Even when I don’t play, even when Chris doesn’t play, when Dame doesn’t play, the team goes out there and tries to win games. We are all healthy. We have to be healthy and I think that’s the most important thing for this team».

For Portis: “Bobby and I have played together for the last four years and I think every year he is the best sixth player of the year. Last year I think he should have gotten it. This year will be an even better year»