Giannis Antetokounmpo’s heated words about Bucks were correct. Plus, Knicks, Lakers highlight NBA stock market

This is the digital version of The Bounce.
If you want it earlier, start every day with The Bounce delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.

The golden globe I care most about, you ask? The one on top of the Larry O’Brien trophy — oh, and the Best Picture awards.

Giannis Fed Up

Calls out Bucks’ poor defense

The Bucks have had a rough week or so. They got smacked around by Indiana twice as the Pacers (20-15) showed they don’t fear Milwaukee at all. Then, the Bucks barely beat the Spurs (5-30) while providing a highlight reel for Victor Wembanyama. And, after their 112-108 loss Saturday night in Houston (18-16), Giannis Antetokounmpo decided to call out everybody on the team:

“We have to be better. We have to play better. We have to defend better. We have to trust one another better. We have to be coached better. Every single thing, everybody has to be better. Everybody. It starts from the equipment manager. He has to wash our clothes better. The bench has to be better. The leaders of the team have to be more vocal.

“We have to make more shots. We have to defend better. We have to have better strategy. We have to be better… We have four months to get better, so let’s see.”

The equipment manager is catching shots?! I’m sure the uniforms are an elite level of clean.

The Bucks’ defense, however, is not. And, as Giannis went on a 7.5-minute rant about their shortcomings, he focused on the team’s defense instead of its offense. He knows offense will come and go in the playoffs, but defense must be sound and overall better for them to be title contenders.

“We cannot die on screens. We die on screens, including myself. I’m not trying to throw anybody under the bus. That’s why I keep saying including myself. Always. It starts from me. I’m the leader of the team. It always starts with me. I have to be better, but we cannot die on screens.”

Giannis is right. The Bucks struggle against screens all the time. And he was careful to include himself in every point he made. But on this one, it’s worth wondering how frustrated he might be with the Damian Lillard defense experience. As great as Dame is on offense, his defense has often been questionable. Part of that is fighting screens. 

The Bucks are currently 19th in defensive rating. Surprisingly, they allow the NBA’s second-lowest 3-point percentage. However, they’re tied for 12th in wide-open 3s allowed and force the lowest percentage on such shots. Either Milwaukee is forcing bad shooters into attempts or simply getting lucky.

Regardless, Giannis is demanding more because they can’t fool themselves into thinking the status quo is championship-worthy. At 25-11, they trail the Celtics by 3.5 games for the top spot in the East.

The Latest From Shams

Siakam-to-Kings talk quiet for now

We’re about one month from the NBA trade deadline, and the conversations surrounding deals are heating up.

I’m told the Raptors and Kings were in active talks last week surrounding Toronto forward Pascal Siakam, who will be a free agent this summer. But timeliness and framework were important for the Kings, and they decided late in the week to pull out of those talks. That’s not to say these two teams won’t re-engage in the future, but as of now, the Siakam-to-Sacramento conversations are quiet.

Siakam is averaging 22.1 points and 6.5 rebounds this season for the 15-21 Raptors, who recently traded OG Anunoby to New York for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. With those new faces in the mix, Toronto has won three of four.

Stock Market

NBA trends entering new week!

We’re headed into a new week, meaning it’s time to see who’s trending up and who’s spiraling out of control:

📈 KnicksTape. Since acquiring OG Anunoby, the  21-15 Knicks are 4-0 and outscoring opponents by 29.6 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle have combined for 57.6 points per game on 48.7 percent from the field in that span.

📈 Pelicans vs. Kings. On Sunday, New Orleans beat Sacramento for the fourth time this season. The 22-15 Pelicans absolutely have the Kings’ number, notching those four wins by a combined 84 points.

📉 Father Time and Paul George. Neither of these two could have anticipated LeBron James would be dunking from beyond the dotted line in 2024. What a poster by LeBron! The Lakers (18-19) ended up beating the Clippers (22-13), 106-103.

📈 RJ Barrett. The Canadian homecoming for the newest Raptor has been a rousing success early. The 23-year-old Barrett is averaging 21 points, 6.5 rebounds and three assists while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from deep. Toronto is 3-1 with him.

📉 Suns. Ja Morant didn’t play. The Suns (19-17) were at home. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to play 110 minutes. And Phoenix still lost to 13-23 Memphis, 121-115. I know Phoenix has played better lately, but that’s an atrocious loss.

📈 Jazz. Utah is 10-4 in its last 14 games and dangerously close to passing the Warriors (17-19) for 11th in the West standings. The Jazz (17-20) are just a half game back. Collin Sexton has been on fire during this stretch.

📉 Nets. An overtime home loss to the Trail Blazers (10-25) dropped the Nets to 16-21 overall and 3-11 in their last 14 games. To be fair, it’s been a really tough schedule, but they did also lose to the Wizards (6-29).

📉 Warriors. The good news is Draymond Green has been reinstated to come back from his “indefinite” suspension that lasted 12 games. The bad news is the Warriors just lost Chris Paul to a fractured hand. And they’ve lost five of seven.

📈 Pacers. They’ve won six of seven, including putting up 150 points on the Hawks Friday night. Indy had 50 assists in that game. The Hawks made 44 shots. That’s a recipe for winning.

Shaq Honored

Magic finally retiring his No. 32

After only four seasons with the Orlando Magic, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t have the best exit we’ve ever seen, but that isn’t stopping the franchise from finally retiring his No. 32 into the rafters.

This makes Shaq the first Magic player to ever have their number retired. The ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 13.

Sure, there was bitterness over his exit to the Lakers in 1996, but Shaq remains the best player the Magic have ever had. In 295 career games with Orlando, he averaged 27.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.4 assists. He led the franchise to its first-ever NBA Finals in 1995, only its sixth season in the league. Shaq was also named to the Top 50 NBA players at 50 in 1996 despite only being three-and-a-half seasons into his career — THAT is how good he was for Orlando.

In franchise history, he still ranks sixth in total points, third in rebounds, fourth in shots made and second in blocks. Don’t fool yourself. Shaq is beyond deserving of this honor. The Magic letting Jeremy Richardson, Justin Harper and CJ Watson wear his No. 32 is offensive.

Bounce Passes

Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga met with Steve Kerr and loves it here now!

Seth Partnow gives us his MVP tiers, featuring the battle of David versus Goliath.

Darvin Ham’s seat seems hot, but he has support at the top.

Screen Game (All times Eastern)

• Main Screen: Suns-Clippers (10:30 p.m. NBA TV). If this is a full-strength affair, it will be a must-watch.
• Second Screen: Rockets-Heat (7:30 p.m.). Houston has struggled on the road. This will be a good test.
• League Pass Game of the Night: Celtics-Pacers (7 p.m.). We might see 45 made 3s in this one. Full schedule here.

(Top photo: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)