Media

Taurean Prince questions Giannis Antetokounmpo for not guarding Kevin Durant in playoffs

Published by
Orel Dizon

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets in a gritty Game 3 that saw two offensive juggernauts struggle to put points on the board.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Taurean Prince was clearly watching the game and wondered why Giannis Antetokounmpo was not the main defender assigned to Kevin Durant.

Antetokounmpo is not only a two-time MVP, but he also won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020. It makes sense then for him to cover one of the league’s most prolific scorers. However, that assignment has been primarily given to P.J. Tucker.

Tucker helped hold Durant to his worst game in the series in terms of shooting efficiency on Thursday. Durant did score 30 points in the game,  but he was held to just 39.3 percent from the floor.

Prince understands how difficult it is to cover Durant on defense.

Aside from playing against him in the past, they were also teammates from 2019 until early this season. The Cavs acquired the 27-year-old from the Nets in the trade that sent James Harden to Brooklyn and Jarrett Allen to Cleveland.

Orel Dizon

Orel is a freelance writer who is passionate about the NBA. He has followed the league since the late '90s and found increased interest in it in 2003 – when an 18-year-old prodigy from Akron, Ohio took the league by storm.

Published by
Orel Dizon

Recent Posts

Report: Jarrett Allen is in ‘excruciating’ pain, having hard time lifting arm

The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to need all the help they can get in their…

5 hours ago

Report: Cavs could get major boost during series vs. Celtics

The Cleveland Cavaliers are facing an uphill battle in their second-round series against the Boston…

8 hours ago

Report: Cavs truly believe they can be title contenders

Per NBA insider Shams Charania, the Cleveland Cavaliers believe they have what it takes to…

1 day ago

Cavs insider says Donovan Mitchell is ‘physically beat up and emotionally drained’

The Cleveland Cavaliers squandered an opportunity to reach the second round of the playoffs for…

3 days ago

J.B. Bickerstaff seemingly calls officiating into question after Cavs suffer brutal loss to Magic

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff seemed to call the officiating into question following his…

4 days ago

Kevin Garnett on Cavs: ‘They got an identity, but then they don’t wear it all the time’

Former Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett directed some criticism the Cleveland Cavaliers'…

4 days ago