The Milwaukee Bucks will always be open to competition, even from bright teams, despite their star strength and the fact that many believe they are among the league’s strongest contenders this NBA season.

The fact that they were outplayed by the Indiana Pacers in Thursday’s In-Season Tournament Semifinals indicates that a number of rising teams are finally challenging them for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Fighting the giants

Giannis Antetokounmpo is fully aware that a few young teams are at last making an effort to prove their strength and dominance in the East.

The Greek Freak can only understand the viewpoint of the Pacers and other up-and-coming teams attempting to make a statement by defeating the league’s seasoned giants because it has been the competitive cycle of the NBA.

Yes, without a doubt. Not limited to Indiana. Everyone is chasing after us. In the end, Giannis declared, “I’m coming for them too if I saw Khris [Middleton], Brook [Lopez], Dame [Lillard], and Giannis on the other team.”

“Like at the end of the day, you want to aim and kind of play your best against the best.”

When credit is due, give it.

Despite being one of the newest teams in the NBA, Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers’ explosive offense are drawing attention from all corners.

Given that they have outlasted them twice in 2023–24 and have progressed thus far in the In-Season, Giannis can only give the thrilling Indiana team credit for posing such a formidable challenge.

“They performed admirably. Exceptionally well. Respect for that is required. This year, they have defeated us twice. The Boston Celtics were defeated. They’re performing amazing. They play a lot of little ball and have an amazing coach with an amazing system. Play lots of quick, tiny ball,” stated Antetokounmpo.

“They’re a very, very good team, and they have a very good player [in Haliburton] that’s like a machine who doesn’t turn the ball over and makes good plays.”