When new records meet a lost game, 'Greek freak' meets new challenge
Li Xiang
["north america"]
Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his marvelous performance on Thursday in the game between his Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics by making 28 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists. In his first five games, Giannis has already taken 175 points, 54 rebounds and 28 assists, creating two new records respectively for the Bucks and the NBA. However, his team lost the game.
After the game with the Celtics, Giannis made at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists per game in the first five games, making himself the first player who has ever achieved such great numbers in NBA history. Moreover, his scoring of 175 points also broke the Bucks' team record of 166 points for the first five games kept by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, whose name was still Lewis Alcindor during the 1970-71 season, according to ESPN's data center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (right) on Thursday and became the best scorer for the first five games of a season in Milwaukee Bucks' history. /Xinhua Photo

Giannis Antetokounmpo (left) surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (right) on Thursday and became the best scorer for the first five games of a season in Milwaukee Bucks' history. /Xinhua Photo

Giannis kept refreshing people's memories about him. He scored 44 points in the Bucks' third game with the Portland Trailblazers, becoming the ninth player in NBA history who could get at least 115 points in the first three games, following Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Russell Westbrook, Jerry West, Stephen Curry, Rick Barry and Shaquille O'Neal.
Considering that the list above includes six of the "50 Greatest NBA Players of All Time" and two NBA MVPs, it is no wonder people now are talking about the possibilities of Giannis becoming the new king of NBA. However, rare geniuses are never strangers to the league. Coach Brad Stevens and his Celtics taught Giannis a lesson on Thursday,
New challenges await Giannis, starting with Brad Stevens, coach of the Boston Celtics. /Xinhua Photo

New challenges await Giannis, starting with Brad Stevens, coach of the Boston Celtics. /Xinhua Photo

Learning from the last loss against the Bucks, Stevens kept two big men on the court through the game to contain Giannis from destroying the rim. Furthermore, he captured the "Greek freak's" weakness in lacking perimeter shots, ordering his players to stop him from getting into the free-throw line.
As the game entered the fourth quarter, Giannis began to lose his strength. Stevens put Semi Ojeleye, a short but strong forward who was chosen by the Celtics with the 37 pick at 2017 NBA Draft, behind the Bucks' Number 34 and asked the rest of the team to decisively double-team Giannis once he tried to enter the free-throw line. Such tactics ended the wonder of the "Greak freak" and brought a vengeance victory for the Bostons.
The crazy numbers Gianiis has achieved put him on a path that LeBron James, Kevin Durant and other NBA future super stars have walked through. However, this is a path filled with continuing unimaginable challenges from the teams who will be studying and analyzing every move of his. The Boston Celtics are just the vanguard.