The Nets don’t have the only Big 3 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
They have the bigger names — a star-studded trio in Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden who are among the best scorers in the NBA. But the Bucks’ threesome of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are no slouches.
In fact, they torched the Nets during the regular season — the three stars averaged 85.2 points against them — and are coming off leading the Bucks to an impressive opening-round sweep of the Heat by scoring a combined 59.3 points per game.
The teams met three times during the regular season with each winning on its home court, the Bucks taking two in Milwaukee and the Nets prevailing in Brooklyn. Now they will face off in the Eastern Conference semifinals starting Saturday night at Barclays Center.
“We’re going to challenge each other,” Durant said after the Nets eliminated the Celtics on Tuesday night. “You know they’re going to challenge us and vice versa, so may the best team win.”
It is worth noting that the Nets’ three stars didn’t play together in any of those contests. Harden missed two of the games and Irving missed one. The Bucks’ trio played in all three games. Yet after one of their wins, Antetokounmpo cautioned, “Nobody’s going to remember these games when we’re in the playoffs.”
While all the focus will be on the Nets handling the physical two-time MVP Antetokounmpo in the paint, Middleton and Holiday cannot be overlooked. The 6-foot-7 Middleton is a two-time All-Star who scores and defends at a high level, and was one of five players to average at least 20 points, five assists and five rebounds on 40 percent shooting on 3-pointers this season, along with Stephen Curry, Julius Randle, Paul George and Durant. Holiday, acquired in a four-team deal in November from the Pelicans, has given the Bucks a dynamic point guard capable of scoring big and creating for teammates — he notched 9.8 assists in the sweep of the Heat — to fill a previous void.
“He gives us a punch,” coach Mike Budenholzer said during the series with the Heat. “He gives us somebody who can get to the paint, finish, make tough shots, make good decisions, and use his defense to create offense.”