'Like Shaq': Erik Spoelstra says Giannis is facing the same problem Shaquille O'Neal once did
· Yahoo Sports
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s start to life at the Miami Heat has been one of the biggest talking points in the NBA this season.
The Greek superstar joined Miami in the off-season, hoping to dominate the league. However, his side are 0-3 at the moment, with their latest defeat coming against the Charlotte Hornets.
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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about Antetokounmpo after the game, and he seemed unhappy with the way his star forward was officiated.
Erik Spoelstra compares Giannis Antetokounmpo to Shaquille O’Neal
There are a lot of comparisons between Antetokounmpo and Shaquille O’Neal.
They are both massive in size and possess incredible power. They have shown the ability to dominate games through their force.
Another common theme between Antetokounmpo and O’Neal is how they are officiated. The duo don’t often get certain fouls that smaller players do.
That is what seemed to annoy Spoelstra after the Miami Heat’s latest defeat, and he voiced his concern after the game.
He said in his press conference: “He’s a physical force with the ball in his hands. And whether defenders are protecting themselves from that force or not, that’s a foul. You can’t protect yourself and deliver blows when he’s (Giannis) under the basket and trying to gather himself.
“The travelling call, I think there were three fouls before that. And I’m not making this game about the officials, so everybody else can just kick rocks about that. I’m just talking about the physicality that he endures every game, and then he’s the one that fouled out. He doesn’t foul out very much.
“That’s the tough part of officiating a player like him. You know, that’s like Shaq.
“You’re defending yourself, and so there’s a lot more physicality with stronger players than it is allowed with guys that are smaller. It is what it is. We’ll overcome it no matter what. He’s not making any excuses about it. He’s not crying about it. I guess my mini-rant probably comes across as that, but I don’t care.”
Spoelstra may have a point there, but Antetokounmpo has had to face this throughout his career, and he has overcome it to become an absolute superstar.
That’s what he needs to do at the Miami Heat as well to get them out of the hole they have found themselves in after three games.
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