The Bucks' defense was suffocating. They often held opponents' shooting percentage in the paint to roughly 9.8% below average.
Much of the credit belonged to the long, rangy Antetokounmpo.
Though he was not a pure interior player, Antetokounmpo's rim protection was beyond question.
However, the value of Antetokounmpo's long arms on defense extended far beyond shot-blocking.
He often used that reach to jump passing lanes for outright steals, and he did it very well.
The opening play was a perfect example.
Under normal circumstances, Conley's pass just now would have been perfectly fine. But Antetokounmpo's stealing range was greater than people imagined.
His explosive athleticism and outrageous wingspan put him directly in the passing lane the instant Conley released the ball.
Seeing this, Link hurried toward the ball, only for Antetokounmpo to use his sturdy back to shield him off, completely separating Link from the basketball.
The instant Link collided with Antetokounmpo, it felt as though he had run into a steel plate.
Link was already one of the strongest players in the league when it came to physical contact. Yet even their first clash left him struggling.
After intercepting the ball, Antetokounmpo charged straight downcourt to start the break.
Like Durant, Antetokounmpo was not exceptionally fast in absolute terms, but his strides were enormous.
Those two covered in one step what others needed two for, reaching the basket in no time.
Link stayed right behind Antetokounmpo. It had to be said, when the Greek player charged forward in those huge strides, he was truly difficult to catch.
At that moment, only Link and Antetokounmpo were out in front, creating a one-on-one battle in the open court.
The league's two absolute elite players were going at each other, and no one else could get involved.
The moment Antetokounmpo stepped into