Time, in its perpetual state of uncertainty, comes with urgency, unspoken yet felt so unequivocally. A tangible joust against a concept with change as the sole victor.
“Trust the Process” – now a phrase that has permeated through pop culture, started off as a ‘glass half full’ view to the ongoing tanking of the Philadelphia 76ers under Sam Hinkie. An astute man with a keen eye for analytics, he was aware of the modus operandi that would take a floundering side to playoff contention. Trading their most valuable asset in Jrue Holiday in 2013 toppled the initial domino that lead to the realisation of not only a vision, but virtue, one that evangelized patience.
The game between two titans in the Eastern Conference, The Bucks against the Sixers, felt stylistically equipoised last year with the Giannis-led side emerging triumphant on both occasions. The new season saw the baton being passed to Daryl Morey and Doc Rivers who immediately tackled the elephant in the room – shooting, with the additions of Seth Curry and Danny Green.
A feeling-out process preceded an anchored run of dominance with their star men Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons staking their claim for MVP and DPOY respectively.
Philly came with kryptonite. Furkan Korkmaz caused problems from deep early on, a go-to move against one of the worst perimeter defences in the league. Simmons revelled in his playmaking role. Heck, Dwight Howard was pick and POPPING, shooting from mid-range. The eyebrow-raiser came in the form of the Bucks offence, shooting a paltry 26.7 percent from the field in the first half, scoring their lowest of the season in 31. It was a defensive masterclass. Giannis was shackled, Simmons on the outside, doubled in the post. 4 points and 2 rebounds for the two-time MVP.
Pathos comes with the tinge of predictability of the dismal offensive performance by a team that statistically floats in the stratosphere.
Year after year, an ascendant team in the regular season stumbled in the playoffs. Coach Bud has engineered one of the best defences in the league with multiple all-defensive players at his disposal. Beyond the arc is another tale, however. Rigidity begets foresight and with a clear Achilles Heel on their star man, adaptable teams relish facing arguably one of the best teams in the league, an absurd yet understandable fact.
A back-and-forth for the most part in OT gave way for a poignant sequence. As Simmons awaited the usual from the Greek Freak, a drive with a spin, a hesitation froze him as Giannis drove in for the layup. The very next play, as Simmons awaited another drive, out came a three. The very next play, Howard on him. A drive followed by a step-back – it’s good. The dagger. What was once a comfy 19-point lead for Philly gradually unraveled in the absence of Joel Embiid. A defensive fortress with a fleeting ire in offence needs dynamism. The Process birthed a counterintuitive partnership in their two stars. Simmons’ innocuous showing offensively leads to a familiar problem, one their foes are well acquainted with.
What followed after the step-back lives in the memory. A stroll towards mid-court followed by Giannis taking a seat.
He hasn’t lost a step, averaging 29-12-6 this season. Since the All-Star game, he has made 25 of 29 from the Free Throw line. Whilst it may be a miniscule sample size, the image of a seated Giannis as he imbibes the moment could be pivotal turn of fortunes.
The eminence in Giannis’ authority may be presented as old news but it cannot be understated. They are already three losses short of their total last season. Yet, something felt different about last night. The Bucks may not have underwent a tactical breakthrough but they may have unearthed a holy grail – offensive dynamism, which is also an apt segue into their acquisition of a cornerstone of the modern NBA, P.J. Tucker. Carving his place as a small-ball 5 and one of the best corner shooters in the league, Tucker’s experience may prove to be just as fruitful as the versatility he adds. Despite an understandably underwhelming season so far for the veteran, the idea of Giannis kicking it to the corner for three sells itself.
Time is of the essence. An average age of 27.4 makes the team the fifth-oldest in the league. Add the fact that they have two first-round picks in the next seven years, urgency starts to take hold. Yet, in a poetic matchup against the team that breathed life into the Process, the Bucks may have witnessed the calling of theirs.
They can do it; question is, do you trust the process?
