Buck or Hawks: Which team needs their superstar more?

Not only for Game 5 but the rest of the postseason, do the Milwaukee Bucks or Atlanta Hawks need their star more?

The Eastern Conference Finals have been much better than people expected. The Atlanta Hawks continue to shock the world, having the series tied 2-2 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite the competitiveness of the series, injuries have impacted both teams in huge ways.

Hawks guard Trae Young suffered a deep bone bruise in his right foot in Game 3, which caused him to miss Game 4. Luckily, the Hawks dominated to the tune of a 110-88 win, but an injury to the Bucks’ star may have contributed to that blowout. Giannis Antentokounmpo left the matchup with a hyperextended knee. There’s no structural damage to his knee, but the timeline for his return is uncertain, and he’s listed as doubtful for Game 5.

With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 will be a momentous contest for both sides. Which team needs their superstar more, not only for Game 5, but the rest of the playoffs? Could both teams’ championship dreams vanish if neither of their stars retakes the floor?

Making a case for which team needs their superstar more: Hawks or Bucks?

It’s fair to say that both teams are much different when their stars aren’t on the floor. But which team needs their star to return from injury the quickest? We’ve seen a small sample size of what each team looks like without their best players, and the results were very different for both sides.

The Hawks seemed to fare well without Young, as their offense continued to produce points. Lou Williams stepped up with 21 points on an efficient shooting night in Game 4. Clint Capela dropped 15 before leaving with an eye injury. They shot over 50 percent from the field in Game 4, and even though they had an okay night from 3-point land (34.2 percent), it was still enough to win. If anything, the Hawks showed that they are more than just Trae Young offensively, which could spell trouble for the Bucks without Giannis.

The sample size is even smaller for Milwaukee, but the results are pretty concerning. The team only scored 36 points after Giannis left the contest, as their offense ground to a halt. When the Bucks are hitting their 3s, their offense can be potent. Giannis helps with that because of his bully ball in the paint, pulling defenses in. However, the Bucks can become stagnant, even resorting to iso-ball when things aren’t flowing offensively. That seemed to be the issue in Game 5 after Antentokounmpo left.

Throw in their limited depth because of another injury to a starter (Donte DiVincenzo), and the Bucks have a serious issue. If Giannis can’t play, it means Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday will be the next players in line to step up. Both are great talents, but it’s unknown if they have the consistency and point production to keep Milwaukee afloat.

Atlanta played well for one game without Trae Young, but could they repeat it if needed? Lou Williams is a scorer, but it’s unlikely he’ll have the same type of efficiency all series. Furthermore, Young is the orchestrator of the offense. Who will become that guy if he can’t go? His 9.5 assists per game average this postseason has been critical in keeping the Hawks’ offense running smoothly. Being a young team without their star, it could end up being too much for the Hawks despite their impressive win in Game 4.

Decision time: Which team needs their star more?

Out of the two teams, it’s obvious the Bucks need Giannis more than the Hawks need Young. The time he was out of Game 4 was alarming for many reasons. The Bucks couldn’t stop the Hawks without Young, their offense was almost non-existent, and once again, Middleton didn’t step up when needed. Those three things show that Giannis is too important of a piece for Milwaukee to be without.

The Hawks may be younger, and Young may be more special offensively, but Antentokounmpo is the glue that holds the Bucks team together. When he’s out, it hard for them to generate offense from others, which is a huge concern. If Game 4 was any indication of how the Bucks will play without Giannis, they need him back as soon as possible.