With Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the Milwaukee Bucks‘ NBA Cup battle with the Miami Warmth on Tuesday, Damian Lillard knew the offense relied on him. Within the first quarter, it virtually utterly did.
Lillard scored 17 of his group’s first 22 factors, hitting his first 5 pictures and a trio of free throws. He was 4-for-5 from deep, and did not miss a shot till seven minutes into the sport.
When he wasn’t scoring, he was passing to the Milwaukee teammate who did, helping on the primary three Bucks baskets not sunk by him.
A yr into the partnership between Lillard and Antetokounmpo, the match continues to be uneasy. Primarily as a result of each gamers are most snug initiating offense with the ball of their fingers. One ingredient to Lillard’s drop-off after leaving Portland is that he is needed to alter from attending to — and having to — carry the whole offense himself.
With the Greek Freak out, the ball-dominant Lillard thrived Tuesday night time, not hesitating to prepare dinner defenders in isolation and bomb away from deep. That is not one of the best ways to maximise Antetokounmpo, a dominating paint participant, however it’s in all probability Lillard’s favourite strategy to play. He is superb at it.
In his sideline interview after the primary quarter, Lillard explaining, “I have been scoring the ball a very long time.”
The scoring spree additionally could have been on account of Lillard’s pleasure at taking part in in Miami, his most popular vacation spot after requesting a commerce final summer time. As an alternative, the Portland Path Blazers surprisingly despatched him to Milwaukee as a substitute.
It isn’t ridiculous that Lillard might ultimately find yourself in South Seaside, particularly if the Bucks proceed to hold across the .500 mark. In spite of everything, the Warmth have their very own high-priced participant in Jimmy Butler, who might be traded, as he can decide out of his contract after the season.
In spite of everything, he went to varsity in Marquette, a school situated in … Milwaukee.
