The slow 2-8 start of the Milwaukee Bucks was well-documented, and rumors started flying about the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Fast forward to late January, and the Bucks just had a five-game win streak end, are 8-2 in their last 10 and have significantly closed the gap on the top three in the Eastern Conference.
Lillard has had back-to-back brilliant performances, and the two-man game with Giannis continues to grow as the Milwaukee Bucks continue not to be written off from the title-contending conversation. Milwaukee may have fallen to the Clippers in LA on Sunday, but the overall change in performances is nothing but a positive, and Damian Lillard is looking at his best since he was traded to Wisconsin in the summer of 2023.
Lillard showing exactly why the Bucks can contend for a title
The veteran point guard has registered back-to-back triple-doubles against the Clippers and Miami Heat. Following a debate over the claiming of a rebound on Thursday in Miami, the NBA overturned what was initially given as a rebound to Lillard, ensuring that he finished with 29 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to record his first triple-double as a Buck. He followed up that performance with a 29-10-10 performance in LA on Sunday.
Lillard has been having a great season, averaging 25.2 points, 7.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and a steal per game on shooting splits of .447/.383/.924. Every single stat is an improvement on his first season in Milwaukee, which was a down year and led to criticism over the trade, compounded by the Boston Celtics winning the title with Jrue Holiday on their roster.
The triple-doubles show the impact Lillard is now having as he continues to find his stride in Milwaukee. What the Bucks need from him is to be the superstar we all know he is, and if he can get close to those Trail Blazers performances, it will be tough to face the Bucks in seven games.
Giannis missed the playoffs last season, and Lillard was playing injured, yet still showed how good he is by averaging 31.3 points while shooting 42 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from deep.
Defensively, Lillard has stepped up a level, and he deserves credit for that. The starting backcourt with Andre Jackson Jr. has allowed Lillard to not be so relied on defending opposing guards, but he has still shown great hustle and ability to stay in front of players. He is holding opponents to 47 percent shooting, and the "lack of defense" argument is becoming a lazy comment.
The upcoming All-Star game in San Francisco will not see Lillard as a starter, but the votes showed he was not too far behind Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell for a spot in the backcourt. We know Jackson will be competing at the festivities, and we may see Lillard and Giannis cheering him on or even assisting him as he shows off his dunking prowess. Lillard, Taurean Prince and AJ Green are all in with a shout of competing in the 3-point contest.
Lillard has shown he still has the superstar ability and he will be key to any success the Milwaukee Bucks will have in the postseason.
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