Last season was undoubtedly a bumpy one for Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks. After Milwaukee unexpectedly traded for the star point guard right before the start of the season, many thought they would immediately be dominant, but that was not the case.
Lillard took longer than anticipated to acclimate to the new team, and he openly admitted to it being a struggle. He was living in a new city, playing a new role alongside a new superstar, dealing with some personal issues and was not in the best shape after barely working out during the offseason to prevent injury prior to a trade.
Lillard wasn't horrible last season by any means, but he was definitely a bit disappointing in his first season in Milwaukee. Many hoped that his second season would be a lot smoother and he would look more like the player he was in Portland. And so far, he has delivered, putting up improved numbers across the board, meshing better with Giannis Antetokounmpo and playing like one of the best point guards in the league again.
No. 1 - Shooting efficiency
One of the biggest struggles Lillard had last season was with poor shooting efficiency. He shot just 42.4 percent from the field (his worst since 2015) and 35.4 percent from three (his worst since 2014). His overall shooting numbers from the field were not where they needed to be, and he went through several long stretches of poor shooting.
Well, so far this season, his numbers are much improved from an efficiency standpoint. He is up to 45.4 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from three so far this year, both numbers that are more in line with what we have become accustomed to seeing from him over the years.
And many like to focus just on his 3-point shooting (which is improved this season), but his 2-point percentage also jumped from 49 percent last season (his worst since 2015) to 54 percent this season (second best of his career).
Here is a look at Lillard's shooting numbers from each area of the floor last season compared to this season:
Last season | This season | |
|---|---|---|
Restricted area | 60.0 percent | 62.0 percent |
Paint | 52.1 percent | 57.1 percent |
Midrange | 40.8 percent | 48.2 percent |
3-point | 35.4 percent | 37.2 percent |
As you can see, his efficiency is up across the board. As a result, his overall effective field goal percentage has gone from 51 percent (below league average) to 55.1 percent (above league average), and his true shooting percentage has risen from 59 percent (slightly above league average) to 62.6 percent (well above league average).
Damian Lillard is always going to put up solid points and assists totals, but the key to him being a more effective player is his shooting efficiency, and he has vastly improved that area of his game compared to last season. When he is putting up his usual scoring and assist totals while also being efficient, he is one of the best point guards in the entire NBA.
No. 2 - Consistency
Another thing many fans wanted to see from Damian Lillard in his first season in Milwaukee was more consistency. Like any player, particularly shooters, he is prone to some off-games and cold stretches, but they seemed to happen too often with the Milwaukee Bucks last season.
Well, so far this season, Lillard has cleaned up his consistency and limited his number of poor performances.
Last season, Lillard shot under 40 percent from the field in 31 out of his 73 games (42 percent of games). But so far this season, he has done so in just five out of 21 games (24 percent of games). He has nearly cut the frequency of those bad games in half.
Also, Damian Lillard made five or fewer shots in 21 games last season compared to just four so far this season, and he scored under 14 points eight times last season, something he has done just once this season.
The poor performances from the star are happening less often, and he definitely seems more reliable so far in his second season. The Milwaukee Bucks need to count on him for offense, and his consistency will be something that makes a big difference in their long-term success.
No. 3 - Playmaking
Damian Lillard was a really good playmaker for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, but he is having an even better season as a passer this year.
He is currently averaging 7.6 assists per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA and is the second-highest average of his career. He has been great at setting the table for this Bucks team. Lillard already has six games this season with double-digit assists, putting him halfway to his total from all of last season.
Looking at some other numbers, Lillard is averaging 13.3 "potential assists" this season (compared to 11.9 last season), and he is creating 19.7 assist points per game off of his passes (compared to 17.9 last season).
His passing to Giannis Antetokounmpo specifically has improved, as he is averaging 2.6 assists per game to Giannis compared to 2.1 last season. Their chemistry appears to be growing stronger as they get more repetition together.
Overall, Damian Lillard's passing and playmaking have gotten even better from last season, and he has been a fantastic floor general who has helped this Bucks offense start to take off lately.
When Lillard has 10 or more assists, the Bucks are 16-2 in the last two seasons and 6-0 this season, so clearly, when his playmaking is at its best, it leads to the Bucks playing their best basketball.
Damian Lillard has been much more like the Damian Lillard we are used to in his second season in Milwaukee. His efficiency, consistency and playmaking are all key areas that appear to be fueling his bounce-back season and will make a big difference for Milwaukee in their quest for a championship.