4 Milwaukee Bucks' preseason takeaways and stats that should spread optimism

Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo's continued dominance 

In the first quarter minutes their starters played together, the Bucks ranked fifth in the league in both offensive rating (94.7) and net rating (net plus-16.5). This impressive performance came without Khris Middleton in the starting lineup and with Giannis Antetokounmpo missing a few games.

Despite extremely limited minutes, Lillard and Giannis still led the Bucks in points per game. Their two-pronged, inside-out attack would wreak havoc against opposing defenses early on in games and saw them handily erecting sizable leads.

While not quite there yet, their chemistry appears to be developing quickly; Lillard's ability to create space and find open shots complements Giannis's driving ability perfectly. The duo’s early success suggests that they can form one of the most potent offensive pairings in the league this season.

We didn't see the vaunted Dame-Giannis pick-and-roll as much as we would have liked, but what we did see was a superstar duo conscious of one another on the court. The schemes were still mostly your-turn-my-turn basketball, but it was clear they now knew just how much spacing advantage they provided one another. We saw a lot more opportunistic moving, whether cutting to the basket or flashing to the wings and getting open for a shot. It's a start.

The Bucks' ability to maintain high offensive efficiency even with key players sidelined speaks volumes about their depth and potential for this upcoming season. With Middleton expected to return soon, Milwaukee's offensive firepower could reach new heights.