Things only got tougher for the Milwaukee Bucks following their 1-4 start.
They played tremendously against the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers but fell after Donovan Mitchell sunk a last-second shot to win the game 114-113.
Coming into the season, lots of talk was about the chemistry of star duo Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, especially after Lillard said the two didn't link up over the summer but had stayed in touch throughout. We have seen moments of the two working well together, but Sunday night was the first time the two really showed how elite they both are and set the tone for the rest of the team.
Other areas of the team clearly need to be worked on, but at least the top two are showing how good the Milwaukee Bucks can be if the role players can chip in more.
Lillard and Giannis looked excellent against the unbeaten Cavs
Lillard led the game in scoring with 41 points, going with four rebounds and nine assists while tying a franchise record with 10 3-pointers on a sublime 66.7 percent shooting from deep. Giannis was second in scoring, adding 34 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists on 55.6 percent from the field.
Prior to the game-winner, Lillard pulled up from mid-range to give Milwaukee the lead and despite how the game finished, the two gelling is a real positive. This can be leaned on as the Bucks look to get their second win of the season and snap a dreaded five-game losing streak.
Both the superstars did their thing, but one of the game's highlights was an absurd no-look behind-the-back pass from Giannis to find Lillard in the corner for a wide-open three. When Giannis is attracting the attention he does from a team as good as the Cavs, it creates opportunities like this for Lillard and vice versa, with the point guard being deadly from the perimeter.
At times this season, it has felt like the two take turns to run the offense, and it has led to a lack of flow and creativity, specifically in the half-court offense. However, like Sunday, when both are on the same page, the Milwaukee Bucks have a chance of beating anyone. Cleveland was ultimately the better team and showed why they sit atop the Eastern Conference with a 7-0 record.
Despite this, the defeat showed that the Milwaukee Bucks need more from the rest of the roster, and you can say it will change when Khris Middleton returns, but to overcome those at the top of the East, they will need the bench unit and other starters to contribute. Relying on the top two to combine for 75 points is great, but for the remaining 76 games of the season, it won't be sustainable.
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