Milwaukee Bucks star Point Guard Damian Lillard is expected to miss at least Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs with a blood clot in his right calf. When will he return to the court and how will he play?
No Slowing Down for Milwaukee
Lillard was sidelined in mid-March after swelling was noticed in his calf. It was later determined that the Bucks had discovered a blood clot, and he was sidelined indefinitely. In the 14 games Lillard has missed, the Bucks have gone 10-4, including an 8-game winning streak to end the season.
Milwaukee Head Coach Doc Rivers stated earlier this month that he was optimistic that the 9x All-Star guard would be back sometime soon. “There’s no guarantee we are going to have him,” Rivers said on April 3. “We get him back, we know how to play. But we don’t know how to play in the long term without him… So we got work to do.”
What the Absence Of Lillard Means For the Bucks
The Bucks have been continuing their high level of play without their star point guard in the lineup. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been carrying the team in Lillard’s absence. He has averaged 31.2 points, 8.6 assists, and 11.2 rebounds in 11 games.
In April, Antetokounmpo has averaged a triple-double on very efficient shooting numbers. The Bucks are matched up with a smoking-hot Pacers team who have won 8 of their last 10 and have the third-best record in the NBA when playing at home.
With Lillard missing Game 1 and potentially more time, midseason trade acquisition Kyle Kuzma will see a bigger role and must step up if the Bucks want a chance at advancing to the next round. Kuzma has averaged 15.5 points since Lillard has been out.
Final Thoughts
The Bucks have looked fine without their star point guard. You could even say they’ve looked more impressive than they have all year. With Antetokounmpo absorbing most of the offensive possessions, Milwaukee has looked fantastic, but this is the NBA Playoffs. Every minute matters in every game. Facing a potent Pacers team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals last year isn’t remotely close to an easy task. Depending on Lillard’s comeback timeline, the Pacers could cruise to victory at home in the first two games.
