With Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the Milwaukee Bucks‘ NBA Cup battle with the Miami Warmth on Tuesday, Damian Lillard knew the offense trusted him. Within the first quarter, it virtually utterly did.
Lillard scored 17 of his crew’s first 22 factors, hitting his first 5 photographs and a trio of free throws. He was 4-for-5 from deep, and did not miss a shot till seven minutes into the sport.
When he wasn’t scoring, he was passing to the Milwaukee teammate who did, aiding on the primary three Bucks baskets not sunk by him.
A yr into the partnership between Lillard and Antetokounmpo, the match remains to be uneasy. Primarily as a result of each gamers are most snug initiating offense with the ball of their fingers. One component to Lillard’s drop-off after leaving Portland is that he is needed to modify from attending to — and having to — carry your entire offense himself.
With the Greek Freak out, the ball-dominant Lillard thrived Tuesday night time, not hesitating to prepare dinner defenders in isolation and bomb away from deep. That is not the easiest way to maximise Antetokounmpo, a dominating paint participant, nevertheless it’s most likely Lillard’s favourite option to play. He is superb at it.
In his sideline interview after the primary quarter, Lillard explaining, “I have been scoring the ball a very long time.”
The scoring spree additionally might have been resulting from Lillard’s pleasure at taking part in in Miami, his most popular vacation spot after requesting a commerce final summer season. As a substitute, the Portland Path Blazers surprisingly despatched him to Milwaukee as a substitute.
It is not ridiculous that Lillard might ultimately find yourself in South Seaside, particularly if the Bucks proceed to hold across the .500 mark. In spite of everything, the Warmth have their very own high-priced participant in Jimmy Butler, who could possibly be traded, as he can choose out of his contract after the season.
In spite of everything, he went to varsity in Marquette, a school positioned in … Milwaukee.
