“Dame Time” may not apply to the Milwaukee Bucks making a deep postseason run.
The Bucks are in a digital tie for fifth place with the Detroit Pistons in the Jap Convention with 11 video games left in the common season.
The Pistons being tied with Milwaukee is an indication of an enormous rise for Detroit. However the Bucks being knotted with the Pistons is an indication of decline for Milwaukee.
The most recent sign that issues are going to be powerful for Milwaukee is the information that Damian Lillard was recognized with deep vein thrombosis in his proper calf.
Having a blood clot anyplace is a critical medical subject.
Lillard is taking blood-thinning treatment in hopes of resolving the difficulty, however there is no such thing as a clear timetable for his return. The Bucks haven’t introduced an anticipated return date for Lillard.
To this point, Lillard has missed three video games for the Bucks (40-31), who had been anticipated to contend for the highest spot in the Jap Convention this season.
As an alternative, Milwaukee is 17 1/2 video games behind the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard as a stellar combo, a 50-win marketing campaign appeared possible.
But proper now, Milwaukee seems to be like a squad that might be going through a 3rd straight first-round exit.
The percentages of an early exit improve if Lillard doesn’t regain his well being.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was recognized with a blood clot in his shoulder proper after the All-Star break in mid-February and was instantly shut down for the season.
Maybe probably the most evident case of blood clots in the NBA concerned Chris Bosh, who performed his ultimate sport at age 31 on account of a number of episodes. Bosh, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Famer, definitely would have most well-liked to retire on his personal phrases.
As for Milwaukee’s struggles, don’t neglect that the Bucks received the NBA title in the 2020-21 season underneath coach Mike Budenholzer.
Two seasons later, Budenholzer was fired after a 58-win season in which top-seeded Milwaukee misplaced to the eighth-seeded Miami Warmth in the primary spherical.
The next season, Milwaukee fired coach Adrian Griffin with a 30-13 file and put in Doc Rivers as head coach.
The Bucks appeared to regress underneath Rivers, going 17-19 in the common season. Then they went down in the primary spherical once more, falling to the Indiana Pacers in six video games.
Rivers had a full offseason to implement his plan, so there needs to be no excuses. He has Antetokounmpo and Lillard on his roster. Each gamers are nine-time All-Stars, and each coach would really like a duo like that.
It’s protected to say Giannis just isn’t the issue. The 2-time MVP is averaging 30.2 factors, 12.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists whereas at all times giving a top-notch effort.
Lillard is minimize from the identical fabric. He’s averaging 24.9 factors, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds.
However far more is at stake for Lillard. Giannis has his ring.
Lillard pressured his manner out of Portland after 11 seasons when the Path Blazers had been transitioning to a youthful roster. He requested a commerce after Portland used the third total choose in the 2023 draft on Scoot Henderson as a substitute of buying and selling it for a veteran.
Lillard’s greatest objective is successful an NBA title. He has earned loads of cash and accolades. He’ll perpetually be remembered for his 36-foot, buzzer-beating 3-pointer that eradicated the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder from the 2019 playoffs. He scored 50 factors that evening.
Portland was finally eradicated in the Western Convention finals — the furthest development of the Lillard period.
Lillard turns 35 in July, and taking part in 35-plus minutes per sport won’t final perpetually.
He absolutely doesn’t need to make one other transfer. He’s on a workforce with Antetokounmpo, a participant who enhances his fashion.
For no matter purpose, the Bucks will not be clicking. Maybe Rivers just isn’t pushing the proper buttons with the remainder of the roster.
Possibly issues enhance in the subsequent few weeks. Possibly Lillard returns to full well being. You by no means know.
However proper now, it isn’t trying like “Dame Time” in Milwaukee this season.
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