Just a month ago, it seemed Damian Lillard`s season might be over after a diagnosis of a blood clot in his right calf. However, following a remarkable recovery, Lillard was cleared to play and returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday night as the Milwaukee Bucks faced the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Lillard`s much-anticipated return was a positive sign for the Bucks, who had appeared outmatched without him in a 19-point loss in Game 1. Yet, even with the nine-time All-Star back, it wasn`t enough as the Bucks lost 123-115, falling into an 0-2 series deficit.
In Game 1, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but no other player managed more than 15 points, with two starters scoring none. On Tuesday, Lillard`s mere presence had an immediate effect.
Within the first few possessions, the Pacers double-teamed Lillard, allowing him to create a wide-open 3-pointer for Brook Lopez on a pick-and-pop. The Pacers were forced to pay constant close attention to Lillard and pressure him across the court all game, which in turn generated space and opportunities for Antetokounmpo and the rest of the team.
Although Lillard didn`t have a standout individual scoring night (14 points, 7 assists on 4-of-13 shooting), his presence significantly eased the offensive burden on his teammates. It`s no surprise the Bucks` offense looked much better; after failing to reach 100 points in Game 1, they scored 115 in Game 2, shooting 50.6% from the field overall and 40% from three-point range.
Unfortunately for the Bucks, Lillard`s return doesn`t solve their most significant challenge.
Bucks continue to be plagued by weak defense
On the defensive end, the Bucks simply cannot prevent opponents from driving past them. The Pacers, with their quick guards and preference for pushing the pace whenever possible, are a particularly difficult matchup for Milwaukee in this regard.
Even at his best, Lillard is not known as a high-level defender. In his first game action in over a month, he was clearly not up to speed defensively. While he wasn`t the sole reason for the Bucks` defensive struggles, he certainly had several difficult moments on Tuesday.
Following the game, Bucks coach Doc Rivers specifically pointed out his starters` inability to provide sufficient resistance, particularly at the point of attack.
“Defensively, getting beat off the dribble,” Rivers said when asked about the unit`s biggest issue. “And it`s everyone.”
Rivers reinforced this point later in the press conference.
“We didn`t contain the ball much at all tonight. Defensively, aside from our initial start, it was our failure to contain the ball off the dribble,” Rivers commented. “They ran, I believe, after four timeouts, plays designed simply to get the ball in and attack. There was no complex play because they trust their players to beat ours off the dribble. So we need to do a much better job.”
Repeatedly throughout the game, the Pacers easily penetrated the paint, leading to either scores or opportunities for wide-open shots.
Lillard, for his part, attributed the defensive problems primarily to poor communication.
“Tonight we switched almost everything; there was a lot of switching, and that demands a high level of communication,” Lillard stated. “When you switch, you create mismatches, and you need players to `scram out,` rotate, be aware, and constantly communicate. It has to happen all the time.”
“If there`s a lapse in communication, or if one or two players don`t speak up, and two defenders follow someone cutting, you leave a player open on the perimeter for a shot. When you switch frequently, it increases the likelihood of these kinds of breakdowns. I thought that was our main problem,” he concluded.
This lack of defensive awareness was evident throughout the night. Here`s an example where Lillard himself is beaten for an alley-oop because he lost track of Obi Toppin on a switch.
Lillard will likely have better shooting performances and improve his game shape as the series progresses after his long absence. The Bucks may even win a game or two driven by their offensive talent. However, as the well-known cliché goes, defense wins championships.
The Bucks are unlikely to win a championship this season, or even advance from this series, because they are simply not good enough defensively, whether Lillard is on the court or not.
Jasper Hawthorne