A big-time reinforcement is on the way.
Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard is returning to the hardwood to play in Tuesday’s Game 2 of the team’s first-round playoff series against their rival Indiana Pacers. Lillard, who was upgraded to questionable on Monday, has not played in over a month, since March 18 to be exact, because of deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in his right calf, but has made a speedy recovery.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers told the media on Monday that Lillard was a full participant in practice with the team earlier that day and had gone through live scrimmages in each of the past two days.
“He’s close,” Rivers said. “He looks great to me.”
When Lillard was initially diagnosed with a blood clot in his calf in mid-March, he was put on a regiment of blood-thinning medication and ruled out indefinitely. CBS Sports’ Bill Reiter reported at the time, though, that there was quite a bit of optimism that Lillard would be able to make a return this season. Now, it appears that Lillard will do just that, possibly as soon as Game 2 in ‘Nap Town’.
“We’re thrilled for Dame,” Bucks GM Jon Horst said in a statement on April 17. “Our priority has always been Dame’s health. Every step of Dame’s recovery has been at the direction of world-class medical professionals and their specific and strict protocols that have allowed for Dame’s safe and healthy return to play.”
Embed from Getty ImagesLillard’s return, whenever it comes, will be a major upgrade for a Bucks team that was outplayed by the Pacers in Game 1 on Saturday afternoon. While Giannis Antetokounmpo did his part as a leader, putting up 36 points and 12 rebounds, his supporting cast did not show up to help him and no one else on the Bucks scored more than 15 points and two starters, Kyle Kuzma and Taurean Prince, went scoreless.
“I thought our offense was awful,” Rivers said after the defeat. “I thought our offense contributed as much to our defense as anything. We just didn’t play the way we’ve played during this stretch offensively… We’re not gonna beat them when we have 98 points. We’re not gonna beat them when we have 15 assists and 10 turnovers. We’re just not. We gotta get back to our spacing, playing downhill and moving the ball.”
Lillard is one of the best guards in the NBA and will help elevate a lot of those problems. Not only will he give the Bucks an elite shot maker that the Pacers will have to respect, but his ability to drive the ball into the paint and create for himself and his teammates will test and stretch the Pacers’ defense in new ways.
It is crucial to remember that Lillard has not played in over a month and was only cleared for full basketball activities a few days ago. Even from a simple cardio standpoint, he may not be able to deliver his usual impact right away. Still, having Lillard presence on the court in any capacity is far better than the alternative for the Bucks as they try to avoid being eliminated by their Central Division rivals for the second consecutive postseason.
