By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Missing Damian Lillard has been a challenge for the Milwaukee Bucks, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 89 points over the last two contests.
“Obviously, the communication is hard,” admitted the Freak after his side dropped the game versus the Orlando Magic in Amway Center on Saturday, “You don’t have your guy. To give him the ball and go to your spot, and have him make a play for himself or the team.”
Antetokounmpo, 28, tallied 35 points, ten rebounds, and seven assists on NBA Saturdays. He averaged 44.5 points per game in two losses in a row since Lillard was placed on the injury list with a sore left calf.
“This is not who we are. This is not the Milwaukee Bucks,” he reacted to the defensive effort in Orlando and overall performance through the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season, “We gotta guard people.”
“And it starts with me,” he stressed, “It starts with the leader of the team. I gotta be better. But again, it’s not one person can do it alone. Defensively, we gotta show more. Make our paint look more crowded. Make the lanes look more crowded. Don’t allow guys to get comfortable and guys to be able to get downhill.”
The two losses on the road forced the Bucks down to 5-4 and in a four-way tie stretching from the fourth to the seventh seed of the Eastern Conference. Returning to Fiserv Forum, they will face the Chicago Bulls on Monday.
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