In an effort to assist the Milwaukee Bucks win another championship, Damian Lillard committed to give it his all. The former top player for the Portland Trail Blazers informed reporters that his only concern was finishing the task at hand. Due to Lillard’s collaboration with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the previously strong club is now even more of a favorite to contend for the NBA title.
But things haven’t been easy for the dominant team in the Eastern Conference. Lillard appeared to be clumsy in Milwaukee’s system, especially on the offensive end where many had assumed his arrival would be easy. He appeared to be a spectator in a couple of the games this season.
In the end, the Bucks fired first-year head coach Adrian Griffin despite their 30-13 record. Another one concerning Damian Lillard quickly surfaced after the first one. According to “The Athletic,” Lillard “struggled” with Griffin’s offensive scheme. Milwaukee must have concluded that the player is not performing at the caliber that the NBA has come to expect from him.
Basketball enthusiasts on X (formerly Twitter) responded swiftly to the report of Lillard’s struggles acclimating to the offense:
“Giannis and the dame are amazing.”
This season, the Milwaukee Bucks have relied heavily on their offense to get by. It should come as no surprise that losing Jrue Holiday has damaged them defensively. They’ve developed into a team that defeats opponents with a flurry of points.
The Bucks are 21st in defensive efficiency but second in offensive rating. If Damian Lillard or Giannis Antetokounmpo has a bad game, they might easily find themselves in danger. They haven’t always been saved by their defense. The playoffs will be considerably more difficult, and Milwaukee came to the conclusion that Griffin wasn’t the right candidate.
Prior to the season, Adrian Griffin’s primary assistant was Terry Stotts, who coached Damian Lillard for over ten years in Portland. Before Stotts departed in October, he was expected to be the team’s offensive coordinator after he was allegedly shouted at by Griffin. Stotts brought with him a wealth of information regarding the habits and preferences of the star point guard.
It will take Griffin’s replacement about two months to execute what the Bucks believed the outgoing head coach couldn’t. It might not be simple, though, to have a fresh player take over and get Damian Lillard comfortable on offense during that time.