Bucks Rocked by Lillard’s Shocking Injury: Playoff Hopes Hang in the Balance

The Milwaukee Bucks have relied on Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo as their offensive cornerstones throughout the season. Despite the ups and downs under head coach Doc Rivers, the team always pointed to their All-Star duo as a reason for optimism, especially with the playoffs approaching. However, their plans took a serious hit with the news that Lillard will be out indefinitely due to deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) in his right calf. With just over three weeks left until the postseason, the Bucks must quickly adapt to this significant loss.

Milwaukee has played 13 games without Lillard this season, going 8-5 in his absence. According to Cleaning the Glass, their lineups without him have been a net positive, outscoring opponents by 3.9 points per 100 possessions over 2,453 possessions. While their offensive efficiency has dropped (ranking in the 54th percentile at 114.9 points per 100 possessions), their defense has stepped up, allowing only 111.0 points per 100 possessions—good for the 81st percentile.

With Lillard unavailable, Milwaukee will need to lean even more on their defensive identity. Since the All-Star break, the Bucks have struggled offensively, ranking just 18th in the league in offensive rating over their last 18 games. However, their defense has remained elite, posting the NBA’s third-best defensive rating during that span.

Antetokounmpo emphasized that defense must be the team’s priority moving forward. Following a 108-106 loss to the Phoenix Suns, he made it clear that scoring alone won’t be enough to win. “Really, I don’t care about offense,” he said. “We can score the ball and still win the game. We have to play defense.”

The former MVP stressed the importance of effort, teamwork, and embracing physicality. He recalled their gritty 86-83 win over the Brooklyn Nets in the 2021 playoffs as an example of how the Bucks can still find success. “We have a team that can muck up the game. We can be more physical. We can push guys out of their spots,” he said.

With 11 games left in the regular season, Milwaukee has little time to adjust, but Antetokounmpo believes they have the pieces to make it work. The road ahead will be challenging, but if the Bucks can channel their defensive prowess, they may still have a shot at a deep playoff run.