The Milwaukee Bucks had to dig deep against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. The shorthanded Bulls really gave them a run for their money, which resulted in a captivating overtime contest that saw Milwaukee escape by the skin of their teeth.
A win is a win, though, and the Bucks will be more than happy to add another notch in the win column after defeating their Central Division foes, 133-129.
Damian Lillard Vocal on Milwaukee Bucks’ Team Effort Vs. Bulls
Damian Lillard did not have the best of games on Monday. He had another poor shooting night, going just 3-of-17 from the field and 2-of-9 from distance for 14 points. Dame’s playmaking was on full display, though, especially late in the game, with the seven-time All-Star finishing with a team-high nine assists to salvage an otherwise forgettable evening.
With Lillard struggling to find his stroke, the rest of the Bucks stepped it up on the offensive end. Milwaukee saw no less than seven players finish in double digits in this one, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way with 32 points on a very efficient 9-of-13 from the field.
Brook Lopez (19), Malik Beasley (19), Bobby Portis (17), Khris Middleton (13), and even AJ Green (12) all got in on the action as well.
After the game, Lillard spoke out about having so many weapons on offense — something that has alleviated the pressure from him in terms of needing to do much of the heavy lifting on scoring every single night:
“That’s the beauty of being on a really good team,” Lillard said, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “It was not a situation where I have to – obviously I’m not going to get shy, I’m not going to shy away – but I don’t have to feel the pressure ‘I have to do something.’ If I see Brook popping back, I can make that play and he’s a great player, too, and it’s a good play for our team if he makes that shot. If I see Giannis running ahead in transition or in the pocket, or if I pass it ahead to Khris or if Khris is bringing the ball up, these are all good opportunities for us because you’re playing with good players. So, that was it. It’s a luxury. But I think that’s just part of being on a good team where you understand the situation.”
It also takes an excellent playmaker and a true leader to know when to take a step back for the good of the team. Unlike his time with the Portland Trail Blazers when Dame had to dominate every single night, Lillard can now afford to let his teammates carry the scoring burden every now and again.
As he made abundantly clear, however, Damian Lillard still isn’t going to shy away from being the go-to guy. Not now. Not ever.
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