It has been confirmed that Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be available for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their first-round clash against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. This also confirms the fact that Damian Lillard will need to carry much of the load on offense for the undermanned Bucks.
Milwaukee star Khris Middleton, however, has warned his team about the inherent risks involved in Lillard having to lead his team against a feisty Indiana side.
Milwaukee Bucks News: Khris Middleton Delivers Damian Lillard Warning
Speaking to reporters ahead of Game 1, Middleton acknowledged how much he’s looking forward to Lillard leading the charge. At the same time, however, the three-time All-Star sent the Bucks a stern reminder about needing to support Lillard in this gargantuan task:
“He’s a big-time performer. I think a lot of people know that,” Middleton said of Lillard. “I’m excited to play alongside him. Let him lead the charge and we all follow behind him.
“But at the same time, as great as a player as he is, we have to help him make the game easy for him. We don’t want him to think he has to carry the load by himself. We want him to be aggressive. We want him to be who he is, but also we want to make the game easy for him. And the only way we can do that is we have to play a complete game also. … Not say he’s got to play 48 minutes and make every single shot. I mean, that’s going to be a lot to carry for him.”
"I'm excited to play alongside him. Let him lead the charge and we all follow behind him." — Khris Middleton @melaniebricks has details on Milwaukee empowering Damian Lillard as leader of the #Bucks playoff run. #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/Vl16YBYqrk
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) April 21, 2024
Middleton, in particular, will need to step up offensively to help Lillard out. He’s going to be Milwaukee’s second-best player on the floor, and he will likely have more chances available with the Pacers’ defense gravitating toward Lillard.
The Bucks have been without Giannis in the Playoffs in the past, and they have proven that they can succeed without their cornerstone superstar. They will need to do it again on Sunday, and perhaps beyond.
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