As they prepare to face the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of their First Round series, the Milwaukee Bucks will be missing both of their eight-time All-Stars. Prior to Game 4, the Bucks announced that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will be out tonight.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are both listed as out for tonight’s game.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 28, 2024
Antetokounmpo’s injury status comes as no shock. Still ailing from a soleus injury he sustained at the end of the regular season, he’s yet to be available in the playoffs. Lillard’s being ruled out isn’t exactly world-shattering news either. The 33-year-old re-injured his Achilles in Game 3.
Yet, with both Antetokounmpo and Lillard out, the Bucks now have to rely on Khris Middleton to get them through at least the next game. Middleton is injured himself, sustaining an ankle sprain in Game 2.
As a result, the Bucks find themselves in an unforeseen position.
Will Bucks’ Latest Injury Report Lead to Unforeseen Circumstance?
The Bucks aren’t placing their hopes in the hands of their best player. They’re not even putting them in those of the superstar that they acquired shortly before the season began. They’re asking the aging star who’s been battling injuries for the past two years to carry them.
Averaging 26.7 points per game in the playoffs after averaging 15.1 points per game in the regular season, Middleton may already be stretched to his limits. Indeed, his current scoring average is a playoff career-high. For one game, he may be able to muster the strength to carry the Bucks past the Pacers alone. Yet, the likelihood of that frankly seems low, especially as Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has rarely given minutes to the young players that little Milwaukee’s bench.
Consequently, it’s necessary to consider the possibility that Milwaukee is facing a 3-1 deficit in their First Round by the end of the night.
If that occurs, the Bucks then have to defeat the Pacers in three straight games to advance to the next round. By then, Middleton and Lillard may feel a bit better. Perhaps even Antetokounmpo. Nonetheless, Indiana has two of the best players in the league on their side. Even if Milwaukee is completely healthy, they may not defeat Indiana three times in a row.
If not, what’s next for Milwaukee?
Changes or Continuity?
When the Bucks made the trade for Lillard, they couldn’t have thought they would be bounced from the First Round. Not from an upcoming team like the Pacers no less. Furthermore, although they can look at the mounting injuries as an obstacle that was too big to overcome, Milwaukee has to consider the fact that they weren’t looking too hot entering the playoffs.
17-19 under Rivers in the regular season, the Bucks didn’t have the success that they expected with the former Coach of the Year after hiring him to replace first-year head coach Adrian Griffin.
With the questions surrounding their performance under Rivers, the Bucks have to at least consider another coaching change. Aside from Rivers going away from young players that helped Milwaukee be successful early on, Antetokounmpo has been as stressed as ever. That’s as likely to be because of the constant coaching change as it is because of the losing. That said, the Bucks have to decide whether to give Rivers another shot with a full offseason or to bring in a head coach that can invigorate the locker room and develop their young talent.
Furthermore, neither Lillard nor Middleton are getting younger, and are less durable than years past. If they’re going to be Antetokounmpo’s sidekicks, Milwaukee needs a safety net. Another season of them being at the mercy of injury-prone stars puts them in a precarious situation, both in short-term and long run. That means the Bucks either need to acquire perimeter scorer or rapidly develop one.
Could Giannis Force a Trade?
It’s difficult to imagine Antetokounmpo willingly going through multiple seasons like the Bucks’ 2023-24 campaign. As he can enter free agency in 2027, it’s imperative that the Bucks show themselves to be on more stable footing. It’s within reason that he makes a trade request after the 2025-26 season if not.
