The Milwaukee Bucks haven’t looked like their usual selves all season.
In the beginning, this was due to the arrival of scorer Damian Lillard, the absence of mainstay Khris Middleton, and a different approach to their base defense. Eight months from the start of the season and not much has changed. Lillard still hasn’t gotten acclimated to the city or the team. Middleton has played 52 games but is now back out of the lineup.
A familiar defensive coverage has been installed, thanks to Doc Rivers. Rivers has even sought out ways to make Lillard more comfortable offensively. However, they’re just 15-17 under the veteran coach after going 30-13 with his predecessor.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard Reveal Biggest Challenge Amid Struggles
Following their latest loss, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke at length about the team’s energy amid their struggles.
“It’s almost like we’re going through the motions,” Antetokounmpo asserts, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Eric Nehm. Reeling off his and his teammate’s post-play celebrations, he notes they’ve been conspicuously absent.
“We gotta find our joy back,” he concludes.
Lillard also spoke at length about the team’s attitude in the face of adversity. To him, these moments reveal people’s true character.
For his part, he’s a believer.
“I see Giannis, Khris (Middleton), Bobby (Portis) and Brook (Lopez) and Jae (Crowder) and Pat (Connaughton), [Malik Beasley]. When I look around, I just have a true belief in what we have, our experience, how long we’ve been around,” Lillard says.
“And when this kind of stuff happens, everybody’s going to say how bad it is. And ‘This is the problem.’ (or) ‘They gotta do this; they gotta do that.’ But when you just keep fighting in these situations, you never know when it’s going to turn.”
“And I know that sometimes it gets dark,” Lillard continues. “This league is a tough league. Sometimes you have hard times. And I think that’s what it is for us.”
“That’s why you gotta stay together, you gotta keep believing,” he implores.
“That’s what we’re going to learn about ourselves going into the playoffs, based on the experience that we having right now.”
Lillard also believes that “these are the moments where you find out who’s a real one and who’s not, because everybody’s going to be saying negative stuff and how wrong it is and how bad it is, and you can fold or not fold.”
Last Word on the Bucks’ Spirit
The 2024 NBA Playoffs start in two weeks (Apr. 20). With that said, it’s concerning that the Bucks still need a pep rally to get motivated. Nonetheless, winning in the NBA is difficult, and it can be just as challenging to clear psychological hurdles.
