The Milwaukee Bucks’ 119-104 loss to the Atlanta Hawks exposed a glaring issue in their offensive execution: repeatedly overlooking Damian Lillard, one of the NBA’s most lethal shooters. Lillard, who has been exceptional from beyond the arc, was left wide open eight times during the game without receiving a pass. This troubling trend highlights potential chemistry and decision-making issues within the Bucks’ lineup.
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Damian Lillard finished the game with 25 points on an efficient 8-14 shooting, including 5-9 from three-point range. This marked his seventh consecutive game with at least 20 points and multiple threes made. Over the past four games, Lillard has been shooting an elite 54.8% from beyond the arc, solidifying himself as one of the league’s premier perimeter threats. Despite his shooting streak, his teammates frequently overlooked him, passing up opportunities to capitalize on his hot hand.
Lillard has been the epitome of consistency this season. He is averaging 25.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game while shooting 45.1% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range. Lillard is attempting 9.3 three-pointers per game and making 3.5 of them, numbers that underscore his value as a high-volume and highly efficient perimeter scorer.
Despite this, the Bucks’ offense repeatedly failed to find him when he was open. Teammates like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, AJ Green, Pat Connaughton, and Taurean Prince passed up clear opportunities to get Lillard the ball. This lack of awareness or unwillingness to make the extra pass squandered the contributions of a player who has been nothing short of elite, especially on a night when Milwaukee desperately needed his scoring touch.
The lack of ball movement to Lillard was especially egregious on a night when the Bucks struggled offensively, shooting just 42% from the field and 33% from three. Atlanta capitalized on Milwaukee’s stagnant offense with a 30-12 advantage in fast-break points and a 64-34 dominance in points in the paint. While Giannis led the team with 30 points, his efforts weren’t enough to compensate for the failure to utilize Lillard effectively.
Lillard’s role as the second offensive option behind Giannis is clear, but games like this highlight the need for better synergy. His presence on the floor is supposed to open up the offense, forcing defenses to pick their poison. Yet, when his teammates fail to involve him, the Bucks squander the unique advantage his shooting provides.
The overlooked opportunities raise questions about the team’s chemistry and decision-making under pressure. Giannis, the team’s leader, and other key players must take responsibility for ensuring the ball gets to the right hands at the right time. Passing up a red-hot Lillard in favor of contested shots or forced drives is counterproductive, especially in high-stakes games against playoff-caliber opponents.
This is not the first time the Bucks have struggled with integrating Lillard effectively. Since his arrival, finding the right balance between Giannis’ dominance in the paint and Lillard’s perimeter game has been a work in progress. However, ignoring one of the league’s most reliable scorers during critical moments is a recipe for frustration and underperformance.
The Bucks’ coaching staff, led by Doc Rivers, must address this issue immediately. Players need to improve their situational awareness and ensure Lillard is fully integrated into the offensive flow. Whether through film study, improved communication, or a more structured offense, the Bucks cannot afford to waste Lillard’s talents.
Milwaukee’s 11-10 record and recent struggles show the team still has work to do to contend in the Eastern Conference. Damian Lillard’s ability to shoot the lights out is a gift the Bucks cannot afford to squander, and his teammates must recognize that every open look he gets is an opportunity to dominate. If the Bucks want to achieve their championship aspirations, ensuring Lillard is fully utilized should be a top priority.
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