The Milwaukee Bucks were the surprise team that made the trade for Damian Lillard. They have become instant favorites to reach the finals. Lillard seems to be clicking well with his new team. In fact, he calls the duo with him and Bucks teammate Giannis “a cheat code.”
The Bucks were not the first team in mind to acquire Lillard when he requested a trade in the off-season. The Miami Heat were the preferred destination for the former long-time Blazer. Now, being part of the team, he realizes how much easier it could be paired with a fellow superstar.
“I’ve been on the floor during practice,” Lillard said. “It is a process, but it doesn’t take long. The first day, I was really tired. It was the day I spoke to you guys (the second day of training camp). I was really tired that day because it was literally my first time. I don’t even mean, like, ‘Oh I had played some in the summer.’
“I hadn’t played at all, so the first day, I was really tired, but then by the next time I got out there, I felt a lot better. And then the next day, I felt a lot better, and then yesterday (Monday) when we practiced, I felt my best. I didn’t get tired much. I had my legs. I was hitting shots. I was getting to the rim, you know, I had my step. It was like I felt better. So I’ve felt real good as the days have added up. I feel good about whenever I get on the court. I’ll feel good.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo & Milwaukee Bucks Updates
Lillard has not played with a teammate like Giannis. Nicknamed the ‘Greek Freak,’ he has already won a championship and become a Finals MVP at 28. Lillard, on the other hand, has spent his entire career, previous to the Bucks, with a Blazer team that has only gotten to the Conference Finals once in his 11 seasons with the team. That is sure to change for the upcoming year.
“It definitely feels different,” Lillard said. “And it looks different because you got shooters all over the floor, too. You got Beas (Malik Beasley) out there, Brook (Lopez) is out there, Jae (Crowder) has been out there. At one point during the week, Khris (Middleton) was out there and it was just shooters everywhere. So the floor was just so much more open.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo & Milwaukee Bucks Updates
Lillard adds a different dynamic to a team that was already really good. His shot-making ability from deep is arguably only second to Stephen Curry of the Warriors. That allows the floor to be spaced out for Lillard or Giannis to create off the dribble.
“I got around a big one time and I was waiting for more help to come, but then I was right under the rim and I just laid it up,” Lillard said. “And then other times, I’m coming off Giannis and the big is worried about where he is and I give a move to (fake a pass) and make him think I’m going to give it to him because he’s coming downhill.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo & Milwaukee Bucks Updates
“It just seems like there’s a lot of options, as opposed to everybody just being like, ‘Get it out of his hands.’ So it feels a lot different in that way. And literally in my head, I’m thinking sometimes, ‘Is this just because it’s practice, or is this how it’s going to look?’”
Lillard remains impressed with the consistency of the work that Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Bucks put in daily. He’s encouraged by what the team will be able to achieve this season when it translates to regular season action.
“It’s early, but I would say it’s the consistency that I see,” Lillard said. “Typically, everybody’s excited in the beginning, but then you have a couple of tough days, you get a little tired and then the mentality changes, like being in the weight room and getting your shots up. Here, I’m impressed about how it’s every day and it’s not loud, it’s not extra; it’s just everybody show up and do it. You always see somebody in the weight room, you see somebody on the table, you see somebody getting their shots up, we practice hard, they’re getting in the cold tub.
“The discipline that I’ve seen, it’s not just this guy or that guy; it’s like everybody is on top of their stuff. And I think collectively that just equals success. I don’t see how it doesn’t. Nobody is like, ‘Look at me.’ Or, ‘Oh, I gotta do this.’ Or, ‘I gotta do that.’ It’s just like everybody is on point with what they have to be doing and it’s like adults, professionalism and people that care about it and take it serious.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo & Milwaukee Bucks Updates
It will be a nightmare for opponents to try and defend. The Bucks are definitely primed to get to the conference finals and perhaps win it all this season.
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