INDIANAPOLIS — After spending the hours main as much as Sport 6 getting around-the-clock remedy on his injured proper Achilles, Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard mentioned he determined he would not be capable to enter the summer time with out understanding he did all he might to be on the ground.
Lillard returned after lacking Video games 4 and 5 of the sequence, however the shorthanded Bucks didn’t have sufficient towards the Indiana Pacers, dropping Thursday’s sport 120-98 and shedding the sequence in six video games.
“I do not assume I’d’ve went into the summer time feeling good about a lot if I felt like I let the workforce go on the market and me not at the very least strive,” mentioned Lillard, who completed with 28 factors.
The Bucks couldn’t overcome the lack of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed your complete playoff sequence due to a left calf pressure. He did not seem in one other sport after sustaining the harm April 9.
“It is positively disappointing as a result of you know the way significantly better of a workforce we’re when he is on the ground and the way a lot issues change when he is on the ground,” Lillard mentioned. “You play a complete 82-game season. You undergo coaching camp, you undergo all of the ups and downs of a NBA common season, and also you get to the purpose the place, all proper, now we will play for all the pieces. And you are not complete. You do not have the perfect alternative to achieve the place you need attain. So it’s irritating, it is disappointing, nevertheless it’s a part of the sport.”
Bucks guard Malik Beasley added: “This simply sucks. It sucks, man. I do not even know what to assume. I am not nervous about the place I’ll be subsequent 12 months. I am nervous about, I am extra involved that we simply obtained beat within the first spherical. I got here right here for a championship. I wager on myself. I wager that we might win, and we simply got here up brief.”
The Bucks misplaced to a decrease seed within the first spherical of the playoffs for the second consecutive season, regardless of a significant overhaul over the previous 12 months attempting to keep away from a playoff repeat.
Milwaukee fired its championship-winning coach, Mike Budenholzer, following final season’s playoff exit, bringing in longtime assistant coach Adrian Griffin to start out the 2023-24 season. Regardless of Griffin’s 30-13 document, he was additionally fired in January, and the workforce employed Doc Rivers to assist them attain a championship ceiling.
“Its uncommon, normally proper after the 12 months you wish to take a break,” Rivers mentioned. “I am unable to wait to get began. To get to camp, and be capable to put all of the issues we expect we’d like.”
The most important transfer for the Bucks earlier than the season began was to amass Lillard, a blockbuster addition after he spent the primary 11 years of his profession with the Portland Path Blazers. Though his first season in Milwaukee was stuffed with some ups and downs, Lillard mentioned he’s pleased with his first season and looking out ahead to feeling extra settled in 2024-25.
“It was a roller-coaster of a 12 months, however I feel for me personally, it was a 12 months of development greater than something,” Lillard mentioned. “It has been some arduous instances. I have not denied that one time this 12 months. Basketball and personally, it has been some arduous instances, nevertheless it’s by no means been a problem with Milwaukee.
“I get the chance to play with Giannis. I am taking part in with veteran gamers. I do know that the one factor we plan for is the chance to win the championship, and that is why I made the choice to be part of one thing like this.”
In the end, the Bucks didn’t have sufficient time on the ground with their finest gamers taking part in collectively. After Rivers took over as coach close to the tip of January, Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Khris Middleton performed a complete of eight video games collectively.
And the Bucks by no means obtained to see their massive three on the ground within the playoffs.
“To get a full offseason the place we all know what to anticipate about who’s going to be in that constructing, have these conversations and prepare for subsequent 12 months, I feel some kind of continuity, it is going to be nice for us,” Middleton mentioned.