Damian Lillard made his much-anticipated return to the court in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Lillard came back from a month-long absence after a health scare that was first diagnosed as a blood-clotting disorder. His primary goal with the Milwaukee Bucks was to provide a shock of inspiration and direction. He was incredibly hard on himself that he didn’t live up to those expectations. His inefficiency was damning. He ended the game 4-of-13 for 14 points.
In the regular season, Lillard averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 38 percent in four games opposite the Pacers. He struggled, shooting just 35.5% overall and 38.9% from deep in these matchups. His numbers suggested he was one of the most explosive offensive players we’ve seen but that explosiveness just wasn’t there in Game 2. Despite playing 37 minutes, Lillard still found himself at his most fatigued as the game wore on, admitting as much after the game, of course.
With the Bucks trailing late in the game, Lillard hit a crucial 3-pointer with 2:31 left on the clock, narrowing the score to 115-113. And though this was a high point of pure artistry by him, he admitted that his physical shape was affecting his play.
Lillard reflected on his return, stating, “It felt pretty good, given the fact that I haven’t played in so long.” He initially felt very good and sure of himself. Yet, he knew that with each passing minute, fatigue started to set in with the run-heavy style of play. “Jumping back into a playoff game, I’d say it felt pretty good,” he added.
His coach, Doc Rivers, further filled in the picture off Lillard’s fitness. “The biggest question for us is the recovery,” Rivers stated, emphasizing the importance of Lillard’s conditioning after such an extended absence. Rivers opted to keep Lillard on the court for significant stretches to help him regain his fitness level, noting, “Down the stretch I just kept him in; I used it sort of as conditioning.”
Though disappointed by his performance, Lillard remained optimistic. He said that if you asked his entire roster, everyone would tell you they felt tired at some point in the game. Some of that was just fatigue, I guess, because everybody… I thought everybody got a little winded,” Lillard said post-game.
Especially now that Lillard’s return gave us a look of what he could bring. His lack of recent gameplay certainly played a role in him struggling to find his rhythm against the Pacers. The Bucks will need to assess their strategy moving forward as they aim to enhance their play and capitalize on Lillard’s strengths in the upcoming games.
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