Imagine becoming the new head coach of a championship-chasing squad with the season well underway. Doc Rivers is in for a wild ride as he takes over as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Damian Lillard, the team’s standout guard, understands since he, too, battled to fit in when he first arrived.
Taking over for Adrian Griffin, Rivers enters a situation where team spirit and goals are already established. Lillard emphasized how difficult it must be for a new coach to navigate a whole new environment without the comfort of starting from zero.
I understood exactly what he [Doc Rivers] meant and he was right. Like you wouldn’t wish this on anybody. It takes the right type of person to step into a situation with these type of expectations… He’s a new coach for them, a new coach for me, a new player. It’s just a lot of moving parts
Lillard then recalled the struggles he had when he first joined the Milwaukee Bucks. Despite the apparent potential synergy he had with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, he confesses that the shift was tougher than expected.
Yet, Lillard’s outlook remains hopeful, pointing out the team’s knack for clinching victories amid these shifts, somehow maintaining that second spot on the Eastern Conference standings. The journey’s been rough, with the Bucks in the crosshairs of rivals ever since the blockbuster Lillard off-season trade.
Lillard’s much-anticipated return was spoiled by the Portland Trail Blazers defeating the Bucks 119 – 116 on Wednesday night. Anfernee Simons shone brightly for the Blazers, scoring 24 points, including a crucial floater with just 17.1 seconds left on the clock.
Lillard had a commendable night with 25 points, after a warm reception by the Portland crowd while Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed with 27 points and eight rebounds. Despite this, Portland managed to maintain a slender lead at halftime and successfully fended off the Bucks’ aggressive push in the latter stages of the game.
Malcolm Brogdon’s timely three crucially widened Portland’s lead. Jerami Grant’s off-balance jumper held the Blazers in front during the tense final moments. Milwaukee’s comeback effort, sparked by a Lillard to Antetokounmpo alley-oop dunk, was vibrant yet in vain.
