Damian Lillard's sudden surge can propel the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Finals
Damian Lillard has been electric since returning from the All-Star break. In his last six games, he's averaging 23.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game while shooting 42.5% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. When operating at this level, he's the type of talent that can elevate a team toward being a contender.
On Tuesday's episode of ESPN's First Take, Shannon Sharpe threw his weight behind the Milwaukee Bucks as a potential NBA Finalist.
"I don't trust the Celtics as much as you guys do," Sharpe said. "...I like this for Dame, that when Giannis is out, he's able to find his game, he's able to find his shot...If this Dame Lillard that we saw last night ... shows up with Giannis ... they absolutely, 1000% could beat Boston in a seven-game series."
The Bucks have struggled this season. A significant part of their problems has been their defensive inconsistency. They currently rank 15th in the league for defensive rating. However, they're a top-five team for offense. Unfortunately, you need a better balance than that to be a contending team. Doc Rivers will be hoping he can find a winning formula over the season's final quarter.
Nevertheless, seeing Lillard finally begin to emerge as the star he was acquired to be will be encouraging for the Bucks. Once Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to the rotation, Milwaukee will have an elite duo that are both playing near their best. That's enough to make them a tough test for any team in the league.
Whether Milwaukee has enough talent to beat the Boston Celtics over a seven-game series will remain to be seen. It will take a herculean effort from Giannis and Lillard. However, nothing is impossible in playoff basketball. The challenge is ensuring both stars continue playing at or near their best. Then, the pressure will be on the role players to excel on the fringes.
Milwaukee came into this season with hopes of being a contender. Lillard is peaking at the perfect time. Things are about to get interesting in the Eastern Conference.
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