As Damian Lillard missed his fourth straight game this season on Tuesday because of a left ankle sprain, Doc Rivers made an intriguing rotational move as the Milwaukee Bucks fought the Phoenix Suns on the road.
In an unexpected adjustment, the Bucks tactician assigned Pat Connaughton to fill the team's starting point guard void that Dame vacated.
Confidence builder
Even though it has been an unfamiliar role for him, Pat still boldly stepped up to the challenge as he registered 12 points in 4-of-6 shooting in the Bucks' 114-106 losing effort against the Suns. And while he didn't serve as the team's primary ball handler throughout the game, he still found his teammates for plenty of shooting opportunities as he dished out five assists.
In the postgame, Doc admitted that his primary motive for allowing Connaughton to start and play at the point is to help him rebuild his poise and composure after the past few games filled with struggles.
"I'm trying to build Pat's confidence back," Rivers said. "I don't know if he's lost it or not, but I just think he can help us, and I'm trying to actually give him more minutes. In a normal thing, I would probably play one of the other guys, but I'm trying to get Pat going. I think he's important for us later as well."
Appreciate the support
It hasn't been a pleasant year for Pat, as inconsistencies have completely disturbed his 2023-24 campaign for the Bucks. Playing for 20.9 minutes per game, he is only averaging 5.3 points — a significant drop if compared to his past seasons in Milwaukee.
And for him to receive Doc's nod and trust to perform in a much bigger role, he couldn't be more encouraged to continue striving to regain his momentum.
"It's great to hear that from Doc," he said. "I didn't know him well before this, but I had a good enough relationship with him, and since he's been here, growing the relationship with him and trying to learn about the philosophy he's trying to instill both offensively and defensively. I think for me, it's been one of those years to date where it's just, hey, I want to make sure guys on the team are figuring out how they fit in and want to win games and try to impact winning, and I think sometimes that has a rollercoaster of statistical games for me if you will."
"At the end of the day, I'm here to try to help win games, and I'm here to try to help win games in the long run, right? That means now, but it also means in the playoffs, and it also means bringing that winning experience with me that I've had kind of my whole career," Connaugton added.
"Something that gotta keep working on, continuing to find ways to improve, keep continuing to find ways to do extra, do more. That's kind of been the m.o. of me my entire career, and it was nice tonight to be out there," he concluded.
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