Fans torch Bucks’ Damian Lillard after getting outplayed by Pacers’ TJ McConnell

Matt Roth – “Damian Lillard is getting out played by T.J. McConnell in the biggest game of his career. He’s always been overrated.”

GobertWRLD – “Congratulations to TJ McConnell on the birth of his new son!!! Sources report that his name will be Damian Lillard–McConnell”

Rashan Reeves – “I never thought I’d see the day that Dame Lillard is being cooked by TJ McConnell. #NBAonTNT”

Jeff Schonle – “Imagine thinking Dame Lillard is going to save your season and you end up getting murked by TJ McConnell.”

Jordan – “Dame Lillard getting outplayed by TJ McConnell in an elimination game. You just never know how the tables turn and when they gonna turn.”

Brick Hands Bersin – “TJ McConnell ending the Bucks’ season is so on brand. Giannis – Lillard – Middleton. See ya next year. Think it’ll look much improved with an offseason. Get healthy. The rest of the guys. Ayy we’ll see. Lol.”

To be fair, Lillard looked to suffer a significant Achilles strain earlier but with the Bucks’ season on the line, McConnell did his best to help shut the door.

McConnell finished with 20 points on 7-9 shooting in only 23 minutes of action off the Pacers bench. Lillard had 28 points, including a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line, for the Bucks.

Bucks see a chaotic season end

It was a wild season for Milwaukee. The Bucks fired championship-winning coach Mike Budenholzer in order to bring in a new voice for the locker room, acquired in Lillard another all-time great superstar to pair with Antetokounmpo, fired the new coach when he failed to connect with the roster, and brought in a high-profile, veteran coach mid-season hoping he would better connect with their stars and save a year of their championship window.

For a third straight year, including the MCL sprain that kept Middleton out of 10 games in the 2022 playoffs, the Bucks did not have their best players on the floor for the playoffs.

But at the end of the day, the Bucks fell short in the same spot, in the first round to a lower seed. Now they face questions about where they go from here.

Do they shake up the supporting cast behind Lillard, Giannis, and Middleton or do the Bucks believe that they have enough talent to compete with the likes of the Celtics next season? Do they bring back Rivers for a full season as head coach?

All questions that will need to be answered this summer.