Another on-paper superteam is hitting hard times in the postseason.
When Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, it was a bold move to give him and former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo something they never truly had: an All-World talent beside them.
Let me remind you of the degree of feverish hyperventilating the Lillard acquisition sent throughout the league as pundits glowed about the move:
Andre Snellings: An absolute game-changer. The Bucks have been my preseason favorites to win the championship in each of the past three seasons, but after winning in 2021 they have been really impacted by the injuries to All-Star second option Khris Middleton. Giannis is the most dominant player in the NBA and their team defense is tough, but they lacked the volume shooting from distance to be able to properly maximize their potential. Lillard gives them the best shooting-scoring option on the perimeter east of Stephen Curry — and on paper makes their team appear to be unstoppable in the East.
Jamal Collier: League-altering. This move elevates the Bucks into superteam status, changes the conversation around Antetokounmpo’s impending future and sets the table for Lillard, after a decade in the league, to shine on his first true playoff stage with championship expectations.
That’s why today, as the Bucks announced they will be without both the Greek Freak and Dame Time for an extremely important Game 4 contest, it hits pretty hard for their fan base and organization.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are both listed as out for tonight’s game.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 28, 2024
Milwaukee Bucks say Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) are out for tonight’s game at Indiana.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 28, 2024
Milwaukee currently trails 2-1 against the upstart Pacers, and their season’s hopes are on the line. Hearing “calf” and “Achilles” injury has to resonate big time for Dub Nation fans who watched a three-peat go up in smoke when two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant’s leg gave out in the 2019 playoffs. And who can forget Klay Thompson tearing his ACL that same series, a misfortunate event that would eventually be followed up by an Achilles tear of his own.
That’s why penciling a team to win a championship can be a fool’s errand, no matter how much star power they have. No one is immune to bad injury luck, and it has felled even the mightiest of paper super teams.
I don’t understand why this is complicated but the Bucks fans can absolutely have excuses when they are missing a top 3 player in the world lol also as a Pacers fan imma be damn happy we are winning. You play who is in front of you. Both things can be true
— Young Simba (@the2kmessiah) April 28, 2024
Celtics really should cakewalk to the Finals. Biggest threats all done due to injuries.
In general, So many big name guys are either out or playing thru injuries that are limiting them.
Silver trying to lock in that Amazon deal before the postseason ratings drop in June
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 28, 2024