Damian Lillard‘s trade to the Milwaukee Bucks was supposed to put them back on top. They added a superstar guard to a roster that already boasted Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the Bucks have spent all season looking upward in the Eastern Conference, with the Boston Celtics setting the pace after an immense season that has seen them create a significant cushion as the first seed.
When speaking to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix in a recent interview, Lillard admitted that he expected a stronger season from the Bucks. He noted how he was expecting to be in a similar position to what the Celtics currently find themselves in.
“I thought we was going to be how Boston is right now,” Lillard said. “But I think what I’ve learned is that some things take time, especially stuff that has reward in the end. You can’t come into it and think that it’s just going to be all peaches and cream. We’ve had our ups and downs. We’ve had a coaching change. I haven’t completely settled in to finding who am I on this team. And that’s kind of a tough thing.”
Joe Mazzulla‘s coaching has ensured the Celtics roster has accepted the level of sacrifice needed for the roster to excel. Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday have been at the forefront of those sacrifices, along with Al Horford who has moved into a sixth man role this season.
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Milwaukee will need to go through Boston if they want to make the NBA Finals. Right now, they would be significant underdogs in a potential postseason matchup. It’s going to be interesting to see whether Doc Rivers can turn their season around and potentially challenge the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
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