(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks have had some tough luck ahead of and during the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Losing Giannis Antetokounmpo was a massive blow, and then Damian Lillard followed him on the sidelines.
Needless to say, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see the Indiana Pacers go up 3-1 against them.
Even so, Doc Rivers’ troops rallied together to stave off elimination and force Game 6 with a huge win.
Now, it seems like help could be on the way, as the Bucks coach confirmed that his two stars were “very, very close” to making their returns (via Jamal Collier).
Doc Rivers on the potential timeline for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard for Game 6:
“I think they’re very, very, very close.”
— Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) May 1, 2024
Notably, the Bucks must be extremely careful with Giannis’ condition.
Calf injuries can often lead to Achilles injuries, and losing him at this point in the year to a major injury would pretty much rule him out for all of next season as well.
He uses his athleticism, quick burst, and explosion to be at his best, and that’s why this injury could be particularly tricky for a guy like him.
As for Lillard, he was also dealing with a minor Achilles injury, up to the point where he reportedly admitted that he would only be a decoy because he couldn’t explode to the rim or attack.
The Bucks must be cautious not to play with fire here.
They have to take a big picture approach before making any rash decisions, as even with them on the court, they might not be a candidate to make the NBA Finals.
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