Bucks’ Likely First-Round Playoff Opponent Becoming Clearer Each Day

This spring, can the reeling Milwaukee Bucks emerge out of the first round in the NBA playoffs for the first time in three years?

Things have been looking pretty bleak in Fiserv Forum since nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard was ruled out indefinitely with a blood clot in his right calf.

If the 6-foot-2 Weber State product misses the postseason, that would essentially doom the Bucks’ already-slim championship aspirations.

Milwaukee will not be able to replace Lillard’s ball handling, shot creation, or clutch late-game creativity.

Through 58 games thus far, the 34-year-old pro is averaging 24.9 points on .448/.376/.921 shooting splits, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds a night.

More Milwaukee Bucks News: Bucks’ Damian Lillard Out Indefinitely with Serious Blood Clot Issue

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has swapped in Ryan Rollins to serve in Lillard’s stead.

“Obviously, nobody is going to be Dame but Dame,” Milwaukee center Brook Lopez noted of the superstar’s absence, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “But [Ryan Rollins] has done a great job coming in, being himself and finding a niche, that like Dame, only he can do. It’s specifically Ryan. He comes out there and he makes a difference in his way. He gets into guys, defends them full-court, picks up 94 feet.”

Meanwhile, Lopez and two-time league MVP power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo’s primary backup, sixth man big Bobby Portis Jr., continues to serve an extensive 25-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. He will be back in April.

More Milwaukee Bucks News: Bucks’ Bobby Portis Hit with Massive Suspension for Violating NBA Drug Policy

Sans two of their top six players, the Bucks have understandably stumbled down the home stretch of the 2024-25 regular season. Losers of three straight, the Bucks have fallen to a 40-33 record and the Eastern Conference’s No. 6 seed. The No. 4-seeded Indiana Pacers are three games ahead of Milwaukee, while the ascendant Detroit Pistons (42-32) are 1.5 games up on the Bucks.

Standing three games ahead of the Pacers as of this writing, the 46-27 New York Knicks seem to be strengthening their grip on the East’s third seed.

Tom Thibodeau’s squad, led by All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns plus All-Defensive Team swingman Mikal Bridges, seems to have comfortably established itself as likely the East’s No. 3 seed. The Bucks are looking more and more likely doomed to be stuck as the No. 6 seed, meaning the two teams would face off against one another in the first round of the playoffs.

Fans got a sneak peak at this likely first round matchup on Friday night, when the Knicks, sans Brunson, bested the Bucks, sans Lillard, 116-107.

Without Lillard (Portis will be back), the Bucks won’t really be able to effectively counter Brunson’s offensive attack at the point. If he can return in time, Milwaukee will at least have a shot, given that the team boasts the best player on either squad in Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks have not advanced out of the first round of the playoffs since 2022. They may be hard-pressed to do that yet again this year, as the lower seed likely without their second-best player.

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Damian Lillard Injury Will Have Massive Impact on Bucks’ Championship Hopes

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