PHILADELPHIA -- Milwaukee Bucks Coach Doc Rivers stated that Damian Lillard feels optimistic about his recovery from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and believes there is significantly more hope now compared to just a few days ago that he might be able to come back sometime this season.
Lillard, who sat out his eighth consecutive game on Thursday night against the Philadelphia 76ers did not join the road trip with the Bucks; Rivers mentioned that the team opted out of it, even though they received a "great report" lately regarding Lillard's progress.
Why rock the boat?" was our motto, especially when flying or anything else could impact that," Rivers stated. "Today, we have far greater hope compared to what we had three days ago, let me assure you of that. So, we will explore every possibility available to us in order to find a way to bring him back.
Last week, Milwaukee stated that Lillard would be sidelined indefinitely as he was found to have an issue in his right calf. This information contrasted with the initial diagnosis provided. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama , who was sidelined for the entire season in February following the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.
The regular season concludes in 10 days, with the playoffs set to start in either 16 or 17 days, based on whether the Bucks commence their playoff run on April 19 or April 20.
Rivers stated that meanwhile, the Bucks are thoroughly getting ready for the possibility that Lillard might not come back. He also discussed how the team would need to adjust their strategy if Lillard fails to return.
When asked about finding equilibrium with his potential return uncertain, Rivers stated, 'There’s no balance,'" emphasizing that they focus on addressing their current lacks since they can’t be sure he’ll come back.
Ideally, we bring him back, and we understand our game plan. However, sustaining this approach over time without him remains uncertain. Thus, the focus shifts to mastering those critical nine Giannis minutes. Previously, even when he wasn’t playing, you still had Dame, but currently, that’s not an option anymore. We’re dedicating each day to improve upon this challenge because thus far, my efforts haven’t yielded satisfactory results; hence more work needs to be done.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Rivers expressed frustration over his team's recent problems with turnovers, which have resulted in the Bucks falling behind in overall shots attempted. He also pointed out difficulties in securing defensive rebounds and failing to force takeaways. Rivers emphasized that these aspects needed improvement if the Bucks were to thrive in the postseason.
“I can’t quite pinpoint it,” Rivers stated regarding the Bucks’ turnover problems. “There are many ways we’re giving up possession. However, one thing’s clear—we can’t secure victories... The other evening, our opponents had 18 additional shot attempts. And the previous night, they got 19 extra shots. Can you imagine how efficiently you’d need to score to triumph under those circumstances?”
The Bucks defeated the Sixers 126-113 on Thursday, tying them up with the Detroit Pistons For the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, Milwaukee has several more manageable games coming up before they face their last two matches of the season against Detroit. Securing the fifth position rather than settling for sixth could mean dodging the necessity of defeating all three contenders. New York Knicks , Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers To make it to the NBA Finals, which could provide a notably smoother route.
Due to an illness, Rivers did not coach Thursday's game; however, he was still attributed with his 1,156th career victory, thereby surpassing Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson to secure the seventh spot on the all-time NBA regular-season wins list.
Absolutely, it’s incredible," Rivers stated prior to the game. "It just shows that I’ve achieved quite a bit. There have been many positive moments during my tenure, yet I couldn’t have accomplished these feats without significant support. Throughout my journey, I've worked alongside outstanding coaching teams and currently benefit from an exceptional staff. Over time, I’ve played with exceptionally talented teammates too. Ultimately, our objective is always victory, which is something I strive for, though I tend not to keep track or dwell on such matters.
That's not my reason for doing this. Let me phrase it differently.