Damian Lillard struggles big time right now

[Ugly0598]

Always has been an all star at the expense of being a chucker sometimes.

[theFireBlanket]

This is on the coach. HE HAS NOT PUT DAME IN A POSITION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Giannis says its playing in dirty drawers thanks to the equipment manager.

[The Sebastian Express]

Worst season in 8 years outside his season ending injury season '22

I that true if you only look at Beginning of season through January? Isn't he notoriously a slow-starter?

I have major concerns with Dame on defense but I do think he will get better has he plays his way into shape and gets more comfortable with Giannis.

He isn't a notoriously slow-starter, no. But he does go nuclear in January and February historically. I think if he doesn't go nuclear (and I'm not just talking stats, but shooting percentages) as we reach middle-January and through February there might be some cause for concern.

[Eagle4]

Dame looking cooked earlier than expected

[Ritzo]

Ive seen enough and I'm changing my mind. He really is very bad, not a fan of this trade in the first place.

[Lalouie]

Give it some time. Blockbuster trades tend to have rough starts. The team needs to figure out it's new identity. The Big 3 Heat had a team only meeting 17 games into their first season because their start was so disappointing, still made it to the Finals that year

i keep hearing this all time. the season is 55games in and these are two seasoned ALL PROS on a very mature team.
as a ring team the bucks should know by now how to integrate new faces especially when one face is lillard. the narrative seems to always change when dame has a bad game or bad stretch. and it's not like dame and giannis do the same thing or step on each others toes.

this is not a lebron/wade scenario because when you play with lebron he has to control EVERYTHING. dame is a seamless fit player

dame is there to do one thing....hit them "fall back, baby" shots when the bucks need 'em.,,so none of this matters until april. dame is a career 37% shooter. that aibn't great but the only thing that matters is the end game

[TheGOATRises007]

He might be cooked, but the Bucks had to go for it.

They weren't winning the title with Jrue either.

[turnaroundJ]

it's really not common for players to sustain being stars after 31/32. guys like KD and Steph are outliers. Lebron is the outlier of outliers. even jimmy can only bring it in the playoffs after cruising all season long.

[VaDe255]

He might be cooked, but the Bucks had to go for it.

They weren't winning the title with Jrue either.

I don't think that's true. They could have improved the roster around the edges with the draft capital they additionally sent for Dame. I don't know why they took such a big risk. They lost to the Heat the previous year, but that was an all-time performance from Jimmy, and the Heat still needed miracle comebacks in the 4th quarters to win the series.

Look at what G. Allen is doing on the Suns right now; he's a very underrated player. He competes hard, brings energy (which makes him decent on defense), and on the offensive end, he doesn't need the ball in his hands, spaces the floor, and is making 3s at an elite level.

Jrue + Allen + draft capital could have been used for another player. Some GMs really should watch the movie 'Moneyball'. Sometimes it seems they are trying to buy a superstar no matter what, instead of trying to build a roster that has the best chance of winning it all.

[TheGOATRises007]

He might be cooked, but the Bucks had to go for it.

They weren't winning the title with Jrue either.

I don't think that's true. They could have improved the roster around the edges with the draft capital they additionally sent for Dame. I don't know why they took such a big risk. They lost to the Heat the previous year, but that was an all-time performance from Jimmy, and the Heat still needed miracle comebacks in the 4th quarters to win the series.

Look at what G. Allen is doing on the Suns right now; he's a very underrated player. He competes hard, brings energy (which makes him decent on defense), and on the offensive end, he doesn't need the ball in his hands, spaces the floor, and is making 3s at an elite level.

Jrue + Allen + draft capital could have been used for another player. Some GMs really should watch the movie 'Moneyball'. Sometimes it seems they are trying to buy a superstar no matter what, instead of trying to build a roster that has the best chance of winning it all.

Which player then?

[NCHeels2008]

Dame is also going through a divorce from his college sweetheart, he might be somewhat washed regardless. But the man might just need an offseason to process such a major life change.

[Luke Skyowner]

Ive seen enough and I'm changing my mind. He really is very bad, not a fan of this trade in the first place.

So first you were not a fan of this trade and now you inverse it? So you now are a fan of this trade.

[VaDe255]

He might be cooked, but the Bucks had to go for it.

They weren't winning the title with Jrue either.

I don't think that's true. They could have improved the roster around the edges with the draft capital they additionally sent for Dame. I don't know why they took such a big risk. They lost to the Heat the previous year, but that was an all-time performance from Jimmy, and the Heat still needed miracle comebacks in the 4th quarters to win the series.

Look at what G. Allen is doing on the Suns right now; he's a very underrated player. He competes hard, brings energy (which makes him decent on defense), and on the offensive end, he doesn't need the ball in his hands, spaces the floor, and is making 3s at an elite level.

Jrue + Allen + draft capital could have been used for another player. Some GMs really should watch the movie 'Moneyball'. Sometimes it seems they are trying to buy a superstar no matter what, instead of trying to build a roster that has the best chance of winning it all.

Which player then?

I meant this is what they traded for Dame, not Jrue alone. From my perspective, Jrue, Allen, and another player they could have acquired would have constituted a more complete roster with fewer vulnerabilities. Ironically, they now need players like Jrue and Allen to address the gaps they have with Dame in the lineup.

[SpreeS]

He might be cooked, but the Bucks had to go for it.

They weren't winning the title with Jrue either.

I don't think that's true. They could have improved the roster around the edges with the draft capital they additionally sent for Dame. I don't know why they took such a big risk. They lost to the Heat the previous year, but that was an all-time performance from Jimmy, and the Heat still needed miracle comebacks in the 4th quarters to win the series.

Look at what G. Allen is doing on the Suns right now; he's a very underrated player. He competes hard, brings energy (which makes him decent on defense), and on the offensive end, he doesn't need the ball in his hands, spaces the floor, and is making 3s at an elite level.

Jrue + Allen + draft capital could have been used for another player. Some GMs really should watch the movie 'Moneyball'. Sometimes it seems they are trying to buy a superstar no matter what, instead of trying to build a roster that has the best chance of winning it all.

I said from beginning

Holiday + Allen >>> Lillard. The hole on defence is way more important than second scoring option. No one had won the chip with 17-19 drtg.

[AussieCeltic]

Jrue Holiday - 2.1 3PM on 44% shooting
Dame - 2.9 3PM on 34% shooting

[Sixers in 4]

I don't think that's true. They could have improved the roster around the edges with the draft capital they additionally sent for Dame. I don't know why they took such a big risk. They lost to the Heat the previous year, but that was an all-time performance from Jimmy, and the Heat still needed miracle comebacks in the 4th quarters to win the series.

Look at what G. Allen is doing on the Suns right now; he's a very underrated player. He competes hard, brings energy (which makes him decent on defense), and on the offensive end, he doesn't need the ball in his hands, spaces the floor, and is making 3s at an elite level.

Jrue + Allen + draft capital could have been used for another player. Some GMs really should watch the movie 'Moneyball'. Sometimes it seems they are trying to buy a superstar no matter what, instead of trying to build a roster that has the best chance of winning it all.

Which player then?

I meant this is what they traded for Dame, not Jrue alone. From my perspective, Jrue, Allen, and another player they could have acquired would have constituted a more complete roster with fewer vulnerabilities. Ironically, they now need players like Jrue and Allen to address the gaps they have with Dame in the lineup.

I mean Dame hasnt been himself but I think the bigger problem and getting Dame only compounded the issue is like Dame and Middleton are on the tail end of their careers. So is Lopez.

That was always going to be the case regardless if they kept Jrue whose 33 and the tail-end of his career as well. Who also needed an extension. Giannis was going to walk with the status quo. So they didn't have any options. They just have to hope these guys can turn back the clock in the playoffs.

Furthermore since then really who else has come available? Harden? I mean I don't think the Dame trade was terrible at all because of what it accomplished which is got Giannis to sign an extension. The problem is when you look up and down the roster it's full of old players on the decline.

[Pelly24]

I just realized, Dame shot 38.5% from the field last month. that is so so bad lol idk what happened. Looks like he might have waited a year too late to make this trade request. The dame from last year was incredible.

[CelticsFTW]

I just realized, Dame shot 38.5% from the field last month. that is so so bad lol idk what happened. Looks like he might have waited a year too late to make this trade request. The dame from last year was incredible.

Apparently, I get the feeling that Dame is not happy in Milwaukee at all. For example, he already mentioned about thinking to go back to Portland to end his career there and also wanting to be a part-owner of the franchise. Adding to this, we all know that he wanted to play for the Miami Heat, and when that seemed unlikely, he asked to remain a Trail Blazers, but the Blazers Management was eager to trade him then. So I think, adjustment right now seems relatively hard for personal and basketball reasons. Might be better next season though, or we will see a trade request this summer again.

However, I could totally see Dame playing himself in playoff shape after the All Star Break.

But one fact is already clear to me: The Bucks Franchise did not improve listening to Giannis demands for sure.

[Edrees]

they were finding that a bit and then they fired their coach. That's going to delay it even more.

[John Murdoch]

Shoulda brought in Dantoni