It was just 22 minutes, but the flashes that Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo showed in their NBA Preseason debut were exciting. Giannis has never played with a perimeter player that demands the respect, coverage and double teams that Lillard provides, while the latter has never had an elite, athletic and dominant pick-and-roll partner that he now has in Giannis. These two will continue to iron out their roles, learn how to make the other better, but one thing is already for certain – Dame and Giannis are going to be an offensive force in the NBA this season.
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The duo did not play a full game, but they showed flashes mostly in the first half of what the offense has the potential to be.
Dame finished with 14 points, three assists, two rebounds and four stealsin a solid debut in 22 minutes. It was his first game since ending last season in March to help his former team with lottery odds.
He only shot 30 percent from the field and went 2-for-7 from three-point range, but Dame showed why he is an elite scorer, getting to the rim and going 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
Giannis played just 15 minutes, going 7-for-10 from the field with 16 points and eight rebounds. Around Dame and Giannis were Brook Lopez, Jae Crowder and Malik Beasley, giving the team three shooters with length around the new offensive duo.
In their short time on the court Dame and Giannis only connected for one basket. Midway through the first quarter Dame, Giannis and Lopez combined to create a turnover, with Dame stealing the ball and flipping the ball ahead for the Giannis fast break dunk.
A lot of the talk about this move for the Milwaukee Bucks is that the team will sacrifice a lot on the defensive end with Dame, making them a better offense, but potentially not a better team overall.
In his 22 minutes Dame made plays off his teammates on the defensive end, causing deflections, picking up steals and creating turnovers that will be a huge factor in the teams offense if Milwaukee is able to get out and run more this season.
Two of his steals led to points for Milwaukee, with Dame using strategic double teams, floating off his man and taking advantage of his teammates’ length and defense to create turnovers that led to quick offense. Dame will never be an elite one-on-one defender, but has the chance to improve his resume and reputation here with Giannis.
As the two get more reps they will develop a pick-and-roll chemistry and pet plays out of the two-man game.
These two also have another weapon to unleash that will add another dimension to the offense in Khris Middleton, who is easing his way back from injury. During the teams championship run in 2021, Middleton proved to be a dynamic No. 2 option, running pick-and-roll, creating his own shot and getting others involved with his playmaking.
Now Middleton can ease into the role as the third option on offense, feasting off of defenses trying to stop Giannis at the rim and Dame from three.
If Middleton is close to 100 percent this season, there is arguably not a better Big Three on the offensive end in the NBA than Giannis, Dame and Middleton.
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