Until now, the Milwaukee Bucks had won both of their games due to their sizzling offense. By no surprise, the tandem of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard scored an overwhelming chunk of points. Tonight, one of those pillars, Dame, had to sit because of being in the concussion protocol. Against a young and ambitious Raptors side, that could have proven to be disastrous for Doc Rivers and the Bucks.

Unless they reinvented themselves. Symbolically, the Deers became the predators and held the Raptors to only 85 points, a season-low for any opponent against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The initiative came from the combination of guards Rivers opted to play for. With Lillard out, it made space for Ryan Rollins in the starting lineup and Delon Wright got extended minutes. They combined for 10 steals against the Raptors, one less than what Toronto could manage in the entire game. That high octane defensive pressure is where Rivers saw the game turn.

“The whole team was a lot of energy. One of the things we have been harping on is getting to the paint create more threes. Well, we shot 56 of them today and 50 of them were great shots. We just didn’t shoot them well. Man if we playing like that getting those shots, we’re going to be fine,” the Bucks head coach claimed.

The blueprint has been recognized by the revered coach. However, with Lillard being absent, does this mean the Bucks are better without the emphatic point guard?

The Bucks still need Damian Lillard

With Lillard, there have been some large concerns over one facet of his game. Defensively, he had become a liability for the Bucks. Despite having one of the strongest interior defenses, Milwaukee’s perimeter leaked points. In this, Lillard boasts a defensive rating of 118.4, the third worst on the Bucks. With them taking over the remainder of his $216 contract, the Bucks required him to do more.

Tonight, though, Rivers got the opportunity to give some of the defensive-minded guards a chance to make an impact. And the results were flattering. Wright, a veteran renowned for his defense, and Rollins, who is yet to play 40 NBA games turned the tide around. Milwaukee forced 21 turnovers from the Raptors, adding 28 points through their errors.

Moreover, they also attempted 56 threes tonight distributed equitably amongst the ranks. So where does Damian Lillard fit?

So far, the Portland icon hasn’t been able to mend his game with the Bucks. It amounts to him and Giannis Antetokounmpo hoarding the ball and taking most of the shots. One way out is to start deterring and playing the role of a point guard in spurts to ensure teammates remain active.

Furthermore, defensively, Damian Lillard doesn’t need to be a ball hound. However, energy plays a crucial role in stumbling an offense. Playing with tenacity and playing a decoy defender could prevent the struggles the Bucks have suffered thus far. However, one thing is for certain.

To win, the Milwaukee Bucks require Damian Lillard. His multifaced offense and postseason chronicles make him a lethal second fiddle next to a near-unstoppable Greek Freak. It’s just about buying into the defensive ideologies and polishing his utility on that side of the floor. Do you think Lillard can do that? Let us know your views in the comments below.