Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s recent candid but somewhat concerning comments lit a fire under the Milwaukee Bucks, pushing them to add Damian Lillard alongside their homegrown superstar. It is a power move that shook the league and put the Bucks in the top spot, at least on paper. However, there was a twist – it came at the cost of Jrue Holiday. While some might view this as an upgrade, there’s a lingering hesitation amongst many; especially with Damian Lillard’s struggles in living up to his expectations.

Holiday was the ace up in Bucks’ sleeves and played an indispensable role in the Bucks’ solitary championship. No doubt, Giannis was the MVP of that show. However, Holiday’s relentless game-changing plays, both on offense and defense, turned the tide in the Bucks’ favor. With that legacy in mind and Lillard’s recent stints, a question looms large. Did the Bucks deploy a brilliant chess move or a costly gamble by parting ways with Jrue Holiday?

Lillard can’t defend like Jrue, but he’s not producing like Dame Time either

Lillard’s offensive prowess and shooting precision make him one of the premier scorers of his generation. He is a true sharpshooter with the second-most reliable range in the league, behind Stephen Curry. With that, pairing him with Giannis, arguably the league’s best two-way player, seems like the dawn of a dynasty.

However, as the current season unfolds, Lillard’s early-season performances have been as unpredictable as a deformed basketball. While he came out guns blazing in the season opener with 29 points, he quickly went ice cold; mustering a mere 6 points against the Atlanta Hawks (2-12). He rallied with a respectable 25-point outing against the Miami Heat. But Damian Lillard is yet to produce his signature Dame-like performances. Furthermore, in a recent dismantling by the Toronto Raptors, Lillard contributed a modest 15 points on 4-9 shooting.

Patience may be the name of the game as Lillard navigates his new phase. Lillard is yet to find his groove and authority on the team. After all, it is Lillard’s maiden stint of sharing the court with an elite superstar. When it comes to numbers, for the first time in his career, Lillard’s three-point shooting is dipping below 30 percent.

Damian Lillard needs to take control of the ball

Damian Lillard seems to have misplaced his usual grip on the true nature of his game. According to recent statistics, Lillard is not actively taking control of the ball as much as he should. Even though Giannis Antetokounmpo openly expressed his desire for Lillard to be himself on the court, not much has changed.

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Lillard is averaging nearly 15 field goal attempts this season, a level we have not seen since his rookie and sophomore years. In the Bucks’ recent matchup against the Raptors, the disappointing result of the trend became glaringly evident. Toronto unleashed an astounding 91 field goal attempts, while the Bucks only managed 76 shots, making a paltry 35 of them.

Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself in a heavyweight brawl with OG Anunoby throughout the entire game. From early on, the Raptors exerted their dominance on both ends of the court. Furthermore, they consistently maintained a double-digit lead throughout the majority of the game.

On the other hand, Jrue Holiday seems to fit in his role for the Boston Celtics. Jrue, being one of the top defenders in the league, was called to fill the shoes of Celtics’ own Marcus Smart. Despite lower offensive usage, it looks like Holiday has found his groove. With a recent humongous 155-104 victory, Celtics now flaunt a clean 4-0 record while sitting at the top.

Rebounding killed Bucks’ chances

In route to putting on a dazzling offensive spectacle, the Raptors expertly shut down the Bucks’ big men, especially Giannis Antetokounmpo. The primary responsibility of keeping Giannis in check was on OG Anunoby, who contained the Greek Freak to a dismal 16 points. However, the Raptors added a touch of complexity. They threw in the big man Jakob Poeltl and the dynamic Scottie Barnes into the mix. As a result, Raptors ruled the boards with an iron grip.

In the end, the Raptors hauled in an impressive 50 rebounds, leaving the Bucks trailing at a mere 29. Regardless, the real knockout punch was on the offensive glass, where the Raptors dominated with a commanding 15-7 outscoring.

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Raptors entered the game with the worst offense and offensive rating (per 100 possessions) in the league so far. However, they dominated every aspect of the game. Furthermore, it seemed like the Bucks were missing the services of Jrue Holiday as they struggled to string together stops throughout the game, ultimately never shifting the momentum in their favor.