When Damian Lillard was ruled out during the regular season, it came as a big shock to the Milwaukee Bucks. But when he returned to the hardwood after dealing with a blood clot trouble, it was not just relief, but a miracle itself. He was back after missing 14 regular-season games and Game 1 of the Playoff series. Dame and Giannis Antetokounmpo finally reunited, giving Doc Rivers some hope that bouncing back in this postseason was possible. “What could possibly go wrong?” wasn’t this a common question among the fans? But hey, the Basketball Gods had other plans; they’ve laughed again.

Lillard’s night vs. the Indiana Pacers ended in heartbreak as he limped off the court in Game 4. A preliminary diagnosis pointed to a possible Achilles tendon injury, with full evaluation scheduled for Monday. “They’re going to do an image tomorrow,” said Doc Rivers to the media, adding, “Obviously, it’s the lower leg. And, just being honest, it’s not very promising.” Now, as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, Rivers has faced the wrath of injuries; this isn’t his first dance with the greater evil. Thus, how would the head coach handle major injuries derailing consecutive seasons?

Doc Rivers sets the Milwaukee Bucks’ summer goals after Damian Lillard’s injury setback

The veteran coach said he knew just by the look of it that it’s over for the superstar guard. “I felt bad for him. The guy tried to come back for his team, and I just felt bad for him,” Doc informed the reporters after the game at Fiserv Forum. Now, shifting his attention toward the bigger picture, the 63-year-old knows that the team needs to deal with injuries in a better way. In the post-game press conference, Rivers addressed his plan to deal with the injuries.

“It’s tough. I don’t know how you deal with it. You just deal with it,” Doc Rivers confessed. “Your two best players, one has been out each year. Last year, both were out for the most part.” Giannis Antetokounmpo’s late-season calf injury kept him sidelined for the Bucks’ crucial first-round battle against the Pacers. Meanwhile, Damian Lillard’s postseason struggles only deepened Milwaukee’s wounds. As a result, the short-handed Bucks fell in six games, enduring another heartbreaking first-round exit.

Doc Rivers continued, “This year Giannis is playing great. Now Dame was back, but was never right, and then he got hurt. I’ll make sense of it this summer. Nothing you can do about it except try to rally your team, get them back together, and try to win one game to get it back to Milwaukee.” Rivers reflected on a season of cruel setbacks, praising Giannis’ brilliance while acknowledging Dame‘s lingering struggles before his latest injury. Though frustration lingers, Rivers knows the answers will come in time. For now, he clings to hope, determined to rally his battered team for one more fight in Milwaukee.

For the Bucks locker room, Lillard’s injury right after his comeback feels like a major blow to their morale. However, the show must go on, and Giannis knows it better than anyone else how important the next two games are going to be. So, he sends clear messages to his disheartened teammates.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s message to the Bucks locker room

For Giannis Antetokounmpo, the math is simple: move on and play harder. “I think everybody in the locker room knows what the deal is. Got to go to Indiana, play some good basketball,” he told the media after losing 103-129 to the Pacers on Sunday. “Obviously, we don’t have Dame, but the next guy has to step up. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do: move the ball, play together, try to win the game, and come back.” 

Counting the games they’ve played with Dame, the Greek Freak noted, “We played like 10 games at the end of the season without Dame. I think Ryan and Scoot and the guys that played, I think they did a great job just stepping up and filling that void. They’re great basketball players.” He proudly claimed that his teammates know how to play the game and understand what the team is trying to accomplish.

“They know how to play the game, they know what we’re trying to accomplish; We’ve won games together. At the end of the day, somebody has to step up and fill that void of Dame. Obviously, it’s hard. Dame is one of the best players in the league, an active Hall of Famer, but we know the deal. We’ve got to go in there and play good basketball, win the game,” Giannis concluded. The 30-year-old has been averaging 30.4 ppg, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 60.1 FG%. But now it’s time for everyone to step up.

It’s a now-or-never situation for Doc Rivers’s men. On one hand, Damian Lillard’s 2024-25 NBA season has most likely come to an end. And on the other hand, Giannis Antetokounmpo is holding on to the hopes that are left. More like chasing the last light at the end of the tunnel. Going into Game 5, the Bucks need to buckle up before they can say “Round 2” in this postseason.