The Bucks have not started the second half of their season the way they would have wanted. Although they got a huge win against the Clippers last night, they suffered a massive setback off the court as Bobby Portis got penalized with a 25-game suspension for violating the league’s Anti-drug program by testing positive for Tramadol, a banned painkiller in the NBA. And as the Milwaukee franchise took the court tonight to face the Wizards, they were struck with another huge blow as Damian Lillard was ruled out due to injury woes.

Yes, Dame did not suit up tonight. The reason? Right hamstring injury management. Well, it’s more of a precautionary move because the superstar guard has been dealing with a lingering hamstring injury for quite some time. And playing on back-to-back nights could have risked re-aggravating it. When Doc Rivers was asked about an update on Lillard’s health, he had a hilarious response, “I think what Dame has found out is he’s old. And when you party the entire All-Star Weekend, he just can’t hang the way he used to. And so, he’s out… You can leave it any way you want to.” He said, laughing.

He continued, “He was the host of the All-Star Game and he was yawning through the 3-point shooting contest. That’s old man stuff, I’m telling you, man. I say golly, it’s not like five years ago, is it?” While Doc might have said it as a joke, there is some truth to his comments. Dame is 34 years old and a veteran in this league, and the body is usually more fatigued and takes longer to recover at this age. And his absence tonight proves it.

Of course, this is a massive blow to the team because Lillard has been their second-best player all year behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, averaging 25.5 points and over seven assists. Moreover, his injury also puts a halt to Lillard’s plan.

Damian Lillard aimed to “Stay on Track” until Bobby Portis returned from suspension

Sure enough, the Portis suspension is an enormous setback for the Bucks. While he is not a superstar, the forward has been a key part of their rotation, averaging 13.7 points and over eight rebounds. And Dame tried to keep an optimistic approach as he addressed Bobby’s absence last night, “We’re all professionals and we know we gotta hold it down for him and you know, make sure that we stay on track when he does come back. I think it’ll make us a better team because we’ll have to find a way without him.”

Yes, the Bucks need to remain focused on making a playoff push. But Lillard not being a part of the action tonight hurts their chances. Obviously, the onus to carry the team to victory will fall on Giannis, who finally returned to the lineup yesterday after missing six straight games due to a calf injury. He scored 23 points in his comeback game against the Clippers. Well, the Bucks would need him to play even better tonight to make up for Dame’s absence and lead them to victory. Do you think he can do it?