Damian Lillard announced his arrival in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 35-point outing for the Milwaukee Bucks. The veteran All-Star was acquired by Milwaukee during the 2023 offseason. His addition was viewed as the key to positioning the Bucks as legitimate contenders.
During his dominant performance against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Lillard took the opportunity to look out at the crowd and send a defiant message.
"This is what ya'll brought me here for." Lillard could be seen saying after scoring another bucket.
"This is what ya'll brought me here for." pic.twitter.com/JgjmxzbJeP
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 22, 2024
Lillard has endured a difficult season with the Bucks, as his inconsistent performances throughout the regular season became a cause for concern. However, with Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the rotation due to injury, the veteran guard stepped up when his team needed him the most. That's what Lillard does. He's known for being a driving force when his team's back is against the wall.
Giannis could potentially miss the entire series against the Pacers. As such, Lillard must continue performing at an elite level and continually remind the fan base why the front office prioritized him during the summer.
Milwaukee is viewed as a potential championship contender. Lillard's presence is a significant part of that. Now that the fan base has been reminded why he was brought to Milwaukee, he needs to prove that the decision was the correct one. He can only do that by leading his team into the second round.
It won't be easy, but that's exactly what he signed up for when he moved from the Portland Trail Blazers last summer.
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