We will have to wait to discover the beginnings of Damian Lillard And Giannis Antetokounmpo are in civilian clothes for this first preseason match between the Bulls and the Bucks. For five days, the two All-Stars have been getting to know each other, and it will take several weeks to create automatisms. The “Greek Freak” recognizes that their relationship is the priority.
“It’s between the two of us – and I have to say this in the most respectful way possible – it’s between him and me,” reports Antetokounmpo to The Athletic. “At the end of the day, we have to talk every day about what we’re trying to do and we have to be on the same page. And not just me and Dame, me and Khris (Middleton), Khris and Dame, me and Brook (Lopez), Brook and Dame, Brook and Khris…Everyone has to be on the same page. But for now, when we talk specifically about this duo, we need to be on the same page. »
“He’s going to make a lot of decisions for this team and I trust him”
“Being on the same page” means knowing who is the first option, and for Giannis, there is no doubt that Lillard will be the boss of the offense.
“At the end of the day, I feel like this is the first time in my career that I didn’t care. I don’t want to say I don’t care because I care a lot, but I don’t care about my usage. I want him to be the primary point guard. He’s the point guard on this team. He’s the one who’s going to make a lot of decisions with the ball in his hands – at the start of the attack, at the end of the attack, at the start of the clock, at the end of the clock, at the start of the attack, at the end of match. He’s going to make a lot of decisions for this team and I trust him. I’ve been playing with him for a few days, I know he’ll find me.”
It’s rare for a “franchise player” to step back when a recruit arrives, but it’s Lillard’s position that requires that. ” I am 28 years old. I’m not a kid anymore. It takes friendly competition within your team to try to push each other and be better and more prepared for the game. But it is not, in any way, a competition between him and me, to see who will have the ball more often. He is the one who will have the ball the most and I have confidence. I believe he’s going to find me, and not just me, he’s going to find our teammates and put us in the right position. »
“We have to take a step back and let Lady be Lady”
And then, Giannis Antetokounmpo recalls that Lillard will also spend time on the bench, and he will then regain his role as instigator of the attack.
“There will be times in the game where he’s not in the game and, you know, I might have the ball more often. But at the end of the day, this is the first time I’ve been like, ‘OK, we need to let Dame be Dame and if that means Khris and I have to take a step back.’ A step back for possession of the ball. But as players we have to take a step forward. We need to take a step back and let Lady be Lady because we know we will find ways to be effective. We’re going to find ways to help this team. »
