Despite their failed end to the season, few observers imagined seeing the Bucks in last place in the East (1 win – 6 losses) after the first seven matches of the regular season…
“1-6 to start is ugly”, concedes Damian Lillard. “But if you step back, the season is so long. There are 75 games left. I've been part of teams that won 14 or 16 games in a row. Sometimes we just find ourselves in the ditch. It could happen in the middle of the season. It could happen towards the end of the season. But as it happens at the beginning and we have one victory and six defeats, it seems different.”
If the leader and his comrades do not panic, it is because there are reasons for optimism. Khris Middleton has not yet started its season, and the Bucks were ultimately not far from beating the Cavaliers twice…
12 teams in the playoffs out of 150…
“Regarding the members of our team: Giannis, Khris, me, Bobby, Brook… We have an experienced and talented team, which can achieve a lot of things”continues Damian Lillard when asked why he is sure that it is just a simple ignition delay. “And we showed it in games against the best teams, like Cleveland or Boston. We know what we are capable of. »
Since 1970, 150 teams have started the season 1-6 or worse, and only 12 of them have made the playoffs. So that's only 8%knowing that none of them has won more than 47 matches…
“I don’t worry, we will be in the playoffs” retorts Doc Rivers, informed of this statistic.
“The team is very positive. I think they are optimistic”continues the coach. “No one wants to lose. We have some tough matches coming up, but one win at a time. We win three or four times in a row and the stats say if you're 5-6, you have an 80% chance of making the playoffs, right? This is why the figures are sometimes ridiculous, especially at the start of the year. And we don’t pay much attention to it.”
To boost the group's morale a little, we can remind them that Dennis Johnson's Sonics, in 1977/78, reached the Finals (lost 4-3 to the Bullets) after starting the season with 2 wins and 10 losses.
