Film Study: Why Damian Lillard-Giannis Antetokounmpo pairing will perplex defenses

Milwaukee Bucks Preview: How to Defend the Dynamic Duo of Lillard and Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks have formed a powerful offensive combination with the addition of Damian Lillard. Lillard, set to make his Bucks debut against the Philadelphia 76ers, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, promises to be a formidable force. As teams prepare to face this duo, defending them becomes a crucial question. Let’s explore some strategies and insights based on their preseason performances.

1. Blitz and Scramble

The Lillard-Antetokounmpo pick and roll is an obvious go-to play for the Bucks. In the preseason, opponents primarily opted to blitz the pick and roll, featuring two defenders on the ball. While this hinders Lillard’s shooting options, it creates a challenging 4-on-3 scenario behind the blitz, with Antetokounmpo positioned in the middle of the court. The defensive back line needs to collapse into the paint, but Antetokounmpo’s presence often overwhelms a single defender, leaving weak side players open.

2. The Role of Supporting Players

When Lillard and Antetokounmpo shared the court in the preseason games, non-star Bucks players accounted for 42 offensive plays, compared to 39 by Lillard and Antetokounmpo combined. While Lillard and Antetokounmpo are exceptional, success for the Bucks will often hinge on their teammates’ ability to make open shots. Opponents may find it advantageous to let other players handle the ball rather than allowing the stars to dominate.

3. Drop and Hope

In the preseason, the Lakers and Thunder occasionally mixed up their defensive coverages. However, drop coverage was prevalent, as evidenced by the play against the Lakers where Xavier Tillman successfully prevented Lillard from comfortable shooting. Teams need defenders who can stick with Lillard around screens to effectively implement drop coverage and neutralize the Bucks’ advantages. Finding wings of the required length who excel at navigating screens is a challenge.

4. Switch and Deal with Mismatches

Most preseason opponents did not frequently switch defending the Lillard-Antetokounmpo pick and roll. However, when Marcus Smart of the Memphis Grizzlies switched on Antetokounmpo, Ziaire Williams struggled to handle the matchup. For effective switching, teams need two defenders capable of guarding both Lillard on the perimeter and Antetokounmpo inside. Only a handful of teams possess such defenders.

5. Defend with Length

Teams may consider defending Lillard with taller players to counter his shooting range. In the game against the Grizzlies, Williams, who had a significant height advantage over Smart, successfully prevented Lillard from comfortable shooting. Playing drop coverage and relying on lengthy defenders to stay attached to Lillard around screens can minimize the Bucks’ offensive advantages. However, finding the right combination of size and defensive skills is a challenge.

6. Small Screens for Big Impact

Unconventional screen setups can be effective when utilizing the two stars. Shooters such as Lillard can act as screeners, as defenders often hesitate to leave them unguarded. These setups create opportunities for Antetokounmpo to capitalize on the resulting mismatches. The Bucks have various offensive actions at their disposal to exploit defenses. Defending against these actions requires adaptability and quick decision-making.

As the Milwaukee Bucks showcase their new star duo of Lillard and Antetokounmpo, opponents face the challenging task of countering their offensive prowess. With multiple strategies to consider and an unpredictable offensive arsenal, defending against this dynamic duo is far from easy.

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Olivia Wilson

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