Bucks Zone

Bobby Portis relishing the opportunity to play with Damian Lillard: “It’s fun, man”

Having “Dame Time” on the Bucks is opening things up for everybody.

Jonas Panerio

© Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
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The NBA world finally got to see what Damian Lillard on the Milwaukee Bucks looks like, and Bobby Portis is already relishing the opportunity to play alongside him. With Lillard and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo expected to garner most of the defense’s attention, this leaves things open for role players like Portis to take advantage.

Multiple options

On one play, Portis screened for Lillard, who darted into the lane and kicked it back out to the versatile big man. With the defense scrambling, Portis faked a shot and pierced the defense, knocking down an easy finger-roll layup.

“It’s fun, man,” Portis remarked. “Obviously having a guy that can come off and knock it down like that, guys have to really respect it and be up higher, so I can slip behind the defense. Or if my man stays in coverage too long, I can pick and pop.”

A fun puzzle to read

As difficult as things are going to be for opponents to formulate a viable game plan to disrupt Lillard and Antetokounmpo, the Bucks will also have fun reading and reacting to their stars’ gravity, getting wide-open shots in the process. And with Dame being a crafty veteran, Portis trusts the point guard to make the precise read all the time.

“It’s going to be really fun being able to mix it up and just read the defense. He’s a great point guard — six, seven, eight assists a game — so he’s gonna make the right reads all the time.”

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Jonas Panerio
JONAS PANERIO