© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Damian Lillard says blowout loss to the Atlanta Hawks is part of the process
The Milwaukee Bucks got blown out by the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night, 127-110, but they are not about to press the panic button despite the ugly loss.
It’s easy to pin the blowout loss on the dismal performance of Damian Lillard, who was held scoreless in the first half and managed just six points in the entire game.
Still fishing for form
Lillard downplayed his poor performance, saying it just goes to show that the Bucks are still a work in progress with several new pieces in the team.
“We're still learning each other. It's a process of when I do have a start like this or have a game like this, how do I find it without holding onto the ball? Or in the past, I would search sometimes, but I don't have to, so it's where do I find those moments and those opportunities to get myself going so I can be a positive out there?” said Lillard.
The seven-time All-Star erupted for 39 points when the Bucks started the season with a 118-117 win over the Philadelphia Sixers also at the Fiserv Forum last Thursday night.
They may have gotten off to a winning start, but the loss to the Hawks showed that the Bucks are still finding their form, something that can be solved as the season progresses, Dame pointed out.
“That's part of the process. It's just our second game. We haven't played a bunch of games together. I think as we go, we'll figure that out and get better at it,” said Lillard, who went 2-for-12 from the field and didn’t attempt a single free throw after going 17-for-17 in their win versus the Sixers.
Giannis got Dame’s back
It was such a struggle for Lillard, who was held scoreless at halftime for the first time since 2020. His meager six-point output also ended his streak of 79 games with double-digit points.
“You don't want to have these types of games, but they happen,” Lillard said.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is also unfazed by Dame's lackluster performance against the Hawks. The Greek Freak agreed with his fellow All-Star that the loss was just part of the process.
“It's game two. It's very, very early. We're still figuring ourselves out. We're figuring out what works. We're figuring out what we are good at, what we are not good at,” Giannis said.
