Report claims the Milwaukee Bucks’ poor defense isn’t just because of Damian Lillard

Don’t put all of the Bucks' defensive shortcomings on Dame’s shoulders.

© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks knew the player they were getting when they traded for seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard. As great an offensive talent Lillard is, his defense is akin to a sieve. But is Lillard really to blame for all of Milwaukee’s woes on that end of the court? A closer look at the stats indicates the answer is a resounding “no.”

Missing Jrue

Jrue Holiday was a disruptive force on defense that the Bucks regularly deployed on point guards, wingmen, and at times, bigs. His ability to stay in front of ball handlers and defend multiple positions enabled the Bucks to shift pieces around their defense and plug holes where they needed it most.

However, with Holiday gone, Milwaukee’s defensive shortcomings have become more pronounced, but it’s not all on Lillard’s shoulders.

“Everyone understood Damian Lillard would be a downgrade on defense from Jrue Holiday, but the "I told you so" crowd that likes to pipe up about how Milwaukee's struggles on D were easy to see coming is missing something important. The Bucks' defense has actually been better with Dame on the floor than off it. So, it's clearly not just the point guard swap dragging the team down,” Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report explained.

Damian Lillard believes he’s serviceable on defense

“If you take a look into my progression defensively you’ll see I’ve gotten better year after year. I understand where to be on the floor, how to rotate and how to play team defense. I’m not gonna come in here and be Jrue… pic.twitter.com/gTz6D120z8

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 2, 2023

Finding their identity on D

In talking about the Bucks’ defensive issues, where does one start? There’s the team’s transition defense, which ranks dead-last in opponent frequency, which means opposing teams are running more often against Milwaukee than anyone else in the league. The Bucks also rank 24th in points given up per game, with teams averaging 117.7 points against them.

“This isn't just Lillard, and this isn't just going away. The Bucks' customary activity level, communication, and effort just hasn't been there,” Hughes added.

The Bucks defense is allowing opponents to score 1.1 points per pick-and-roll, the 3rd-worst in the NBA.

Milwaukee ranked 2nd last year, per @SynergySST.

It's a long season ahead to figure it out but what a rough start for the defense under new head coach Adrian Griffin. pic.twitter.com/xPE7kRX9Sl

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 13, 2023

Damian Lillard’s “lazy” defense can cost the Milwaukee Bucks the NBA title, says report