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Antetokounmpo-Lillard partnership is still a work in progress, Rivers says

The Antetokounmpo-Lillard partnership has yet to reach its full potential.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard may have played a combined 99 games already this season, but coach Doc Rivers revealed their chemistry on the court is still a work in progress.

While the Bucks have compiled wins enough to put them at the upper part of the Eastern Conference standings, Giannis and Dame are still finding ways to make themselves more effective in pick-and-roll plays.

“The Giannis-Dame thing is coming, but it's ways away,” said Rivers.

Giannis, Dame trying to get better

The Greek Freak said the good thing about the two superstars is that they have continued developing their on-court partnership.

“You can see it like even today in practice, they had two or three times just staying in the game where you can see them trying to figure out the two-man game. The thing is, they're both elite and so when Giannis comes off a pick, that’s it. When Dame comes off a pick, that's it. They have to learn ‘okay maybe that's not it, maybe I can get a better shot if I throw it back and play the two-man game longer’,” Rivers said.

The Giannis-Dame duo is lethal, but they must learn how to co-exist, as the partnership may do more harm than good for the Bucks.

“They're so good that it's almost bad in some ways for them when they're together,” said Rivers.

A lethal duo

On the season, Giannis is averaging 30.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Dame is good for 25.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. The duo has powered the Bucks to a 34-19 record at this point of the season.

It appears that the Giannis-Dame partnership is taking time to develop, but Rivers assured us that once the duo figures things out, they will cause a lot of problems for the opposing teams.

“When they get it, it’s going to be tough to guard,” said Doc.

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.