Bucks Zone

"It's been a tough year" - Damian Lillard talks about the challenges of new team and coaching reshuffle

Dame is optimistic the Milwaukee Bucks will overcome adversity.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard had an All-Star Weekend to remember, and he is hoping that his success in the annual spectacle will carry over into the second half of the season.

Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks are hoping to pick things up in the second half of the season after they limped into the All-Star break with back-to-back losses against teams that were missing key players.

A rough stretch before the All-Star break

The Bucks headed into the All-Star break with a 35-21 record, good for third place in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks are just 3-7 under Doc Rivers. They were 30-13 when Adrian Griffin was fired. Joe Prunty temporarily handled the coaching chores for Milwaukee before Rivers came on board.

Dame admitted that moving to a new team and the coaching reshuffle kind of threw his rhythm off.

“It's been a tough year, just the transition to a new team; we've had three coaches since I've been there," Lillard said.

Not giving up

Amid the rough stretch, Dame vowed that he will continue to work hard as the season enters its crucial stretch.

“Anytime you have these types of experiences where you have adversity ... I think that's the time you got to show who you really are. Keep doing what you do, keep believing, and when you do that, usually it comes back to you,” Lillard said.

The All-Star Weekend was a welcome respite for Lillard. He defended his three-point shootout title and then powered the East All-Stars to a 211-186 win over the West All-Stars.

Lillard won the All-Star Game MVP award after firing 39 points on 11-for-23 shooting from three-point range. He joined Michael Jordan as the only players to win a side event and be named MVP in the same All-Star weekend.

Malik Beasley and Pat Connaughton allege Damian Lillard missed his first four shots on the last rack on purpose

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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.