The Pacers outscored the Bucks 125-108 to tie the overall score 1-1. The Bucks are also the only team in the top half to be tied by teams in the bottom half of the league, and it can only be said that the absence of letters has too much impact. Now Lillard is like Harden, they used to be able to do everything and C the whole game. Nowadays, their age is not enough to guarantee that they will be able to C a full game. So Lillard cut 36+6 in the last game, and most of the points contributed in the first half, and today Lillard is 34+5, with 26 points in the first half and only 8 points in the second half.
So Lillard's hovering between superghosts and supergods in the first half came from a lack of physical fitness. Because in the last two games, Lillard has scored eight points on 3-of-14 shooting in the second half and has five fouls, with a total plus/minus of -42. It is also said that Lillard in the first half was the savior of the Bucks. But Lillard was on the floor in the second half, and the Bucks lost by 42 points in two games, which is the level of the oil bottle. The question for the Bucks is not that Lillard is getting less and less physical slots, but whether the letter should come back?
Alphabet is still suffering from a strained left halibut muscle, and Alphabet tried to play before today's game, but was eventually relegated to a non-play. Today's Bucks script is like taking the script of 21 Nets and 23 Philadelphia. The letter is Harden, who is also unable to play due to injury problems, and it is dangerous to force a comeback. And Lillard took the script of Harden in '23, Embiid was not there, he led the team alone to win the Celtics on the road, and the whole team pinned their hopes on one person.
But the problem is that it's unrealistic to expect a core to lead the team to the next level. If Lillard is only 28 years old, there is hope, but his current age is like what Harden said, you can't last the whole game. Today is actually obvious, the Bucks came up and attacked fiercely, Lillard and Da Luo came up and hit 5 three-pointers with full firepower, and the Bucks led 21-13. But the Pacers soon fought back on a 13-2 run led by Siakam. The Pacers led by four points at 30-26 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the two sides went against each other, and Lillard started the final matchless mode, but the Pacers still led the Bucks by relying on their overall strength, leading by 5 points at halftime at 60-55. In the second half, Lillard was close to running out of energy, and the Pacers quickly stretched the deficit to nine points into the final quarter. In the final quarter, the Bucks tried to fight back, but the Pacers were all in the game, Siakam and Turner all came, and a wave of 22-4 instantly played the game. In the whole game, the Pacers slashed 37 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, Turner had 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, Haliburton still felt sluggish and scored 12 points and 12 assists, and Nembhard scored 20 points.
The Bucks have done their best, Lillard, Da Luo's 22 points have exceeded expectations, Portis has 14 points and 11 boards, and Middleton has 15 points. Now the Bucks are on the verge of extinction, and if they don't have the alphabet, they will have to make their first round. Alphabet has the league's top sweeping ability on the defensive end, and without him the Bucks' defensive system is difficult to sustain the intensity. There is no one to help Da Luo defend, no one to protect the frame under the basket, and no one to deter the opponent.
On the offensive end, the letter holds the ball and cuts inside to attack the frame, which is the best in the league, and he can play more easily with Lillard. Without him, the Bucks' offense was entirely Lillard's. And the Pacers will get better and better, Haliburton will feel better when he returns to his home court, and Siakam and Turner are also improving. Of course, whether the letter comes back or not, the Bucks have no chance of winning the championship this year. This year's East is the world of the Celtics, and no team can stand in their way.