In discussing the pairing of Lillard and the Greek Freak, Su Qun, a media personality, has shared his own perspective. He contends that the Bucks, in trading away Holliday and Allen for Lillard, lacked foresight, and the combination of Lillard and the Greek Freak didn't exhibit the anticipated strength. Here's a revised version of the original text:
After the Milwaukee Bucks suffered a 23-point loss to the young Oklahoma City Thunder in a preseason game, doubts naturally arose about the potential of the Lillard-Greek Freak pairing, often dubbed as "one of the greatest duos in history."
The Greek Freak, still displaying his ability to dominate, recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in just 25 minutes, shooting 8 for 12. On the other hand, Lillard had a tough night, managing a mere 5 points in 25 minutes, shooting a dismal 2 for 11 from the field and going 0 for 5 from beyond the arc.
Lillard's struggles were somewhat foreseeable, and upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the Bucks' decision to trade away Holliday and Allen for Lillard was not the result of a well-thought-out strategy but more of a spontaneous move.
In the quest to retain a star player eager to secure victories, NBA teams often find themselves at a crossroads where trading becomes the only option. In their pursuit of this challenging path, the Bucks had identified Lillard as the key piece to potentially dismantle their rival, the Miami Heat, in the "Black Eight" showdown. Thus, the Bucks' eagerness to make the trade was justifiable.
When compared to other renowned duos, the Greek Freak and Lillard differ in that they do not seem to struggle with issues related to hierarchy and ball distribution due to their low-profile and reserved nature. However, they need to come to terms with the reality that their combined strength might not be as formidable as initially envisioned, especially in this, their first season as partners.
Undoubtedly, being labeled as "one of the best duos of all time" demands an ample amount of time for synergy to develop. Lillard and the Greek Freak face unique challenges. They only face each other twice a season, do not engage in offseason training together, and even in the All-Star game, they do not find themselves on the same team. Moreover, representing different national teams means they lack the shared experience of Olympic Games or World Cup training, unlike the likes of James and Wade or Durant and Irving.
The pairing of NBA superstars is never a simple addition of individual statistics. While Lillard averaged an impressive 32.2 points per game and a three-point shooting rate of 37.1% last season, he has struggled in the two preseason games, managing just 19 points with 5 out of 21 field goals and 2 out of 12 three-point attempts.
In essence, neither the Bucks, Lillard, the Greek Freak, nor their new coach, Griffin, seemed to have seriously contemplated how they would function together until the deal was sealed. As a result, when they did come together, finding a common understanding proved to be quite challenging. The Greek Freak suggested, "Let Lillard be himself," while Lillard acknowledged, "I have to make sacrifices playing alongside the Greek Freak."
