No Giannis? No problem for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers.
But they will still need him in future games, and according to Doc Rivers, Giannis Antetokounmpo is making positive progress from the torn soleus calf injury he suffered in a game against the Boston Celtics earlier this month.
He was listed as out until April 20, the start of the NBA 2024 Playoffs, but was listed as doubtful in the first game against the Pacers.
The Bucks are non-favorites in the series due to Giannis' absence.
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Doc Rivers refuses to provide the exact answer to questions about his star player's availability.
However, he ensured the two-time MVP was on track with his recovery.
In the game against the Pacers, Giannis was seen on the sidelines cheering his teammates.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Injury Update
When asked by The Athletic writer Eric Nehm about Antetokounmpo's activity, Rivers said that the player did not work out yesterday as it was only a maintenance day.
However, he had been busy with physical activities the previous days.
"I can literally not tell you one thing about anything those guys do," he said.
"I've learned that I just stay out of the training room. Number one, I don't want to be in there because they make me get on the table. You've seen me walk, right? So, I don't know but I know even that is active stuff though, I will say that. I know he's doing physical lifting and moving. But today, he's been on the court four days in a row, so I think today is a non-court day, that might be a better way to say that."
The Bucks fan base keeps their fingers crossed for a possible early Giannis return.
The player is known for being able to come back from severe injury earlier and stronger than expected.
The most notable was his 2021 Wolverine-like recovery when his right leg bent backward. He returned to lead his team to the NBA championship, including producing 50 points in the title-clinching game.
The Bucks are now in their third straight postseason run, and they are missing a key player.
Good thing for them; they have a quality player who can step up in the most important moments.
Damian Lillard's performance against Pacers
Lillard was brought in by the Bucks earlier this summer to be the Robin to Antetokounmpo's Batman.
He did just that in Game 1, scoring 35 points in the first half to keep the PacersPacers at bay.
The team struggled heading into the playoffs, putting clouds in their playoff chances.
What changed Dame's drive? The sweet-shooting point guard said he had a one-on-one dinner with Rivers and talked about boxing before the start of the playoffs.
"I told him and we did it," Lillard said. But it wasn't like no, 'Oh, we talking' thing, we just chopped it up. It was just dinner with Doc, not dinner with the coach and the point guard. We just talk a lot of s- about boxing."
The team will slug it out for another round with the Pacers tomorrow.
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