With the postseason fast approaching, the Bucks are still waiting on Damian Lillard. It’s unclear exactly when he’ll be back in uniform. The good news? He’s putting in the work. Just two days ago, Lillard dropped a gym clip on his Instagram story. Seeing the nine-time All-Star locked in and grinding was a breath of fresh air—especially with the playoffs only nine days away.

The Bucks aren’t short on talent, but let’s be honest: every edge counts in the East. Of course, bouncing back from a condition like deep vein thrombosis isn’t as simple as just lacing up. It’s a slow climb. Even if he’s cleared soon, shaking off the rust in time for high-stakes basketball won’t be easy. You need more than just skill in the playoffs—you need endurance.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers chimed in on Thursday with a small update. “Everything is still progressing positively,” he said. “Last test was fantastic. So, you know, that’s about all I have. Fingers crossed.” He added, “Yeah. He can shoot and then light running.” reported Eric Nehm.

Not exactly a game plan, but hey, it’s something.

The Bucks will have to stay ready, with or without their star floor general. If Lillard can make it back in time—and in shape—Milwaukee’s odds suddenly look a lot better. But even if they don’t have Lillard, they still have Giannis Antetokounmpo.

And for the rest of the East, that’s already setting off alarms.

During a recent episode of Run It Back on FanDuel TV, former NBA forward Chandler Parsons didn’t mince words when discussing potential first-round matchups. “I think I’d rather the Pistons if I’m the Knicks than the Bucks,” Parsons said. “I don’t want Giannis and Dame, you know?”

His co-panelist, New York Post reporter Stefan Bondy, agreed without hesitation. “I’m with you. I wouldn’t want to touch Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first round,” he said. “To me, he’s the best player in the Eastern Conference. I know people say Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell… to me, it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo still, okay? He’s not somebody I want to see in the playoffs.”

And then there’s the wildcard—Dame Time. “We don’t know what’s going to happen with Dame Lillard in that first round, whether he’s going to play,” Bondy added. “We know about Dame Time and his ability to come through in the clutch.”

Parsons doubled down on his stance. “Yeah, I love what JB is doing in Detroit,” he said, referring to JB Bickerstaff and the Pistons’ turnaround this season. “But I’ll take that inexperience and that youth in the playoffs. I don’t want Dame Lillard and Giannis—two of the best players in the world—in a playoff series.”

Of course, Bondy did point out that the Knicks had Milwaukee’s number in the regular season. “The Knicks in the regular season owned the Milwaukee Bucks,” he said, referencing some of the mismatches. “They tried to put Brook Lopez on Karl-Anthony Towns. That was a disaster.”

Sure, that’s regular-season talk—but the playoffs are a different beast. The Knicks swept the Bucks 3-0 this season, and the Cavs had their moments, too. But come postseason, Giannis Antetokounmpo turns into a nightmare matchup. He’s averaging 30+ points against both teams, and that’s without factoring in a potential Damian Lillard return.

Miami? They’ve dropped all four games to Milwaukee this year—and without Jimmy Butler, they’ve lost their playoff edge. The Bulls split their series 2-2 but haven’t beaten the Bucks in a postseason series since the Derrick Rose era. The Hawks, Magic, and Pistons are all playoff underdogs, and none of them have found a consistent answer for Giannis’ physical dominance.

Bottom line: Whether or not Dame suits up, Milwaukee is still a team no one’s eager to face. Seven Eastern Conference teams have every reason to stay wary. But while Lillard’s production has been sorely missed, someone else has been quietly stepping up—and it’s probably not who you expected.

Damian Lillard’s absence has led to the unexpected rise of this one player

Ever since Damian Lillard went down in late March with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, the Bucks’ backcourt looked like it might crumble. Losing your closer and tempo-setter? That’s tough. Things got shaky fast.

Then came Kevin Porter Jr.

Milwaukee didn’t roll out a red carpet when they got him in that trade for MarJon Beauchamp, but maybe they should have. Credit where it’s due—GM Jon Horst might’ve pulled off a quiet heist.

Porter isn’t Dame, and no one’s saying he is. But man, has he been showing up. Whether it’s locking down on defense or sinking clutch buckets, he’s been the spark this team desperately needed. He’s not just holding the fort—he’s changing the vibe.

Remember that wild comeback against the Timberwolves? Down 24 with 10 minutes left and somehow storming back? Porter was right in the middle of that madness—21 points, five steals, and a fourth-quarter takeover that had Fiserv Forum rocking. That little back-and-forth with Rudy Gobert? Yeah, the fans ate that up.

And just when you thought it was a fluke, he turned around and dropped 24-12-8 on the Heat.

So no, you don’t replace a guy like Lillard. But what Porter’s doing? It’s keeping the Bucks steady. And who knows—maybe he’s the X-factor nobody saw coming.