I'd NOT go back to work either if I already had 10s of millions in the bank. Makes that decision SO much easier.
Lowe's Five Things includes this bit on Lillard: "I love little moments when you see an NBA player -- by definition one of the world's best athletes -- reduced to shrieking panic. The most common might be when a little guy finds himself switched onto a post behemoth. His eyes widen, and he screams for help. (The inverse is the delight the offensive team takes in discovering that delicious mismatch. The entire Dallas Mavericks bench would sometimes stand, cackling and pointing, when Dirk Nowitzki pinned a guard behind him. They wanted to see the one-legged step-back just as badly as we did.) During Golden State Warriors road games, you can hear the whole arena screech in terror when fans spot Stephen Curry about to pop open off a screen. When Damian Lillard gets rolling, he inspires the same primal fear: DeAndre' Bembry is at half-court when he spies that looming double-screen for Lillard and turns to shout at teammates: Get your asses up here, because this dude is about to jack a 35-footer! Lillard's stat line this season: 29 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 39% shooting from deep on 10 attempts per game, and a career-best 62% true-shooting mark. Luka Doncic: 29 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds, 58% true shooting. Doncic has snared more rebounds; Lillard has shot better. Of course, the Mavericks have also won 11 more games than the Blazers. Given Portland's injuries, I'm not sure that has much to do with any talent gap between the teams' respective tentpole players. Lillard has an under-discussed case for a lower-rung MVP ballot spot. I had him fourth when The Ringer's Bill Simmons and I revealed our tentative ballots last month. Some voters -- including Simmons -- will disqualify Lillard because of Portland's sub-.500 record. Fine. Winning matters, and everyone should approach the exercise in a way that feels comfortable for them. For me, team record can't be everything. It of course matters a lot. I don't think I could ever put anyone from a team with fewer than 45 (maybe 48?) wins in my top three. Games don't carry the same stakes below that level. But the 2019-20 Blazers -- down three starters most of the season -- are roadkill with a league-average point guard in Lillard's place. My ballot has room in spots Nos. 4 and 5 every few years for a guy having the kind of season Lillard is having in that sort of team context.zzz" You'll have to go here to see the video: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...gs-like-including-chicago-bulls-premature-end
Most NBA players aren't that great at saving. I totally respect Ingles for doing this. I hope I would if he was a Blazer.
Just a reminder that Kobe was not clutch: James is 10-for-25 (40 percent) in the playoffs on shots attempted when tied or trailing by two points or fewer in the final 24 seconds. Bryant was 7-for-28 (25 percent). James is 12-for-23 (52 percent) on playoff game-tying or go-ahead field goals with less than 10 seconds left. Bryant was 5-for-22 (23 percent). James has made five buzzer-beating game-winners in his playoff career. Bryant made one. This is not close. – via Ben Rohrbach @ Yahoo! Sports
Here is a chart for 2018-19 regular season: https://stats.nba.com/players/clutc...9&SeasonType=Regular Season&TeamID=1610612757
Here's for playoffs last year; not sure how to get cumulative. https://stats.nba.com/players/clutc...2018-19&SeasonType=Playoffs&TeamID=1610612757
If Adam Silver doesn't have to pay, THE HCP doesn't either. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...ures-sued-125m-missed-rent-fifth-avenue-store