Lillard used to rise to the occasion. Now he shrinks from it. He used to look special. Now he looks ordinary. His shot selection is terrible. His defense is horrible. His confidence has vanished. He seems to think he's the same player he was his rookie year, but he's not. He's worse. Tonight he watched while Benoh Udra set a career playoff high, making him just the latest point guard to have a career game against Lillard. What happened to Damian Lillard, that's what I want to know?
He definitely has a problem against Memphis because he has lately been trying to replace his lost 3 pointer with drives to the basket and they got guys waiting for him there.
I thought he might snap out of whatever shooting funk he was in the 2nd half of the regular season. Because stars rise up in the playoffs, but instead, he regressed even further.
When it is a physical issue you can't just "snap out of it". You have to actually get better (heal). The IQ of this board goes in the tank during losses.
He isn't the only one with physical issues. I'm sure just about every player has something nagging at them especially at this time of year. This can only be used for so long.
Never said he was. But he is hurt more than most. A combination of back injury and ligament issue in his fingers is a death sentence when the two are together. He and the team was insistent on him playing all 82 games (since he has a streak going) and that was a horrible idea. He needed rest.
He needs to force the perimeter shot. I think Stotts needs to play a mid range game with him this series
But I agree, Lillard is the type of player that needs to be feared. A guy like Steph Curry or CP3 where he gets the ball and you'd be like "oh fuck". Lately its been he gets the ball and Blazers fans be like "aw fuck".
Yup couldn't agree more. I've said it all year. Dude needs to swallow his damn pride. Take a week, 2 weeks, a month off, however long is needed to get ready and healed up for the playoffs. But no a streak of games seems more important.
Uh, when he got hurt, TWICE. He has torn ligaments in his finger and a bad back from a nasty fall. I understand you only show up to post when their are losses but if you can't be bothered to actually watch the games then you are contributing to that falling IQ I mentioned.
I think it's a lil less physical than it is mental. If it was physical they would have gave him a rest. Damn the streak. What's more important the teams success or his stretch of games of starting? If the organization says the latter. It's no wonder why they are where they are at. Priorities are good.