How High Can Lillard Go?

Each week, Team Mom highlights her favorite plays, players, and other things that made the Trail Blazers fun to watch. Who is Mom’s Favorite this week? What were your favorite things that happened this week? Let us know in the comments below.

Week 17, February 9-15. Miami (W), New Orleans (L), Memphis (L)

Mom’s Favorite

Damian Lillard jumps really high. On Sunday night February 9 vs the Miami Heat, Damian Lillard rose up to bother Bam Adebayo’s shot. This was not recorded as a block because Damian wasn’t actually between Adebayo and the hoop and Adebayo was still able to finish the attempt. Ultimately the ball did not go in and eventually Gary Trent Jr. stole the ball from Adebayo to send it back the other way. The whole play was delightful. Did you see how high Lillard jumped??

I turned to the person next to me, “Did Damian Lillard really just rise up and almost block Bam Adebayo?”

My seatmate shrugged and said, “Sure seems like it!” and we watched and waited for them to replay it in the arena but they never did.

Fortunately, Trail Blazers’ team photographer Bruce Ely was sitting right under the basket and was able to provide photographic evidence (shout out to Bruce!)

Bam Adebayo is at least 7 inches taller than Lillard (on Lillard’s tallest day), and his standing vertical reach is a full foot higher (Adebayo’s was nine feet at the draft combine, Lillard’s was eight). Lillard had a one inch advantage in their maximum vertical leap. Imagine running for 34 minutes with an entire team on your back and then jumping this high—it’s one of my favorite little moments of the season.

Damian has been carrying a heavy load and now we’re all holding our breath while he recovers from a groin injury sustained on Wednesday. Leading up to the All Star break, he’s played more total minutes than any other player in the league, averaged the second highest minutes per game (just behind James Harden), and he’s performed at a historically high level.

Get well Damian, take as much time as you need to make a full recovery.

Anfernee scores 22 in loss to Memphis Grizzlies. It has been an up and down season for Anfernee Simons in terms of minutes played, shooting percentage, and how much of an impact he has had on the game. In a forgettable week, let’s not lose an excellent night from Simons in Memphis. He had a season-high 22 points, shooting 6-7 from three. Add to that seven rebounds (second highest game this season), one assist and only one turnover.

Here he is shooting two back-to-back threes on his way to scoring 17 points in 15 minutes. Don’t miss his sky-high rebound either.

And here is some nice ball movement against the Grizzlies that ends with another Simons three.

One more thing about Simons, he hasn’t missed a free throw since January 11. He’s 19-19 since then, 27-30 in 2020.

Damian Lillard gets engaged. Lillard proposed to his girlfriend on Valentine’s day. Congratulations to the happy couple. And @roselharding is right, it was great seeing all the former Blazers in attendance at the party.

Happy Birthday Nassir Little! Little, who has been out since February 4 with a sprained ankle, turned 20 this week. Can’t wait to have him back on the court with the rest of the Pink Shoe Shift.

Jamie Hudson steps in to fill some big shoes. With Brooke Olzendam sidelined by illness, the NBC Sports Northwest reporter picked up in-game duties during the two-game road trip. Great job by Hudson!

Blazer’s Edge readers do it again! Huge “thank you” to all the readers who contributed tickets so that deserving kids can attend Blazer’s Edge night in March!

That will do it for this week’s Mom’s Favorites. What did you like about this week? What plays or player make you excited for the future? Let us know in the comments below.

Xoxo Team Mom | @tcbbiggs