FanPost

Overreacting to ReStart Game #6: Portland 124, Philadelphia 121

THIS WEEKEND'S GAME SHOW WHY WE LOVE DAMIAN LILLARD. True. There are maybe 10 superstars in the NBA. Dame doesn't bring the all around game of a LeBron or Kawh or Giannisi, the exquisite skills in a huge body like KD or AD, the all-time unstoppable shot-making of Harden or Curry, or the unstoppable energy of Westbrook. So what is it about Dame that makes all of us so thoroughly in Lillard's corner?

He doesn't always succeed, as we witnessed on Saturday. Although he succeeds more than all but a very few. He doesn't always win. Dame cannot single-handedly Portland unbeatable. Win or lose, Damian Lillard plays the game with an integrity that shines through at all times. He also brings us into the process. We know what he is thinking and we get to participate in the amazing ride. Here are some examples of what I mean:

Dame knew how costly his 2 missed free throws were against the Clippers. No excuses. No blame for others. He explained what he was thinking and he owned it. Dame would always want to be the player in position to win or lose the game. Part of the price of that is knowing that at least once in a while you will fail.

Pat Beverly is known for his cheap shots on the court and he was quick to pile on in social media. Paul George joined in as well. Lillard has too much pride to take disrespect from those two fools. So just a gentle reminder about a couple of play-off series that ended with Lillard bombs and move on. Oh, he also reminded us that inl Lillard World there is no honor in jumping onto Lebron's (or anyone else's) to become a world champion.

Then at the start of today's game, which was now even more crucial, Lillard started the game knowing right away that his 3 point shot was off. After a 2-10 from deep on Saturday, Dame could not let a cooling stroke from deep sink the Blazers again. So he drove. He drew fouls. He imposed his will on the game. Finally in the 4th, he re-gained his stroke. When Richardson tried to crowd him 30 feet away from the hoop, Lillard lured him into a foul on a long shot that turned into a 4 point play. 51 points on 16-28 shooting. 15-16 on his free throws. Just another Portland win that only Damian Lillard could create.

I will point out a sequence that speaks volumes about Dame's leadership. Mario Hezonja had one of his most important games of the season. He forced a couple of steals, shot and made a lay-up on the break instead of his usual Euro-garbage miss. But at one point Mario forced up a step back 3. Whoa there. Even worse, when Portland was trying to come back in the 4th, Mario turned down a dribble hand-off to Dame, then dribbled to the free throw line and missed a contested jumper. I guarantee you that if that happened to Chris Paul, Hezonja's ears would still be burning. In his post-game comments, Dame mentioned that the team stayed together and did not go after each other even as they struggled. That is your superstar who is also one of the league's best leaders.

Make the play-offs or not. Win a play-off series or not. It is and always will be along on the magic carpet ride with Damian Lillard.

HAS STOTTS LOST HIS TOUCH WITH HALF-TIME ADJUSTMENTS? No, there are just no adjustments to make. When Portland has played there best over the last few seasons, we are used to the Blazers roaring out with impact in the 3rd quarter. Yet both the undermanned Clippers and undermanned 76ers came out clawing after the intermission. In both cases, the opponent turned up their defensive intensity. Especially in today's game, Philadelphia realized how tissue-thin Portland perimeter defense is. It may look like you are guarded, but you will have shooting practice shots all night long. Just relax and make them.

No Ariza. No Hood. Melo or Trent trying to guard elite wings. We can hope and root that Portland wins this battle of sub-.500 teams to take the 8th spot. But there is still heartbreak ahead when the Blazers get into a series against anyone who can shoot from deep.

ATTENTION TO DETAILS MATTERS. True. Dame even mentioned this in his post-game comments. But Portland had an awful sequence to close out the 1st half. Portland had the ball and could take the last shot. But the 76ers applied pressure. Dame pushed the ball into the front court and dished to Simons. Instead of dribbling the ball out for the last shot, Ant took and missed a 3. Philadelphia came back. Melo knew Portland had a foul to give. But he took it too late and it was a foul on the shot. Then Portland attempted a quick full-court pass that went to no one. The Sixers got a last second shot that almost went in. You cannot win games while butchering the ends of quarters like that.

FINAL GRADE. No Kawhi on Saturday. No Simmons and then Embiid went out. Portland was lucky, but also learned not to let down against the replacements. Melo continues to be more aggressive with the dribble in his offense and it is paying off. Nurk played some excellent defense in the fourth while tip-toeing around with 5 fouls. Trent, Jr. had to come crashing back to Earth and he did, with 5 points and 1-6 from deep. I know it is unfair to judge Collins based on these games, but he is not establishing anything special about his game. But this was all about the greatness of Dame. Redemption is sweet. Memphis continues to lose. One more win should certainly be enough and 2 should give Portland the 8th seed. A great, nail-biting win. A