Portland Trail Blazers: 5 more keys to pulling out the Denver series
Rob Ryan
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5. Damian Lillard is at his best, the rest of the team has to be as well
Lillard’s Game 5 playoff performance the most insane I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. All I kept thinking about was that the team owes Dame big time. Not just for game 5, but for the earlier games in the series.
While we’re at it, they should also thank him for…
- His absurd run at the end of last season that helped the team get into the playoffs as the eighth seed.
- The incredible series against the OKC Thunder in the 2019 playoffs.
- Leading a team without a second All-Star to continuous winning records., for
- Hitting the shot against the Rockets in the 2014 playoffs that got the team out of Round 1 for the first time in 14 years.
This team owes Damian Lillard.
Dame Lillard In Game 5
12 Made 3s, New Postseason Record
Average Shot Distance On Those: 27.7 Feet
9 Of 12 Were Unassisted
(tied for the most unassisted 3s in any game ever)Most efficient 50+ point game in postseason history
(96.8 TS%)https://t.co/eatQThsr6J pic.twitter.com/iL4p0cldg4— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) June 2, 2021
Watching Dames post-game interview had me feel for the guy on a whole new level. Dames loyalty, his continuous support of his teammates, coach, GM, franchise, the city, the Portland Trail Blazers fans is genuine. We all owe Dame.
I hope his teammates watched his demeanor in that post-game press conference. His exhaustion and the look of defeat on his face showed someone who absolutely gave his all. Thursday is a chance for the rest of the team to step up in this series and match Dame’s intensity level.
If the team doesn’t rise to the challenge, it’s time to admit that either GM Neil Olshey hasn’t maximized the talent on the roster like he is supposed to do, or Terry Stotts hasn’t coached the team to its potential.
Next: Page 4 – Prediction
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