Portland Traillblazers: Why Lillard was ejected with 1.2 left in the game
In a hard-fought game with the New Orleans Pelicans, you could see Dame’s frustration rise in the fourth quarter. Then, with only 1.2 seconds left, he was tossed from the game.
Damian Lillard was ejected from a game for the first time in his career. Why, Dame? The game was over. Is this the last straw? You played a great game. You’ve been playing exceptionally. Your teammates, now that’s another story.
I understand the refs can be frustrating but doesn’t it seem they frustrate you the most when you’re losing a game you should be winning?
Dame couldn't believe it, and rightfully so #RipCity https://t.co/fU65StbPsf
— Blazers Nation (@BlazersNationCP) December 22, 2021
Where was the defense?
Thie Pelicans shouldn’t have been that hard a game for the Blazers. Jusuf Nurkic and Robert Covington looked as if this was their first rodeo. No defense whatsoever. How could they allow the Pelicans to go on a 19-6 run to win the game?
As I watched, I found myself yelling at the screen. “Defense, defense!!” All the while looking for Chauncey Billups to call a time out and yell at them. Or at the very least yell from the sidelines.
Where was the coach?
Billups was hired as a defensive coach. He was hired to bring defense to an otherwise defense-less team. Well, the Blazers still rank 28th in the league in points allowed per possession.
According to an article in Pro Basketball Talk|NBC Sports, the players are “frustrated with Chauncey Billups’ demeanor.” The players should be frustrated with losing. But, unfortunately, they are a losing team. Dame, Norman Powell, Larry Nance, Jr., and Anfernee Simons are not an entire team. They need more help. They have no other help.
“We gotta be a little bit better at the start of quarters,” Billups stated in the post-game presser after the Pelicans game. Do you think Chaunce? A “little bit better?!” He thought they played well! He thought Nurk did a good job?!?!? Nurkic had five rebounds!!! Josh Hart had his way with Nurkic and Covington. And dare I bring up Nickeil Alexander-Walker?!?!? “You can’t do anything when a player scores 27 points”, says Chauncey Billups, the coach. How about defense? Ever tried that?
The game was not hanging in the balance when the refs ejected Dame. Were you there? Did you see why your player was ejected from the game?
Walker and Brandon Ingram scored at will. It was gut-wrenching. And Chauncey’s words afterward made it worse.
Was it the officiating?
It may have been the officiating that frustrated the hell out of Dame. But I don’t believe that was the whole deal. His team doesn’t play defense (or much offense, either). The officiating around the NBA has been shoddy—too many “oops” for my book. You can’t give a team a win after the league sees a referee’s mistakes. So no sense in getting upset with it.
I can’t say the entire team was terrible. Norman Powell, Anfernee Simons, and Larry Nance, Jr played as best and hard as they could, but the last time I checked, don’t you at least have to have a nine-man rotation?
https://youtu.be/UnSrZBsI6hs
Mr. Lillard, it may be hard to find a team that’s willing to take you on, bruh, but I would sure find out if there are any takers if I were you.