Just when we thought the Portland Trailblazers are going out with guns blazing in the Playoffs, their hopes are slowly sliding out of their grasps. The Blazers is now trailing the Golden State Warriors, and as Playoffs history puts it, no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit.
Portland played well during the first round of the Playoffs, and they did so with Damian Lillard at the helm. His game-winning three echoed around the world. CBS Sports described the shot as "one of the highlights of the postseason;" simply put, it made Lillard one of the best closers in the game.
"Dame" however struggled against the Denver Nuggets. At best, Lillard was "pedestrian" in their 7-game series and a "disaster in their current matchup against the Warriors. Although he is averaging around 20 points and 7 assists per outing, Lilliard is only shooting a disheartening 32.9 % from the field.
The Playoffs can be brutal, let alone more physical compared to the regular season. It can take a toll on the players, and Lillard is no exception; they are facing the defending champs and, according to Shams Charania, he is playing with "separated ribs." The website added that he sustained the injury in Game 2.
Portland Trail Blazers All-NBA star Damian Lillard has separated ribs and is playing through the injury, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Lillard shot 5-of-18 in Game 3 loss to Warriors. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 19, 2019
Lillard shot just 5-18 from the field and scored only 19 points in a 110-99 loss to the Warriors in Game 3. Adding salt to the wound is a solid Warriors defense. In the 3 games that they have played, the 4-time All-Star has been hounded by Klay Thompson, a player who is known more for his offense rather than his defense.
Through a Tweet posted by another source, Thompson locked down on Lillard on 44 ball possessions in Game 3. The former's stellar defense paid off; Lillard only scored 3 points while shooting a dismal 1 of 7 from the field and 0 of 4 from behind the arc. The only consolation Dame had during that stretch were 6 assists and a lone turnover.
Injury isn't much of a problem for Lillard. He has never missed more than 10 games in a single season and has averaged around 76 games in the past four years. Last season, he was "slowed" by a number of injuries, but he still managed to put up around 27 points and 7 assists per game. Lillard also came in 4th in the MVP race and earned his third All-Star selection.
Lillard and the rest of the Portland Trailblazers are looking to veer away from a 4-0 sweep but are treading on murky waters. The Warriors are playing without Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins, but they are still in tiptop shape on both ends of the court. Lillard will play through his injury, and now is the time - Dame Time - to at least give Portland another chance.
