Damian Lillard is no better than Stephen Curry. I’m saying this beforehand because, after what Lillard did with Curry’s Warriors on Wednesday night, there are likely to be some sizzling scenes flying around. To be honest, I have one burning inside of me. I had to stop writing the column “Lillard is at least like Curry” five times this season. I have been, you might say, moderate enough. I recognize Curry’s superiority. I am not going there.
Where I’m going – and, frankly, where all the half-logical basketball players on this planet should be joining me – is to assert as an indisputable fact that Lillard is in a league that even Curry can’t compete in when it comes to grabbing the shot. He did it again on Wednesday, reaching this 3 point retreat with the Portland Trail Blazers at one and 13.7 seconds to play.
In the ensuing possession, it was Lillard stepping in front of Draymond Green for the closing charge of the game: Blazers 108, Warriors 106.
You can argue whether it was a load or a block, which means whether Lillard was fully adjusted or slightly in motion before making that contact, but let’s pay attention to what happened before Green’s penetration. Obviously, Golden State plans to reach the ball for Curry, who was spectacular all night with 35 points, but watch the game again and notice how Curry is not looking back in space for a shot like the one Lillard just hit. He is going upside down towards the hoop and straight to a switch, and when he is stoned by Rodney Hood, he gives the ball to Green, who then goes to the hoop.
There are reasons for all of this on Curry’s part. If he pulls the ball back into 3-point isolation instead of trying to turn the corner, there is a good chance that a second defender will follow him and he has to give up anyway. He’s trying to attack before a double team arrives. There is also a saying in basketball, although of questionable validity, that one should always attack the hoop in a tie / win situation instead of “settling” for a jumper.
Call if you like, but there is nothing about these winning moves that Lillard regularly makes, and does, that even remotely resembles a settlement. Reverse the script with Curry, and there is no way Lillard will force his way into congestion, and certainly no chance of him giving the ball to Draymond Green, with an opportunity to win the game. One way or another, Lillard is giving it a try. And it is a very good bet that he will get.
The numbers for Lillard’s clutch this season look comical. When a game is within five points with five minutes or less to play, it is shooting 61.4 percent (27 by 44) of the field, 57.1 percent (12 by 21) of three and 100 percent (26 by 36) of the free-throw line. His total 92 clutch points lose to Zach LaVine at the top of the league. The Blazers, basically a team neutral in terms of overall points difference, go to over-31 in Lillard’s clutch minutes and carry a record of 13-5 in those tight games.
Per ESPN Stats and Info, Lillard entered Wednesday’s game against the Warriors after hitting 28 career tie / win strokes in the last 20 seconds, the highest number in the league since he joined in 2012-13.
You can do this 29.
What made Lillard’s heroism on Wednesday even more impressive is that he was not playing a big game. By his standards, he was having a terrible time. He went 1 to 8 out of three in the first 45 minutes and 54 seconds. He scored 2 to 2 in winning time by scoring the Blazers’ final eight points.
There are those who will argue that the best clutch players don’t get much better at the biggest moments, but yes, they just don’t get worse. I’ve heard people say that about Derek Jeter for years, when it comes to his heroic post-season acts. It didn’t get any better; he just didn’t fall where others did. I never bought that. When Jeter came to the plate in October at a great time, you expected a success. This feeling is not just created. It is rooted in repetition. You’ve seen the guy do this over and over.
Dame is the same. You expect him to hit those shots, get to this level in the best of times, because you’ve seen him do it so many times. It makes it look routine. Inevitable. There is no doubt that, as the stakes increase, so does Lillard’s game and, somehow, his confidence, which has already reached its limit. He you know he will take that shot. Curry is a better sniper. A better player. But with a gun to his head, Lillard is the one you want to shoot for your life. At this point, I’m not sure how someone without a death wish could choose otherwise.