Damian Lillard’s Top 5 Rookie Performances
Feb 12, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket as Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem (40) looks on during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
#5 – Turning up the Heat
February 12, 2013 104-117 (L)
Stats: 10-18, 33 points, 10-11 on free throws
Regretfully we open with a loss, but pouring in 33 points on 10-18 shooting, on the road, against the defending champions, who were also the 9th best defense in the league mitigates the defeat. The swarming defense did cause some problems, forcing Lillard into four turnovers, but he also made that same defense pay for its aggression, getting to the line a whopping 11 times. Finally, while Heat point guard Mario Chalmers can’t be considered a lynchpin of his team’s offense, his five points on 2-5 shooting were well below his season averages.