What happens while Damian Lillard is out?

The Portland Trail Blazers will be without Damian Lillard Friday night versus the Denver Nuggets.

Damian Lillard suffered a right quad strain during Monday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The injury was originally labelled as a quad contusion, but later upgraded to a strain. Lillard left the floor immediately after suffering the injury. He didn’t go back to the locker room, instead stopping at the stationary bike to loosen up his leg.

Portland’s lead began to slip, encouraging Iron Man Dame to return. His movement was severely limited, evident on a Spurs fast break in which Lillard stopped after a few sluggish steps. Without the usual explosiveness from the star point guard, the Blazers blew another fourth quarter lead and dropped to 16-15 on the season.

Damian Lillard blamed his injury for the loss, saying,

"“I just wanted to be out there. My guy never left me. That was one thing they didn’t do, so I felt like that would give us at least a little more space out there. I don’t think they knew exactly how bad my leg was hurt or whatever, so I mean, it is what it is. Like I said, if I could move, I’m sure you guys know I would have been a lot more aggressive and I would have been a lot more hands-on with the end of that game but I did what I could.”"

Injury History

Over the course of his five-year career, Lillard has missed just 14 total games. In each of his first three seasons, the point guard played every match.

However, on numerous occasions this year, he has come up limping and left the game. Each time Dame returns, but not at full strength. While he isn’t injury prone, the eventual accumulation of these minor ailments could be dangerous.

Letting him recover Friday and possibly Saturday versus the Lakers would be wise. After playing Los Angeles on Dec. 23, the next game isn’t until Thursday, Dec. 28. This gives Lillard one week of rest while only missing two games.

Filling in for Damian Lillard

In his absence, Terry Stotts figures to start either Shabazz Napier or Pat Connaughton. Napier would therefore take over point guard duties with the starters, while Connaughton would play shooting guard and move CJ McCollum to point.

Either situation means less offense for an already offensively weak team. Damian Lillard accounts for nearly one-third of Portland’s three-pointers and is used on 30.1% of possessions. On that end of the floor, he leaves giant shoes to fill.

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Additionally, moving Shabazz or Pat out of the reserves means Stotts must change his rotation from the past few games. Joining Ed Davis and Zach Collins off the bench might be Maurice Harkless or Meyers Leonard.

Portland will be very thin at the guard position.

Damian Lillard ideally misses two games maximum. Pulling out a win in one or both of this week’s matchups without him will be a success. Also, beating Denver would be the Blazers’ first home win in over a month.