The Portland Trail Blazers key one-on-one matchup’s at every position

PG: Damian Lillard vs Ja Morant

If any two players are returning to play with chips on their shoulders, it’s Ja Morant and Damian Lillard. In a matchup that could preview the NBA’s first-ever Play-In Round, Ja and Dame are sure to approach this as a must-win game.

Ja Morant and the Grizzlies have already exceeded expectations this year, but it’s clear this young squad is not satisfied by merely raising a few eyebrows. Morant has reportedly gained 12 pounds of muscle since the season’s pause, a sign he’s as disciplined and dedicated as ever.

In a way, he reflects the mindset of Damian Lillard, his first opponent, upon the season’s return. Since his Rookie of the Year campaign seven years ago, Lillard has played with locked-in precision, fearing no opponent, willing to go toe to toe with the best since day one.

In the single game Lillard and Morant have ever played against each other, they produced near-identical stats in a Memphis 111-104 win. Both ended the night with 20 points and five rebounds, with Lillard earning ten assists to Morant’s nine.

While neither dominated the other, Morant’s explosive abilities often exposed Lillard’s defensive weaknesses, blowing by the superstar numerous times throughout the night. Now that Lillard has experience against the Rookie, he should be better prepared. After all, Lillard did an exceptional job guarding a similarly explosive player in last year’s playoffs by the name of Russell Westbrook. Still, if Morant has gained the weight he says he has, he will pose a more significant physical threat on both ends of the floor.

Lillard, Morant, and their respective teams enter the rest of the season with different, but equally determined mindsets. Morant and the Grizzlies are looking to prove that while they may be young, their time is now. Meanwhile, Lillard and the Blazers are hoping to finally silence the naysayers after a season full of hiccups. While only the first of eight remaining games for both teams, expect Lillard and Morant to play with a win or go home mentality.