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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 reasons why Damian Lillard deserves All-NBA nod

By Stevie Cozens

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 01: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during pregame against the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on April 1, 2018 in Portland, Oregon.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 01: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during pregame against the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on April 1, 2018 in Portland, Oregon.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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Damian Lillard has had one of his best seasons in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform. Why does the star point guard deserve to be named in an All-NBA team?

Damian Lillard has found more ways to elevate his game for this Portland Trail Blazers team in 2019/20. This season has been his best one in the league so far. Though the Blazers haven’t had the team success that they would like, Dame has career highs across the board. In 2019/20, he put the team on his back with some of the worst injuries in recent memory on the Blazers roster.

We think Dame should be All-NBA second team at worst.

Why does Dame deserve an All-NBA selection this season?

The Blazers had one of the best offenses in the league.

The mark of a great point guard is the level of offense that they run. This is one of the most important factors when judging a point guards play. Currently, the Blazers have the league’s fifth-best offense. This is a massive accomplishment when you consider the injury toll this season. No starting center the first part of the season in Jusuf Nurkic, no starting power forward for 60 games in Zach Collins, and then no Rodney Hood for 50ish games.

When you add the eight games that Dame missed himself and then the games before Trevor Ariza was allowed to play after he traded from Sacramento, you realize just how shorthanded this team was.

Dame drove this team to new highs with a squad that was undoubtedly lesser than last season’s 2018/19. To only be one spot lower in team offense rank without their third-best player and either starting forward is a massive accomplishment.