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Portland Trail Blazers: Top 4 playoff moments for Damian Lillard

By Andy Quach

May 16, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and guard Klay Thompson (11) during the third quarter in game two of the Western conference finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2019; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and guard Klay Thompson (11) during the third quarter in game two of the Western conference finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Damian Lillard takes one against the Warriors dynasty

Coming off of their first championship, the Golden State Warriors came into the 2015-2016 season determined to make their case as one of the best teams in NBA history. They did just that. Behind the beautiful play of the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green, the Warriors decimated the rest of the league en route to a 73-9 regular season, the best record in league history.

The Warriors looked unbeatable the whole way and basically were. The Portland Trail Blazers were one of the teams unfortunate enough to have to face the historically great Warriors in the playoffs. Entering their series, the Warriors had only lost 10 games all season, one of those losses  to the Blazers.

Despite that fact, nobody in their right mind was expecting the Blazers to defeat the Warriors. To put it bluntly, the Blazers would be lucky to steal one game. That is, if you count getting one of the greatest playoff performances in NBA history from Damian Lillard as luck.

The Blazers went into game three down 2-0. NBA fans and analysts alike were bringing out the brooms and already prepping for the inevitable finals sequel between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. But thanks to Lillard, they all had to wait just a little bit longer.

Dame had already had a great first two games, averaging 27.5 points, but those performances were for naught; the Blazer lost both games by an average margin of 11.5 points.

Knowing that what he had done so far was not enough, as Lillard is prone to do, he elevated his game with the Blazers backs against the wall. Taking advantage of Steph Curry’s absence, Dame went ballistic, dropping 40 points and dishing out 10 dimes while slashing 52/62/100. He hit eight of his deep bombs, handing the Warriors just their 11th loss on the year, beating them by 12 points.

The Warriors would go on to finish the series in the next two games,  but no Blazers fan will ever forget what Damian Lillard did that night. Dame played like a god in order to defeat the death lineup.