Damian Lillard in the NBA playoffs: provocation and precision

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Acts like a rapper even in sportswear: Point Guard Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers

The laughter could be heard loud and clear as Damian Lillard missed two free throws. Laughing, Patrick Beverley leaned over the advertising board and tapped his wristwatch with his index finger. Lillard is a build-up player for the Portland Trailblazers in the North American basketball league NBA, and tapping his wristwatch is actually his trademark when he hits something important again: It's "Dame Time", that is to say.

But when Lillard met the Los Angeles Clippers with Beverley in early August, he missed two actually simple throws that would have saved his team from defeat. And ridicule followed. After the final whistle, star forward Paul George smugly waved goodbye to the Blazers.

Most of the time it works the other way around. Lillard regularly carries his team on his shoulders in close games, he is considered a "clutch", particularly nerve-racking and reliable in pressure situations. He also showed that in the continuation of the NBA season, which was held without spectators because of the pandemic after a corona break in Disney World near Orlando. Lillard was voted MVP (Most Valuable Player).

Now the regular season has ended and the playoffs have started. And the fact that Portland is there at all is primarily thanks to Lillard. In the first round tonight (3 o'clock) the opponent is called: Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James, the best basketball player of the past decade.

Picked up the gauntlet 

Lillard also sees the reason for the behavior of his opponents in his own quality. After losing to the Clippers, he said the mockery only made clear the respect he enjoyed in the NBA. “They know what I usually do, that's why they react like that,” he replied to reporters when asked about Beverley's action. “He's seen it firsthand. I am sure he remembers it well. "

What Lillard meant was the first playoff round in 2014, when Beverley and the Houston Rockets were eliminated from the competition with the final siren. From the three-point line, the 1.88-meter tall playmaker sank the throw that promoted the Portland Trailblazers to the second round for the first time in 14 years. For Beverley it was over - just like for George last season.

"I only sent him home in the playoffs last year," Lillard told reporters, alluding to his buzzerbeater against Oklahoma City Thunder. Back then, it was Lillard who waved George goodbye for summer vacation. 

On Instagram, the skirmish between Lillard and George continued. "And you will be sent home this year," wrote George, whose team is one of the title favorites.

In the following three, also close games, Lillard averaged 51.3 points and nine assists with an insane hit rate of 56 percent and lifted his Blazers to eighth playoff place. Out of a total of 43 free throws, he only awarded two. A series like a disstrack in rap - not the first time for Lillard.

Off the field, the 30-year-old makes music and Lillard has released three albums. Under the synonym "Dame DOLLA" he fought with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who achieved platinum status with his first album at the time. Both rapped a few lines against each other, but it remained athletic. 

A league of its own 

Lillard receives applause from experts and colleagues for his achievements at Disney World, he is the star of the hour. Its outstanding shape is nothing new. In January he had a run of twelve games, during which he averaged 40.25 points and 9.1 assists. Statistically it was the best season in Lillard's career, thanks to his performances, the injury-ridden Blazers could keep up in the playoff race. 

With his style of play, Lillard finds himself in a lonely category, into which, of all active NBA pros, only Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors fits. With the exception of Curry, nobody has mastered the three-point throw from dribbling as well as Lillard, for whom the distance to the basket is irrelevant. Often the point guard even climbs up to the throw when he is a few meters away from the line of three. He set new standards this season: he hit 54 throws from at least 9.14 meters - more than twice as many as the previous record. 

Then came Corona. Portland benefited immensely from the break, as the two regular players under the basket were fit again when they restarted in Orlando, Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic. Portland made it to the conference finals with the two big men last season, plus veteran Carmelo Anthony, who joined the team during the season. With Lillard at his best and a healthy squad, the Blazers are far more dangerous in the playoffs than the typical eighth place. 

Full strength against Goliath 

However, there is a task waiting there that will be difficult to solve even for Portland: the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the best team of the season in the Western Conference. Anthony will have big problems in defense against his buddy James, and the Blazers don't have a good wing defender in their squad. Conversely, it is unclear with the Lakers who should look after Lillard.

Avery Bradley, who canceled due to health concerns for the NBA bubble, and Rajon Rondo with a hand injury are missing from the guard position. The two substitutes Alex Caruso and Quinn Cook are available to slow Lillard.

Also, the Lakers are not being rewarded for their regular season, which should increase Portland's chances. Usually the better ranked team has home advantage in the playoffs. This fizzles out because the season takes place in a huge hotel complex in an amusement park with no spectators. So far, Lillard has got along best on the neutral ground. Tonight in the first game will show whether it will stay that way against the Lakers.