In the case of 1/4 of this season, most players should have gradually improved, but the league has such a clear stream, as the game deepens not only does not enter the state, but it is getting worse and worse, allowing themselves and the star to drift away, and this person is the Blazers' star Damien Lillard. Last season and the Nuggets in the playoffs of 6 games, Lillard once bombed a career-best 34.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 10.2 assists, which is the fifth game of the 55 points is the most impressive, but it is these 6 games that seem to suck Lillard's hand.
When he played with the U.S. men's basketball team at the Olympics this summer, Lillard's projection was not in shape, originally thought it might be caused by fatigue, but after a period of rest and entering the official regular season, Lillard still seemed to have not played the level of the previous MVP, and in the 21 games he played for the team, he averaged only 21.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game, 39.2% shooting and 29.6% three-point shooting rate set a career low.
Lillard, who had previously missed 5 games with the Trail Blazers due to lower abdominal tendon disease, also made a comeback in the latest game with the Timberwolves, thinking of helping the team get rid of the decline in a losing streak, how Lillard still did not find a feel in this game, only 5 of 17 shots, only 24 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, even worse than substitute Anfine Simmons (Simmons scored a team-high 26 points in 9 of 20 shots). Counting the loss of this game, the Blazers have suffered a wave of 5 consecutive losses, only achieved a record of 1 win and 8 losses in the last 9 games, and are currently ranked 11th in the West with a record of 11 wins and 16 losses, and the playoff situation is already precarious.
Since his debut from the Blazers in 12 years, Lillard has also helped the team become a regular visitor to the playoffs, reaching the playoffs for 8 consecutive years, but the Blazers seem to only want to be a running role, and they do not care so much about the championship, so they did not find a right-hand man for Lillard, and last season stopped the first round of the playoffs, the outside world rumored that Lillard may leave Portland, but he eventually insisted and continued to stay in the team. But this poor performance this season, Lillard does have some resistance to his status as a star, averaging 21.6 points per game has been the lowest value in nearly 7 years, falling below the threshold of 25+ for the first time, compared with the previous person who blocked the killing, the Buddha blocked the "Portland cousin" who killed the Buddha, it seems to be a completely changed person.
At present, we really don't know whether Lillard is intentional (want to force the palace team to bring reinforcements, or let the team trade themselves), or really suffer from injuries, but this season his state has suffered a cliff-like decline, it is indeed an indisputable fact, from an average of 28.8 points per game last season directly fell to 21.6 points, really want to evaluate a "fastest regression award", I believe Lillard is definitely the best candidate. Lillard didn't seem to care about that, and after today's loss to the Timberwolves, he said in an interview: "I feel good, although it's a little late, but I feel great now,"
If Lillard is still in such a slump, not to mention the championship, the Blazers are likely to not even be able to enter the playoffs, although the reality is cruel, but have to admit that Lillard and the Blazers' fate may really have to say goodbye this season, the two sides have achieved each other, but for the Lee coach who wants to chase the championship, leaving may be the wisest choice.