Beijing time on December 15, the Blazers 107-111 defeat to the Sun suffered 6 consecutive defeats, this game the Blazers almost completed the reversal in the final quarter, but unfortunately Paul hit the absolute ball in the first 8 seconds of the final game into overtime, the Sun gradually gained the upper hand in overtime, Lillard lost 3 in 0 + 3 points and 2 in 0 regrettably lost, after this loss, the Blazers have fallen to the 11th position in the West.
Because McCollum was injured, Lillard played 47 minutes, 11 of 31, 5 of 16 three-pointers, 31 points, 10 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 block, shooting 35.5%, he scored 13 points, 3 assists and 1 rebound in the final quarter and almost led the team to reverse, 0 of 3 in overtime. After the defeat, Lillard also made his own remarks.
Lillard said: "We are not the only team that is struggling, and we are not the only team that is going through the struggle, we will not be the kind of team that gives in. Lillard's words were "powerful," but they were also pale.
As early as December 11, Wa shen, Zach Rovey, and Charania revealed that the Blazers had discussed the Ben Simmons deal, and Lillard agreed to use McCollum to exchange for Simmons, but Philadelphia rejected such an offer, philadelphia believes that the Blazers' offer did not meet their psychological expectations. For a time everyone knew that Lillard was dissatisfied with the status quo.
TNT commentator Charles Barkley bluntly said that the Blazers need to tear down this team to rebuild, they should have dismantled Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum three years ago, they will not make progress in a short period of time. It's clear that the Trail Blazers are already on the move, and perhaps the moment Stotts stepped down, the team began to "shake the ground."
The Trail Blazers are currently the league's most defensively efficient team, and defensive guard Billups has not helped them forge defense but has become worse and worse. This situation really wants to see Simmons join the Blazers, but once the Blazers can't trade Simmons, the star who left is likely to be Damian Lillard, who has not yet applied for a trade, but the outside world feels that he is more and more likely to apply for a trade.
The US media FW conducted a simulation of a three-way deal plan, the Lakers, Pelicans, and Blazers traded, the Lakers sent Westbrook, Tucker, and Damian Lillard in the first round of 2027, the Blazers rebuilt to get Ingram, Graham, Satoransky, the Pelicans in the first round of 2023, and the Pelicans got the first round of Westbrook and Tucker and the Lakers in 2027.
Do you think Lillard would be better off teaming up with James and Davis?
Text/Yan Xiaobai