The Portland Trail Blazers are 3.5 games out of a spot in the Play-In Tournament for the NBA Playoffs. But it appears that they might take extra care of star player Damian Lillard.
The Athletic NBA insider Shams Charania reported Saturday that the team is “leaning toward shutting down All-Star Damian Lillard for the season’s final nine games. The franchise is seriously considering taking precautions as Lillard deals with calf injury and the team is 3.5 games out of Play-In Tournament race.”
Sources: The Portland Trail Blazers are leaning toward shutting down All-Star Damian Lillard for the season's final nine games. The franchise is seriously considering taking precautions as Lillard deals with calf injury and the team is 3.5 games out of Play-In Tournament race.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2023
This is certainly terrible news for Lillard and the Blazers as their playoff push may take a huge hit. The team has dealt with issues all season but still is in the thick of having at least a chance to get in the NBA Playoffs. Without Lillard, they would likely stand a significantly less chance of making any serious run.
Many suggested on Twitter that the team may be tanking to try and secure a better NBA Draft pick. According to Tankathon, Portland sits with the sixth-worst record in the Association.
Through 58 games in the 2022-23 season, Lillard has averaged 32.2 points on 46.3 percent from the field. He’s shot 37.1 percent from 3 and 91.4 percent from the free throw line. Lillard has also averaged 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Suffice it to say, he is their most prolific player. His absence would loom very large if the team indeed shuts him down as he tries to recover from his nagging calf injury.
The basketball world reacted to the significant Damian Lillard news.
What about Toradol? Heard good things about that before. Who was it who said that again? I can't remember…
— Thicc-Fil-A, a Habitual Pot Stirrer (@SwooshMcDuck) March 25, 2023
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 25, 2023
But he didn't run from the grind though so we all good 👍🏾
— D-Free (@DFreeDBZHD) March 25, 2023
Genuinely think Dame has never looked better than he did this season. This was his peak so far in his career, and it’s a shame we won’t see it in the playoffs. Lillard’s 32 years old, proving that yes, you can always keep getting better, even as you get into your 30s. https://t.co/ySd6iqV5g0
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 25, 2023
Dame's had a hell of a season folks. https://t.co/kbhnigUrEz
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) March 25, 2023
The Blazers are only one win ahead of the Magic for the No. 5 lottery slot. They don't have Simons or Nurkic and Grant missed Friday's game.
Get ready for some truly epic tanking. https://t.co/gUcCmdHlAM
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) March 25, 2023
Incredible tweet. https://t.co/swmblc6RAI
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 25, 2023
Smart. No reason for them to win another game
IMO, Portland has one shot at salvaging the Dame era, and that’s getting the number one pick of this draft https://t.co/r5ByNHSGMx
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) March 25, 2023
happy “seriously considering taking precautions” season 😤 https://t.co/XJvAJg50vH
— Dan Favale (@danfavale) March 25, 2023
