Damian Lillard expects an emotional return to Portland
Portland is where his family resides. It’s where his heart remains. For those reasons, Damian Lillard expects a tapestry of emotions to surge through him when he walks onto the Moda Center court on Wednesday. “I think it’ll always be like any emotional thing just because I loved living and playing in Portland,” Lillard said after the team’s Monday shootaround. “I never had plans to not play for the Blazers. So, I think because of that being a genuine feeling, I don’t think it will ever leave. But I think sometimes you’ve got to make hard decisions for what you want ultimately.”
Source: Oregonian
Source: Oregonian
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Damian Lillard, Rip City’s favorite son, returns to face the Trail Blazers: ‘I think it will be emotional because I care’
I caught up with the former Blazers star Monday in Denver to discuss the trade, playing with the Bucks and his endless love for PDX. oregonlive.com/blazers/2024/0… pic.twitter.com/9lmXnsECXp – 2:06 PM
Damian Lillard, Rip City’s favorite son, returns to face the Trail Blazers: ‘I think it will be emotional because I care’
I caught up with the former Blazers star Monday in Denver to discuss the trade, playing with the Bucks and his endless love for PDX. oregonlive.com/blazers/2024/0… pic.twitter.com/9lmXnsECXp – 2:06 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Pickaxe and Roll is LIVE in 5 minutes!
1⃣ Nuggets Clutch Defense in win vs Bucks
2⃣ Jokic vs Giannis
3⃣ Murray vs Dame
4⃣ Malone 400th win
youtube.com/watch?v=PVGf5y… pic.twitter.com/qEORgcxc3n – 12:56 PM
Pickaxe and Roll is LIVE in 5 minutes!
1⃣ Nuggets Clutch Defense in win vs Bucks
2⃣ Jokic vs Giannis
3⃣ Murray vs Dame
4⃣ Malone 400th win
youtube.com/watch?v=PVGf5y… pic.twitter.com/qEORgcxc3n – 12:56 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
NEW for @MileHighSports
There were a TON of stories from last night.
-Jokic v Giannis
-Murray v Dame
-Peyton Watson
-Malone’s 400th win
But what interested me most though was Denver’s clutch defense.
“It’s about trusting who’s going to be there.”
milehighsports.com/denver-nuggets… – 11:22 AM
NEW for @MileHighSports
There were a TON of stories from last night.
-Jokic v Giannis
-Murray v Dame
-Peyton Watson
-Malone’s 400th win
But what interested me most though was Denver’s clutch defense.
“It’s about trusting who’s going to be there.”
milehighsports.com/denver-nuggets… – 11:22 AM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Jamal Murray on the intensity tonight in Denver v Milwaukee:
“I think it’s more just about who’s got your back. When Dame’s coming off [the screen] it’s about trusting who’s going to be there.” – 12:13 AM
Jamal Murray on the intensity tonight in Denver v Milwaukee:
“I think it’s more just about who’s got your back. When Dame’s coming off [the screen] it’s about trusting who’s going to be there.” – 12:13 AM
Frank Madden @fmaddenNBA
Bucks really didn’t go to the Dame/Giannis PNR much tonight and you saw why on that Gordon block — there just isn’t a big advantage to exploit there (easier to go at Jokic). Going to be even less PNR incentive against Boston if they keep putting Jrue on Giannis. – 11:30 PM
Bucks really didn’t go to the Dame/Giannis PNR much tonight and you saw why on that Gordon block — there just isn’t a big advantage to exploit there (easier to go at Jokic). Going to be even less PNR incentive against Boston if they keep putting Jrue on Giannis. – 11:30 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Biggest issue I see for the Bucks in the playoffs is I don’t see Beasley making enough shots in the clutch and don’t think they’re getting any stops with him and Dame together. – 11:27 PM
Biggest issue I see for the Bucks in the playoffs is I don’t see Beasley making enough shots in the clutch and don’t think they’re getting any stops with him and Dame together. – 11:27 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Bucks have done a great job switching Dame off Jokic in the 1-5 PnR. Nuggets tried a quick lob to Peyton. Probably a dunk if it’s AG. Lesson learned.
Crowd erupts for Pwat. Or for Giannis getting a 10 second violation at the line. – 11:22 PM
Bucks have done a great job switching Dame off Jokic in the 1-5 PnR. Nuggets tried a quick lob to Peyton. Probably a dunk if it’s AG. Lesson learned.
Crowd erupts for Pwat. Or for Giannis getting a 10 second violation at the line. – 11:22 PM
Frank Madden @fmaddenNBA
Really impressive defensive effort from the Nuggets tonight. Neither Dame nor Giannis has been able to break them down defensively with any regularity. Nothing easy. – 11:17 PM
Really impressive defensive effort from the Nuggets tonight. Neither Dame nor Giannis has been able to break them down defensively with any regularity. Nothing easy. – 11:17 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Damian Lillard had absolutely nothing for Jamal Murray on that defensive possession. – 11:17 PM
Damian Lillard had absolutely nothing for Jamal Murray on that defensive possession. – 11:17 PM
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Hell of a defensive quarter from the Nuggets. KCP has played some elite defense on Dame in this game. Nuggets collectively have been on point on that end. – 10:49 PM
Hell of a defensive quarter from the Nuggets. KCP has played some elite defense on Dame in this game. Nuggets collectively have been on point on that end. – 10:49 PM
Brad Botkin @bradbotkincbs
Lillard getting an inch of an angle on a drive and just springing into a defender who is sliding his feet and getting the call every time is nauseating – 10:42 PM
Lillard getting an inch of an angle on a drive and just springing into a defender who is sliding his feet and getting the call every time is nauseating – 10:42 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Alright Nuggets fans, time for Game 48 of the NBA season, a big time matchup between Jokic and Giannis. Also big time matchup between Murray and Dame.
Let’s Basketball. – 9:09 PM
Alright Nuggets fans, time for Game 48 of the NBA season, a big time matchup between Jokic and Giannis. Also big time matchup between Murray and Dame.
Let’s Basketball. – 9:09 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
New podcast episode with @jackmaloneycbs on Damian Lillard’s first season in Milwaukee will be out on Apple and Spotify tomorrow morning at 9am but paid subscribers can get it right now without ads: rosegardenreport.com/p/podcast-dami… – 8:38 PM
New podcast episode with @jackmaloneycbs on Damian Lillard’s first season in Milwaukee will be out on Apple and Spotify tomorrow morning at 9am but paid subscribers can get it right now without ads: rosegardenreport.com/p/podcast-dami… – 8:38 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Michael Malone on the Dame-Giannis pick and roll:
“You gotta be up with Dame. His ability to shoot from the 4-point line, his pull-up three, all of his percentages are off the charts. And then you have a guy in Giannis who can put tremendous amount of pressure on the rim, so… – 7:29 PM
Michael Malone on the Dame-Giannis pick and roll:
“You gotta be up with Dame. His ability to shoot from the 4-point line, his pull-up three, all of his percentages are off the charts. And then you have a guy in Giannis who can put tremendous amount of pressure on the rim, so… – 7:29 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Returning from another road trip, Sunday’s loss to the Bulls, injury designations, playing better in losses, the recent play of Deandre Ayton, Dame Lillard’s return to Portland and @brookeolzendam’s Heart Your Heart campaign on the latest Blazers Balcony bit.ly/47Tj8Wy – 5:18 PM
Returning from another road trip, Sunday’s loss to the Bulls, injury designations, playing better in losses, the recent play of Deandre Ayton, Dame Lillard’s return to Portland and @brookeolzendam’s Heart Your Heart campaign on the latest Blazers Balcony bit.ly/47Tj8Wy – 5:18 PM
More on this storyline
The Bucks might not be his final team. Lillard’s contract runs through the 2026-27 season. Could Lillard return to Portland before his career is over? “I see there being a time where I play for the Trail Blazers,” he said. “But it won’t be right now. I play for the Bucks. To accomplish what we want to accomplish, you’ve got to be all in on that. And I was traded and I’m all in to try to accomplish that here.” -via Oregonian / January 30, 2024
The Blazers traded McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2022 trade deadline. Upon being introduced during his return, McCollum received a 90-second standing ovation. Lillard said he was blown away. “I knew it would be crazy because I know they appreciate us, and they love us, but as crazy as I thought they would react to CJ, I didn’t think it would be like that,” Lillard said. “It was cray-zy!” Despite forcing his way out, Lillard said he expects a similar reception. “I don’t see why it wouldn’t be anything other than positive,” he said. -via Oregonian / January 30, 2024
The list of players who are in the pool reads like a list of NBA All-Stars: Stephen Curry and Chris Paul from Golden State, along with Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, De’Aaron Fox, LeBron James, Kahwi Leonard, Bobby Portis and Jayson Tatum, all are being considered for the roster. Green obviously was disappointed in not being selected but understood the process. “I’ve played in two more Olympics than I thought I would play in, which means I’ve got two gold medals than I ever thought I’d have,” Green said. “I’ll be alright.” -via NBC Sports Bay Area / January 30, 2024