Blazers: Blazers guard Damian Lillard provides the biggest answer to his career -- he is ready

[tlongII]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/in..._provides.html



HOUSTON — In a career where he continues to answer every question before him, Damian Lillard on Sunday provided his biggest answer yet:

He is ready for the playoffs.

The Blazers have stolen homecourt advantage from Houston in this best-of-seven series, in large part because the second-year point guard, playing in his first playoff game, had 31 points, nine rebounds, five assists and just one turnover and did it all with the coolness of somebody who had been there before.

“It was a Damian Lillard performance,’’ Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “Damian rises to the occasion. For all the people wanting to know if he was ready for the playoffs, I think he answered that question, so we don’t have to answer that question anymore.’’

But what might be even more important than his final stat line, and the fact that much of his damage came in crunch time, was this:

Lillard says he hasn’t answered anything yet.

“I’m not sure I have answered a question yet. Seriously. It’s one game,’’ Lillard said. “I understand it’s a bigger stage and whatnot, but it’s one game. I said coming into the playoffs I love winning more than anything else. Tonight, we won a game, but it’s only one. We have to win four to win a series. ‘’

That Lillard did it under the hounding pressure and intentional mind games of Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley only adds depth to what figures to be remembered among the greatest games in Blazers history.

Beverley once tried to attach himself to Lillard’s shoulder as the two teams came out of a fourth-quarter timeout. Lillard would change directions, trying to ignore the tactic, but Beverley would re-attach himself.

What was his mindset?

“Not to get caught up in it,’’ Lillard said. “It’s no harm in him walking next to me and rubbing shoulders with me, it’s not a foul. The most it could do for him is get me mad, so I just tried to let him play his game, and I played mine.’’

That game was predicated on results, not the emotion and hijinks that fueled Beverley’s approach. When the Blazers needed it most, Lillard was there with a big three, a timely drive and clutch free throws.

It’s stuff we have seen Lillard do hundreds of times during his two seasons in Portland, but the question always lingered whether he could do it on the big stage, with the pressure of the playoffs upon him.

It was an emphatic reply, and done in vintage Lillard fashion, in an almost cold-blooded manner.

“I said all along that I would be myself and not do too much, but I was going to be aggressive,’’ Lillard said. “I played aggressive and let the game come to me, and play within the flow and trust that it would work out.’’

Before the game, Rockets assistant Dean Cooper said he was anticipating a great series. There were great individual matchups across the board. Behind him, Lillard was warming up, shooting three-pointers.

“This guy,’’ Cooper said pointing behind him. “He’s not afraid of anything.’’

Cooper was directly in front of me, so I couldn’t see who he was talking about. I shouldn’t have had to look to know.

Now the question heading into Game 2 is whether Beverley will play. He hurt his previously injured right knee when he was hit by LaMarcus Aldridge with what was ruled an illegal pick in overtime.

Beverley looked compromised after the play and fouled out shortly after. The Rockets said Beverley has suffered a sprained knee and he will have a magnetic resonance imaging test Monday.

Now it’s the Rockets who have the questions at point guard. The Blazers, meanwhile, have the point guard who looked and sounded like he’s been here before.

“We are excited about getting this game,’’ Lillard said. “But now it’s on to the next one.’’

[Thread]

Stomp another mud hole. No need to go back there.

Make that dj sorry his daddy ever squirted his in' coward ass out.

[Franklin]

The Guest team guested the out of Rockets last night, just doing what they were supposed to do.