This is usually the NBA Hangover, when we jot down thoughts about the league from the previous night. Honestly still trying to navigate through Sunday’s horrible events but I’m trying my best to move on. I will talk a little B-Ball here but no Bullet Passes in the meantime.
Damian Lillard is currently on another level.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Dykes/AP.)
It’s been real difficult to pay attention to the NBA as you probably know by now. The entire world was shaken up by those events so, of course, the entire league is also going through this difficult time.
This is why what Damian Lillard is doing is so impressive.
Dame was not particularly close to the fallen Kobe Bryant but he knows what impact the man made in the basketball world. And the way he’s performed, it’s almost like Kobe’s spirit took over Lillard.
It was Dame Time once again in Portland when he put in another 51 points against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. Remember when I was marveling over James Harden’s week where he scored nearly 45 points per game?
Well…
Lillard won Western Conference Player of the Week last Monday. It must have been a close contest for the award.
(PHOTO CREDIT: NBA.)
If there is any way to pay homage to the late Kobe, it’s Lillard’s explosive scoring over the last 6 games. In the 2006-07 season, Kobe Bryant averaged 56.3 points per game in a 4-game span. That was when he scored 50 or more points in 4 straight games.
But what Lillard has been doing recently? THIS is pretty awesome:
01/20 v GS: 61 pts, 10 rebs, 7 assts (11 threes).
01/23 v DAL: 47 pts, 6 rebs, 8 assts (8 threes).
01/26 v IND: 50 pts, 6 rebs, 13 assts (8 threes).
01/29 v HOU: 36 pts, 10 rebs, 11 assts (6 threes).
01/31 @ LAL: 48 pts, 9 rebs, 10 assts (7 threes).
02/01 v UTA: 51 pts, 2 rebs, 12 assts (9 threes).
You want the averages?
48.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 10.2 assists. Let’s also add in 49/86 from three (.570!!!). I mentioned weeks ago that Harden seemed to have unlocked a new level in scoring in basketball. Well, Lillard pushed THAT aside. By the way, Portland is 5-1 during this volcanic run.
Even though the Blazers are still out of the playoff picture, Lillard should be shoved into the MVP conversation. These are just ridiculous numbers. We were astonished when Stephen Curry was making threes so effortlessly (made 46 in a 6-game span). Maybe we weren’t as impressed with Harden’s scoring (I personally was) because his game isn’t pretty. But THIS. This is a show.
Let’s see if Lillard can keep this going. We know time doesn’t stop for anybody. And apparently, neither does Dame Time.
Here’s your scoreboard and play:
The Scoreboard
MIN 106 (15-33) @ LAC 118 (34-15)
NY 92 (14-36) @ IND 85 (31-18)
MIA 102 (33-15) @ ORL 89 (21-28)
GS 131 (11-39) @ CLE 112 (13-37)
BRK 107 (21-27) @ WAS 113 (17-31)
PHI 95 (31-19) @ BOS 116 (33-15)
ATL 100 (13-37) @ DAL 123 (30-19)
CHA 90 (16-33) @ SA 114 (22-26)
LAL 129 (37-11) @ SAC 113 (18-31)
UTA 107 (32-17) @ POR 124 (23-27)
Watch This Play
Jayson Tatum says hello to his former teammate, Al Horford.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Chaz Clavant NBA.)
That is an all-star dunk.
GG.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.
For the rest of the season, I will sign off with GG, which usually means “Good Game.” But we also know “Gigi” is Gianna Bryant’s nickname. This will be my tribute to her.