Torn by a calf, Damian Lillard has not been at its best since the start of the season with skill at half mast (37% on shots, 27% on 3-pointers), and a sharp drop in the volume of shots: only 14 shots taken on average. But last night, in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Raptors, he found his Portland reflexes, and rhythm!
Upon arrival, 37 points and 13 assists, 9 of 18 on shots, including 4 of 10 at 3-points, in 31 minutes in the Bucks’ victory. His 15 out of 16 free throws are evidence of Damian Lillard rediscovering his aggression, and Dennis Schroder had a very bad evening.
“I think the situation lent itself to it”, reacts the former Blazers playmaker. “In the absence of Giannis, I knew I would have more responsibilities. I knew I would have to be more aggressive and assertive in creating and scoring. The last time we were here, they kind of pounded us to start the game. I wanted to assert myself from the start instead of waiting. I managed to get into a rhythm. I didn’t even feel like I was hot tonight, I just felt like I was in a good rhythm of play, getting into the paint, getting guys to take shots on the move, finding the player stand out, attacking in transition. Up front, they weren’t in a position to do much, so they made a lot of mistakes on me and it became one of those matches where everything went well. »
Find the happy medium
On the bench side, Adrian Griffin has never really been worried, especially because Damian Lillard has always put the team first, and it takes time to adapt to a new team.
“He tries to be a good teammate. He’s trying to make the right reads.” notes the Bucks coach. “But at the same time, we need him to shoot. Let him be aggressive. He has done it at times, and I find that he is still a little hesitant at times. I don’t want to speak for him, but he’s almost too selfless at times. But we just need him to be a Lady. Let him be what he is. That’s enough. It’s more than enough for us.”
Against Toronto, the All-Star leader found the right balance to sign his most complete match in a long time. “This is the Lady we all know” summarizes Brook Lopez. “It’s great to see him in the right rhythm, comfortable, and leading. He did a great job guiding us on offense and making sure everyone was involved and in the right place. He was just being himself. »
Proof that Damian Lillard felt good, he took three shots from 9 meters and more. Off the dribble.
| Damian Lillard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2012-13 | POR | 82 | 39 | 42.9 | 36.8 | 84.4 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2013-14 | POR | 82 | 36 | 42.4 | 39.4 | 87.1 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 5.6 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 20.7 |
| 2014-15 | POR | 82 | 36 | 43.4 | 34.3 | 86.4 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 21.0 |
| 2015-16 | POR | 75 | 36 | 41.9 | 37.5 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 25.1 |
| 2016-17 | POR | 75 | 36 | 44.4 | 37.0 | 89.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 27.0 |
| 2017-18 | POR | 73 | 37 | 43.9 | 36.1 | 91.6 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-19 | POR | 80 | 36 | 44.4 | 36.9 | 91.2 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 25.8 |
| 2019-20 | POR | 66 | 38 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 30.0 |
| 2020-21 | POR | 67 | 36 | 45.1 | 39.1 | 92.8 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 28.8 |
| 2021-22 | POR | 29 | 36 | 40.2 | 32.4 | 87.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 24.0 |
| 2022-23 | POR | 58 | 36 | 46.3 | 37.1 | 91.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 32.2 |
| 2023-24 | MIL | 8 | 34 | 37.0 | 26.9 | 93.3 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.1 | 22.8 |
| Total | 777 | 36 | 43.9 | 37.1 | 89.6 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 25.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
