Damian Lillard turned in one of the best performances by any player on any team this season, leading the Blazers to a comeback win last night.
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The New Orleans Pelicans held a 17-point lead with under 6 minutes to go. But Damian Lillard decided that it was time to go ballistic, and he did it.
Lillard finished with six 3-pointers and made two clutch free throws with 1.2 seconds left for Portland. It was Lillard’s fifth game this season with 40 or more points, and possibly the clutchest of the lot.
There is little doubt that Dame Dolla is the most clutch player in the NBA today. The way he keeps the Blazers within touching range even in lost causes is something special in and of itself. You’d have to be mad biased not to enjoy his 4th quarter exploits this season.
Shaquille O’Neal gives his flowers to Damian Lillard
Adam Lefkoe posed the question of how much Damian Lillard belongs in this year’s MVP race. Shaq did not hesitate when replying in the affirmative. He called Lillard the most feared man in clutch time today:
“Hell yes. He’s carrying them. The most feared man in the last few seconds. We say Steph Curry is the best shooter but Dame Dolla is the most feared man with 5,7, 3 seconds left in the game.”
“Dame D.O.L.L.A. is the most feared man with three seconds left in the game.”
–@SHAQ on why Dame belongs in the MVP conversation. pic.twitter.com/jzp63Deq7Q
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 17, 2021
Shaq and Lillard had an amusing exchange after an amazing post-game interview by the latter. Shaq and host Adam Lefkoe had tried putting up 3-pointers during the halftime show, with bad misses galore.
“You have the ultimate confidence that it’s going in… You put the time in and you deserve to make those shots.” @Dame_Lillard discusses delivering in crunch time. pic.twitter.com/wH5bDxuEIh
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 17, 2021
Shaq said that reps would do his shooting no good unlike Lillard, to which the latter replied:
“It’s over for you Shaq.”