Paul George goes back on his ‘bad shot’ comments and says that he’s got two thumbs up for every 40-footer Damian Lillard takes.
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The 2021 NBA All-Star Game only solidified what many have been preaching for years now in regards to Damian Lillard’s shot selection: no shot is a bad shot for the Blazers star within the half-court line.
Paul George learned this the hard way back in the 2019 Playoffs as Lillard sent OKC home packing following a side-step 3 from 37 feet in Game 5 of the first round.
Watching Damian Lillard drops 3s from quite literally any spot within the half court line must’ve given All-Star teammate Paul George flashbacks to that day in 2019 as he addressed Lillard’s range in his ASG postgame presser.
Damian Lillard caught fire on All-Star Sunday as he dropped 32 points while going 8-16 from well beyond the arc. Most of the shots Dame took were near the half court line, with Steph Curry following suit as he also rained in 8 3s as well from Dame’s range.
Paul George talks about Damian Lillard and his ever-expanding range
Los Angeles Clippers beat writer Tom Azarly turned the clock back to April of 2019 as he boldly questioned PG on his comments regarding Damian Lillard’s game winner against him and his Thunder in the first round of the Playoffs that year.
“Well I was criticized for the right reason for calling Dame’s shot a bad shot. I mean, I see this guy’s range and it’s crazy.” when asked if that shot he claimed was a bad shot was indeed one, PG said, “It’s a great shot. Two thumbs up.”
I asked Paul George about the range in today’s NBA.
PG: “Well I guess i was criticized for the right reason for calling Dame’s shot in the playoffs a bad shot. I mean I see this guy’s range is crazy.”
Me: “So is that no longer a bad shot?”
PG: “It’s a great shot. 2 thumbs up.” pic.twitter.com/fFZhlNREvc
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 8, 2021
Witnessing Dame and Steph pull up from halfcourt and drain those shots made PG-13 realize that the game is vastly different from merely 7-8 years ago, when George was still on the Indiana Pacers. George knows a thing or two about raining down 3s as he shot 6-8 from beyond the arc last night.