The Portland Trailblazers, despite having one of the best guards in Damian Lillard, have not been able to capitalize on their situation. Over the last two seasons, they’ve shifted their focus from Dame and CJ McCollum to Dame and Anfernee Simons. Despite their moves, they’ve seen no playoff success.
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The last time the Blazers made the playoffs was the 2020-21 season. The Nuggets beat them 2-4 in the first round. Before that, they were eliminated 4-1 in the first round by the Lakers in the bubble.
The last time the Blazers saw any playoff success was in the 2018-19 season. They made it to the Western Conference Finals, where Stephen Curry and the Warriors swept them. However, before they got swept, Damian Lillard hit one of the most iconic shots in NBA History.
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Damian Lillard admits it was a bad shot
In 2019, Damian Lillard essentially dismantled the Thunder with a single shot. He made a 37-footer over Paul George to win the game at the buzzer, sealing the series.
At that time, Paul George told everyone that it was a bad shot, and that Dame was lucky to have made it.
Thunder’s Paul George on defending deep game-winner by Blazers’ Damian Lillard: “That’s a bad shot. I don’t care what anybody says. That’s a bad shot. But, hey, he made it. That story won’t be told, that it’s a bad shot. You live with that.” pic.twitter.com/21ueYAHHzY
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 24, 2019
In a recent interview, Damian Lillard reaffirmed what PG said and was mocked for all those years ago.
“That actually was a bad shot”
Damian Lillard reacting to his playoff game winner against OKC: “That actually was a bad shot” pic.twitter.com/WNxp7rbqJk
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) February 11, 2023
It took Dame four years, but at least PG has his closure.
Paul George actually changed his stance about Dame’s shot
After playing with Dame during the 2021 All-Star Game, Paul George saw some things he hadn’t witnessed before. After the Blazers played the Clippers in March, PG went back on his ‘bad shot’ comment.
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
Statistics back the fact that it was a great shot. Considering Dame was shooting 55.5% from beyond 30-feet, this was an excellent shot.
Damian Lillard shot *10-of-18* from 30 feet and beyond during the series against Oklahoma City, including 4-of-6 in the series-ending Game 5.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) April 24, 2019
