Damian Lillard (Part 3)

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12 Mar 2024

Damian Lillard (Part 3)

During the 2014-2015 NBA season, Damian Lillard continued to demonstrate his durability and scoring prowess for the Portland Trail Blazers, starting all 82 games for the third consecutive year.
Lillard achieved career highs in several statistical categories, including points, rebounds, steals, and field goal percentage. However, he experienced a dip in his three-point shooting percentage, which fell to a career-low of 34 percent. Despite this, Lillard managed to set the record for the most three-pointers made by a player in their first three seasons in the league. Additionally, he led the team in Win Shares and finished second in Player Efficiency Rating (PER).

Throughout the season, Lillard showcased his scoring ability with several standout performances. On December 19, 2014, he erupted for a career-high 43 points in a thrilling triple-overtime victory against the San Antonio Spurs. Just four days later, he poured in another 40 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder, further solidifying his reputation as a prolific scorer.
Lillard's scoring prowess was on display once again on January 5, 2015, when he tallied 39 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. His stellar play earned him a spot as a replacement for the injured Blake Griffin in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game.

In addition to his scoring exploits, Lillard showcased his versatility on the court by recording a career-high 18 rebounds in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 4, 2015.
Despite Lillard's individual success, the Trail Blazers faced a tough challenge in the playoffs as they squared off against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. Unfortunately, Portland fell short, losing the series in five games. Lillard struggled from beyond the arc during the series, shooting just 16 percent from three-point range and going 0-for-6 in Game 1. Despite the disappointing playoff exit, Lillard's contributions throughout the season solidified his status as one of the league's top guards.

During the 2016-2017 NBA season, Damian Lillard continued to showcase his scoring prowess and leadership for the Portland Trail Blazers, leading them to a late-season surge that secured the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Lillard kicked off the season in spectacular fashion, recording impressive performances in the Trail Blazers' early games. He scored 39 points in the season opener against the Utah Jazz and followed it up with a clutch game-winning shot in overtime against the Denver Nuggets just four days later. Lillard's scoring streak continued as he became the first NBA player since Kobe Bryant in 2005-2006 to score 27 or more points in each of his team's first five games. By the eighth game of the season, Lillard had already amassed 262 points, setting a franchise record for the most points scored in the first eight games of a season.

Despite missing five games due to a sprained left ankle in late December and early January, Lillard continued to be a dominant force on the court. He reached the milestone of 8,000 career points in a game against the Golden State Warriors on January 28, joining elite company alongside Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only players to achieve 8,000 points and 2,000 assists in their first five seasons.
In March, Lillard delivered one of his most memorable performances of the season, scoring a season-high 49 points and tying a career-high with nine three-pointers in a victory against the Miami Heat. His outstanding play earned him the Western Conference Player of the Month award for March.

Lillard's scoring prowess reached new heights on April 8 when he set a franchise record by scoring 59 points against the Utah Jazz. This marked his 27th game of the season with 30 or more points, further solidifying his status as one of the league's premier scorers.
Despite the Trail Blazers being 10 games under .500 at the All-Star break, Lillard's leadership helped them stage a late-season surge, winning 18 of their final 26 games to clinch the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. However, they were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the first round, despite Lillard's impressive performance throughout the series.
Lillard's contributions on and off the court earned him the Magic Johnson Award for the 2016-2017 season, recognizing his excellence on the basketball court and his professionalism in dealing with the media and the public.

During the 2017-2018 NBA season, Damian Lillard continued to solidify his status as one of the premier guards in the league, delivering stellar performances and achieving numerous milestones for the Portland Trail Blazers.
In a game against the Phoenix Suns on October 28, 2017, Lillard reached the 9,000-point milestone, becoming the fastest player in franchise history to achieve this feat. He continued to showcase his versatility and leadership throughout the season, recording impressive stat lines and leading the Trail Blazers to victories.
On November 15, Lillard surpassed Mychal Thompson to rank eighth on the franchise's all-time scoring leaders list. Just 12 days later, he moved into fourth place on Portland's career assists list, joining Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter as one of the only players in franchise history to rank in the top five in both scoring and assists.

Lillard's scoring prowess was on full display throughout the season, highlighted by several standout performances. He tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers in a game against the Houston Rockets on December 9 and scored a then season-high 39 points against the Golden State Warriors on December 11. Despite dealing with injuries, including a hamstring injury and a strained right calf, Lillard continued to excel on the court.
On February 2, 2018, Lillard became the fastest player in franchise history to reach 10,000 career points, further solidifying his place among the Trail Blazers' all-time greats. He joined elite company as the eighth player to achieve 10,000 points and 2,500 assists in his first six seasons, alongside legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Larry Bird.

Lillard's scoring prowess reached new heights on February 9 when he scored a season-high 50 points in just 29 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. He followed this up with another impressive performance on February 24, scoring 40 points and hitting a game-winning lay-up to lead the Trail Blazers to victory over the Phoenix Suns.
Throughout the season, Lillard continued to make history, setting a franchise record with a 45-game streak of making at least one 3-pointer and becoming the third player in NBA history to record 1,500-plus points and 400-plus assists in each of his first six seasons.
Lillard's outstanding play earned him numerous accolades, including a selection to the All-NBA First Team and a fourth-place finish in the MVP race. Despite a disappointing playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, where the Trail Blazers were swept in four games, Lillard's contributions throughout the season solidified his status as one of the league's top talents.