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LA Clippers: 3 reasons Portland isn’t a threat in the first round

By Ryan Snellings

LA Clippers Paul George Damian Lillard (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LA Clippers Paul George Damian Lillard (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 06: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball defended by Rajon Rondo #4 of the LA Clippers at Staples Center on April 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 06: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball defended by Rajon Rondo #4 of the LA Clippers at Staples Center on April 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /

Reason #3: The Clippers have had Lillard’s number (so far)

While I did say tonight would be a potential first round preview, we know that Damian Lillard won’t be part of it. He’s still out nursing an injured hamstring.

There’s no denying Lillard’s greatness but for whatever reason, he just can’t get it done versus the Clippers. Over his whole 31 games against this franchise, he has averaged just 19.4 points on 39.2% shooting which are both well below his career averages. Obviously, he has seen different iterations of this team, so let’s look at only the recent groups.

Lillard has faced this Clipper team twice this season. In the first game back in December, Lillard played 29 minutes and scored 20 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists. 14 of his points came from the charity stripe. That all seems well and good until you look further at the box score. He shot just three of 14 from the field. That’s just 21.4 percent.

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In their second matchup, it was much, much worse. Lillard didn’t get to the line as often and ended with just 11 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Again, he attempted 14 shots from the field but this time only made two. Yes, that’s 14.3 percent shooting.

Is this a focus of the Clippers or something more? Last season, Lillard in three games versus LA shot 39.1, 33.3, and 43.5 percent from the field in the three losses for the Blazers. His game-high in scoring across both years is 22 points.

With the Clippers’ ability to throw multiple defensive-minded players at Lillard, he’s constantly getting different looks. The aggressiveness of Beverley on him to start the game is a quick way to get him bothered before hitting him with the size of George or Leonard. Even off the bench, the Clips can now toss Rajon Rondo at him. There’s always going to be a good defender on the floor for the Clips that can keep Dame off balance.

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It’s no secret that there is no love lost between Lillard and the Clippers, so we probably won’t get many 22 points or fewer performances from him in the postseason. Still, if the Clips can keep his percentages down and take advantage of their depth, they’ll still have no problem getting the Blazers out in the first round.

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