Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers continued their woes for the 2021-22 NBA season against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Blazers lost the game 109-117 behind yet another strong performance from Paul George.
Dame hasn’t been looking like himself and a huge reason behind his struggles is probably the new NBA rule change which prevents players from getting excessive foul calls in their favor. As a parallel result, it has been preventing many players from getting seemingly correct calls in their favor too.
With its new introduction, even the NBA refs are getting used to the new rules. So there is a possibility they are yet to be 100% confident in making the right calls. Following an embarrassing defeat against the Clippers, Dame called out the level of officiating this season.
“I feel like the way the game is being officiated is unacceptable. I don’t wanna go too deep into it so they make a big deal out of it, but the explanations, the shit that’s getting missed. I mean, come on. I felt like coming in the rule change wouldn’t affect me because I don’t do the trick the referees, I don’t do the trick plays. It’s just unacceptable, man.”
Lillard further added, “Then the explanations and remarks when you’re telling ’em, it’s just like…I don’t even have nothing else to say about it.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFn4hqZHsTw
In the game against the Clippers, Lillard attempted just a single free throw which is quite surprising because the point guard was getting fouled on multiple occasions.
With everyone in the league adjusting to the new rule change, it is affecting the overall quality of the NBA. for good and for bad. Stephen Curry believes that the new rules are good for the game while Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma also spoke in favor of the rule change.
Apart from suffering from the rule change, Dame is still struggling from the 3-point line. He was just 4-13 from beyond the arc against the Clippers. For the season, he is shooting a career-low 25.5% from the three-point line. If he continues in this poor form, it will be hard for the Blazers to even make it to the postseason.
There are still many games left in the season, but the first matches have proved that Lillard’s tenure with Portland might soon come to an end.
