Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers are struggling this season. An injury-riddled campaign coupled with chemistry issues has prevented the team from reaching their potential.
On the cusp of a largely disappointing season, Blazers’ star Damian Lillard reflected on one of his former teammates and admitted his team would have at least one Championship already had he stayed in town back in 2015.
“When I look back on it, I just be like, ‘Damn.’ ‘Cause if me and him would’ve stayed teammates and I could get to the level that I’m at now, I’m like, O.K., we could’ve for sure got one [championship].”
Lillard used their run in 2013 as a representation of their potential.
“Our very first playoff against [the] Houston [Rockets] in Game 1 he had like 46 and 18. And he fouled out. And this is my first playoff game and I ended up with like 30 and seven and something. I finished the game off. So it’s like we could’ve had a lot of those situations where it’s like when you go down or when you step out, I’ll take it over.”
https://twitter.com/21Blackking/status/1234896751246618627
As a Blazer, Aldridge averaged 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds on 48% shooting. As a mobile, mid-range maestro, he was a near-perfect match with Lillard.
Unfortunately, the end of their partnership came in 2015, when the All-Star big man decided to sign with the Spurs in hope of winning a Championship. He has yet to accomplish that mission and one has wonder: did he make a mistake?
We’ll never know what would have happened had that summer gone differently, but Dame clearly has an idea…
