Darvin Ham shouts out Damian Lillard following loss to Trail Blazers: "Outside of stealing his sneakers I don’t know what else to do"
The LA Lakers had no answer for Damian Lillard all night long. Portland’s lethal point guard lit up the Lakers for 30 points in the first half, including 8-12 from behind the arc.
Lillard’s blistering first 24 minutes pushed the Trail Blazers to a 65-46 halftime lead that they would never surrender en route to a 127-115 victory. After the game, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham had this to say about “Dame’s” spectacular night:
“He’s such an elite level scorer, basketball player. Smart, finding different ways to get the ball even though we’re trying to deny him off the ball. His movements, the way he navigates and uses screens. He’s just a phenomenal ball player, Anfernee [Simons] as well.
“You just try to do your best to make it as difficult as possible for him. Outside of stealing his sneakers, I don’t know what else you can do. You play good D and he still knocks down shots.”
“He’s just a phenomenal ball player… outside stealing his sneakers I don’t know what else to do." Darvin Ham gives credit to Dame tonight and talks about the #Lakers figuring things out. https://t.co/I1xWOckfHn
Behind Damian Lillard’s eight trifectas in the first half, Portland scorched the Lakers with 17 long-range bombs. “Logo Lillard” lived up to his name tonight with four 30-footers that had several LA players just shaking their heads in frustration and disbelief.
Lillard highlighted his hot-shooting night with a buzzer-beating shot from deep on the “Moda Center” logo to close out the first quarter 34-19. The Blazers wouldn’t let up despite the Lakers' gallant effort to close the gap.
At one point, Portland’s lead ballooned to 27 as Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Trendon Watford, Nassir Little and Shaedone Sharpe got going as well. The quintet combined to hit 14-23 from three-point distance.
Damian Lillard was removed for good by Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups with still seven minutes left. The Lakers looked like they were giving up as Ham started putting in his bench players.
The LA Lakers played without LeBron James for the third straight game due to a sore left ankle.
LA Lakers no longer have Patrick Beverley to help contain Damian Lillard
Last January 22, the LA Lakers rallied from a 25-point deficit to stun the Portland Trail Blazers, 121-112. Like tonight, Portland roared to a big first half, leading the Lakers 71-46 by halftime.
Behind LeBron James and Patrick Beverley’s pesky defense on Damian Lillard, the Lakers romped past the Blazers 75-41. Lillard finished with 24 points on 5-17 shooting, including 3-13 from deep.
Beverley didn’t singlehandedly put the cuffs on “Dame,” but he was the biggest reason why the Lakers contained him. “Pat Bev” played 29 minutes and finished with just four points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was, however, a game-high +27 when he was on the floor.
Patrick Beverley mocks Damian Lillard's "Dame Time" 😳
https://t.co/J5u4rRd5FQ
The Lakers traded the feisty guard to the Orlando Magic for Mo Bamba. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka felt the urgency to add another big man as Thomas Bryant requested to be traded and was dealt to the Denver Nuggets.
At least for tonight, the Lakers missed what they used to have when Beverley was prowling the perimeter hounding the opposing team’s best perimeter players.
Bamba didn’t play tonight as he is still under league suspension following his brawl with Austin Rivers.