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Behind an incredible run, Damian Lillard led the Portland Trail Blazers to the eighth seed in the NBA Playoffs after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in the Western Conference play-in game.
The Trail Blazers started off the season restart in ninth place, 3.5 games behind the Grizzlies. Portland needed to maintain their position in ninth place and keep the Grizzlies’ lead to within four games in order to at least clinch a spot in the play-in game.
Coupled with the Grizzlies struggling during the restart, and with Lillard playing at an All-Star level, the Trail Blazers not only entered the play-in game as the eighth seed but defeated the Grizzlies to move on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Lillard was unanimously selected as the NBA Player of the Seeding Games after averaging an NBA-high 37.6 points and 9.6 assists. In his final three games, Lillard scored 51 against the Philadephia 76ers, he tied his franchise scoring record with 61 points against the Dallas Mavericks and finished with 42 points and 12 assists in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.
And Lillard correctly predicted his future success.
Trail Blazers rookie Nassir Little revealed on Twitter following the win over the Grizzlies the message that Lillard told him, which guaranteed the team would make the playoffs this season.
7 months ago, Dame looked me dead in my face and said “what you about to see me do, you ain’t never seen in your life, we making these 🤬 playoffs. “ If that ain’t some legend talk then idk what is. 🤷🏾♂️
— Nassir Little (@2ez_nassie) August 15, 2020
The recent run by Lillard and the Trail Blazers now has them in the playoffs with a matchup against the Lakers. Prior to the start of the playoffs, many around the NBA, including Charles Barkley, have looked at the Trail Blazers as a potential team to upset the Lakers in the playoffs.
When considering the teams the Lakers could have played, they likely didn’t want to see the Trail Blazers based on how well Lillard is playing. Whether or not Portland can pull off the upset is another conversation but it is clear the Lakers will have their hands full with Lillard & Co.
The series tips off on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.
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