Damian Lillard has really struggled so far this year. Actually, if we’re being completely honest here, that might be an understatement.
Damian Lillard has looked bad so far this year.
The Blazers’ star player is shooting a career-low 36% from the field and 25% from 3-point range. He’s scored 212 points while taking 211 shots so far and is only averaging 19.3 points per game this year.
This is very clearly not the Damian Lillard we’re used to. That’s obvious.
One reason for his struggles is, apparently, the league’s new officiating. The NBA has given its officials more leeway in calling fouls as a result of offensive players flopping and jumping into defenders for calls in the past.
Many folks love the rule change and what it’s done for the flow of the game. But Lillard called it “unacceptable” after Portland’s loss to the Clippers on Tuesday night.
Dame Lillard blasts the new foul rule changes pic.twitter.com/VR9RFV8QjE
— gifdsports (@gifdsports) November 10, 2021
“The way the game is being officiated is unacceptable…I’m not even a player that…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. And, it’s just unacceptable, man.”
Lillard has clearly struggled with the officiating this season. He’s only getting to the free throw line 3.2 times per game, which is a career-low for him. So you can sort of see his point.
But NBA fans weren’t buying this. At all. To them, he needs to adjust.