Daily MVP Film Breakdown: Damian Lillard Dominates 3Q
Damian Lillard averages 10.2 points in the third quarter, the most by any player in any quarter in the NBA this year. He added nearly half a point to that when he dropped 22 to start the second half against the Clippers, finishing with 39 points and a win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f4iCkOMhkU
James Harden has been on an absolute tear, averaging 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists per game over his last five. He could have easily been the focus today after pouring in 47 points in a win last night, but the Western Conference Player of the Week can share the spotlight after his 50-point triple double on Thursday. Plus, he disqualified himself by getting away with this ludicrous travel.
Harden really took a five-step back 🙄pic.twitter.com/0JSdnIawQG
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Contents
Droppin Dimes, Droppin Dimes
Ok, back to Dame. In the first quarter, Lillard dropped more dimes than shots. Four of his six assists came in the first period. The passes weren’t particularly flashy, but they were crisp and on time. He got a few assists out of the pick and roll to start, first bouncing one in to the big man and then finding a cutter.
Dame got into a flow in the first quarter by facilitating. Always very solid in the pick and roll. pic.twitter.com/0CvfvUXdtP
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Such a smart little play. Draws a switch on Gortat, takes him past the rim and drops it off for a cutter who can attack a big man in bad position. pic.twitter.com/N5nK3hEI44
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Terry Stotts runs a lot of actions based around flares and pin-down screens, and some of the plays are just beautiful. This one is called “Thumb,” and it’s fairly common throughout. As former Wizards video coordinator Bryan Oringher noted, having two versatile, athletic guards makes this style of play much easier to execute.
This pass is absolutely gorgeous, and so is the play design. Shooter flashing to the right wing, and McCollum could ether go to the corner or cut for a layup depending on what’s open. pic.twitter.com/2TZBPEeTRJ
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Third Quarter Thrashing
Dame so often comes out of the locker room on a mission, especially in close games. He started the second half with the objective of getting buckets, and he did so by doing something he does better than 99 percent of players in the NBA, pulling up from deep.
Here’s Lillard’s first attempt of the third quarter.
The only players in the league averaging more pullup treys per game are Harden, Kemba Walker, and Steph Curry. pic.twitter.com/Bgnm3nDKMn
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
That deep shot forces his defender to go over on screens, and when that happens he can attack the rim against a bigger and slower defender on the perimeter.
Defender goes over on the high pick and roll, and Lillard blows past Gortat for a layup. pic.twitter.com/vDUQA5Wzr5
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Dame hit five deep shots in the period, and four of them came on quick one-dribble pullups like this.
Defender goes over on the high pick and roll, and Lillard blows past Gortat for a layup. pic.twitter.com/vDUQA5Wzr5
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
One dribble around a screen, pullup, bang.
Rinse, wash, repeat. pic.twitter.com/yBl9JS363T— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
The only way to stop a shooter this hot off the dribble is with a versatile center who can come out to contest at the arc and contain him. Boban Marjanovic is many things, including the most efficient player in NBA history, but he is not that.
When a guy gets hot like Lillard, you need to double aggressively on the high pick and roll. Boban is my favorite son, but he can’t really do that. pic.twitter.com/8tpWkSRmZa
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
What did Boban ever do to Damian Lillard??? pic.twitter.com/WYi67tkcAr
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Here’s the only three Lillard missed in the quarter, and the whole game for that matter.
I’m honestly surprised Lillard didn’t hit this one. pic.twitter.com/GzocLK07gw
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Free Throw Finisher
Lillard played the entire third quarter, and his Herculean effort gave the Portland bench a 12 point lead to work with. They extended it to nearly 20, but then the Clippers started to hit shots and the arena got louder. Lillard entered the game and immediately drew a foul on a three-point shot. McCollum made a basket, and then LA went on a 15-6 run. Four of Portland’s six points came on Lillard free throws. Lillard shot only 1-4 from the floor in the fourth, but his one make put the Blazers up 5 with 1:23 to play.
Lillard out-scrapped one of the scrappiest defensive point guards in the league for this clutch bucket. pic.twitter.com/xeXygnqYTH
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) December 18, 2018
Lillard went 8-9 from the stripe in the final frame, finishing 11-13 on the game. When the Clippers fouled him down two with 9.6 left, he calmly drilled both free throws to seal the victory. He finished the game with ice in his veins, and showed that when he’s on, Dame Dolla can light it up with the best of them.
