They started out with 9% odds of making the playoffs. 1 overall seed. But, Damian Lillard is getting picked up at half-court and he’s STILL making them. Add Charles Barkley’s name to Skip Bayless’ long list of haters.During Game 1 of the Portland Trail Blazers’ first-round series vs. the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Take that, Skip Bayless. Curry dazzled the NBA world when he began his pull-up, quick-fire attempts, especially during the playoffs.

Gabriel earned a contract with Sacramento prior to the 2019–20 season. They scored on just two of their final 17 halfcourt possessions, with one of those buckets being a LeBron James tip-in off, yes you guessed it, a missed open three-pointer.Outside the restricted area, the Lakers shot 16% (9-for-54). I’m new to the game here. Le joueur Bosnien a vu sa jambe se casser en deux lors de la deuxième prolongation alors qu’il tentait de récupérer un rebond offensif. He was one of the few Lakers that could hit shots in their 37-point second half but was benched after helping Los Angeles get a six-point lead in the final period. On Tuesday, Terry Stotts played only six Trail Blazers for more than 16 minutes and if Game 1 is anything to go by, With just three realistic wing options to guard LeBron in Carmelo Anthony, Gary Trent Jr, and Mario Hezonja, it could get dicey quickly. Hours before playing against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic announced his grandmother, Hana, had passed away due to COVID-19. I’m proud, but I’m always pushing for more. Zach Collins leaves game with left ankle injury, seen hobbling around the court Following Wednesday’s practice, Blazers head coach Terry Stotts gave the latest update on Collins. "Gary Trent [Jr.] has probably been the best three-point shooter since we've been here so usually if Melo gets it then the defense is going to come to Melo and G. Trent is getting a good look from three which I'm super comfortable with. At a historic clip!Just because Steph Curry may have been the first player to have done it and make it popular doesn’t mean he’s the best at it. Sure, it’s one game, but the Lakers’ sleepy performance has led to sharp criticism the day after Portland’s 100-93 victory. He did what he was supposed to do in his role. He played well because of his activity, his energy, his toughness -- he was battling Davis inside, putting his body on him, filled in where he could, didn’t make any mistakes, if any. Du côté de Brooklyn, Caris LeVert avait eu une blessure de ce type, mais s’en était plutôt bien sorti pour revenir deux mois plus tard. He can see the next play. In the Orlando bubble, Gabriel played in two seeding games before starting in Game 1 Tuesday night.The 23-year-old finished with four points, three rebounds, and three assists in 16 minutes of action Tuesday, and he did not foul out despite fouling out the last time these two teams met back on Jan. 31. Those odds don’t scare them. In late July of 2018, he signed a two-way contract with the Kings, but he only played in the G-league that season. So, I think in the long run it’ll be helpful," Gabriel said. Gabriel proved once again to be effective on disrupting Anthony Davis down low as Portland took the 1-0 series lead.

Damian Lillard leads in almost all long-range categories, including a staggering 47%(!!!)

I feel like… it was simple to play the role -- simple in terms of what I had to do, but in terms of doing it -- it’s not easy to do.

For the Blazers, they had a “let’s not waste our f****** time” attitude and every game depended on their season. I feel like I got a good grip on when to take it as far as time and score and where we are in the game.

Sometimes it's just setting the team up in spots and situations where we can create a good situation for CJ or maybe telling [Carmelo Anthony], 'You be on the opposite side because when I attack they're going to help in from that way and you going to have a shot,' or telling the same thing to Gary Trent [Jr.] or accepting the double team and making the right play out of it so we can make the right play on the backside... Just take responsibility for that, recognize where the help is coming from, what the other team is trying to do and just play to that. And it's not comforting in not just what I can do but what if I know a double-team or a trap is coming I'm looking at outletting the ball to Carmelo Anthony, and he's a big shot maker. Staying aggressive will be key for Gabriel and he knows that as well. -- Skip BaylessLillard has proven he’s a superstar and more. Or as risky as it can be for someone shooting 67% from 35-39 feet this season. In her daily monologue, Rachel Nichols of The Jump recaps the horrific leg injury to Portland Trail Blazers big man Jusuf Nukic, which came against the Brooklyn Nets. And rather than use superlatives and vague generalizations, let’s use facts. Adjustments are what the playoffs are all about and the next move certainly belongs to the Lakers.Wenyen Gabriel up for the challenge guarding Anthony DavisDame continues to make the right decision down the stretchComparing Damian Lillard and Steph Curry's outrageous rangeDamian Lillard comes up clutch, Blazers grab Game 1 victoryBlazers draw first blood with Game 1 upset of LakersKey to Dame Time: Damian Lillard's trust in himself and his teammatesLeBron James has Trail Blazers tasting blood... now they're out for their ownLA Lakers don’t seem ready for Trail Blazers smoke... but why? What didn't change, was their philosophy to pack the paint and it worked. But as far as the mental side of it, I’m not there and our team isn’t. What happened on Saturday afternoon validated what I've been asking about Damian Lillard.

Dame credits the experience of Portland, who entered the bubble 3.5 games out of the eighth seed, had to undergo to make the postseason for why they're playoff-ready and completely comfortable in late-game situations. And we've shown that trust and we've shown that different guys can come up big in those situations." It's a comfortable shot. But it hasn't been Lillard doing it alone to get Portland into the playoffs and ready to make significant noise and therefore Dame Time isn't just when Lillard hits a big shot. All Rights Reserved. Damian Lillard has better range than Stephen Curry. I'm really comfortable with that.