| |
|
NBA --- Lillard still down as Portland chases playoffs spot
By Ryan Gallardo PhilBoxing.com Wed, 26 Feb 2020

PORTLAND -- When the 2019-20 NBA season began last October, the Portland Trail Blazers were expected to easily make to post-season, what with their talent and the gained experience from a deep playoffs run last summer.
But perception and reality are two different animals. And the Blazers are finding that out the hard way.
With a little over six weeks left before the 82-game regular season ends, Portland has a disappointing 26-32 record which puts them in 9th place in the Western Conference standings. They trail the 28-29 Memphis Grizzlies by three games for the eighth and last playoffs berth.
Besides trying to supplant the Grizzlies, the Blazers must also somehow prevent the 25-32 New Orleans Pelicans and the 24-32 San Antonio Spurs from sneaking in down the stretch.
And that difficult task, at least for now, will have to be accomplished without their leader and best player, Damian Lillard.
For the third consecutive game, the Blazers will play without their star when they host the Boston Celtics today at the Moda Center.
Lillard was hurt in Portland's 111-104 defeat to the Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum in Memphis last Wednesday. An MRI confirmed a right groin strain. He is expected to be out for multiple games, between three to four, reports said.
Obviously Lillard is huge loss, especially at a time when he is playing some of his best basketball since beginning his pro career as the sixth pick of the NBA draft. A veteran of seven years and 603 regular seasons, Lillard is averaging 29.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists per through 54 games this season.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Lillard is making $29.8 million this season or $363,414 per game.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ryan Gallardo.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami , Sun, 14 Jun 2026Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026Foundation stone laid for the first-ever IBA arena in Dushanbe , Sun, 14 Jun 2026Jerick Faeldonia Wins One Chess Movement Tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026Bam Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas & Martinez vs Cardenas Preview and Picks By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026Popper vs. Seldon Jr. Official Weights for June 13 in Atlantic City , Sat, 13 Jun 2026GLENDALE, AZ FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR BAM VS VARGAS – LIVE ON DAZN , Sat, 13 Jun 2026Undefeated Middleweight Amir Anderson Meets Jonas Sylvain in Battle of Unbeatens on DAZN , Sat, 13 Jun 2026Munsayac, Celones get FMA award By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026Weigh-In Results for Sanman 101: Laurente Eyes Home Victory , Fri, 12 Jun 2026Arleah Cassandra Sapuan of Valencia, Negros finishes ninth in Las Vegas chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 12 Jun 2026EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF BAM VS. VARGAS IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA , Fri, 12 Jun 2026IBA President warns Olympic movement will fade unless IOC rewards athletes and reforms now , Fri, 12 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106 By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’ , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes , Wed, 10 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|