Blazers star Damian Lillard missed two clutch free throws in the team’s disappointing loss against the Clippers on Saturday, drawing some laughter and mockery from Paul George and Patrick Beverley at the end of the contest, as written by Jason Quick of The Athletic.
Beverley, who’s known for taunting players throughout his career, was quick to get on Lillard for missing both free throws, mocking his signature “Dame Time” wrist-tap while audibly laughing. Upon being asked of Beverley’s antics postgame, Lillard didn’t mince words.
“PG did the wave because he was also surprised,” Lillard said of missing his free throws. “Because he experienced getting waved at last year. PG … let me say this: For one, I know what happened. I expect myself to make those free throws, and I didn’t when my team needed it, which is a failure for me. That I can accept.
“But asking me about Patrick Beverley, who I’ve sent home before at the end of the game, Paul George got sent home by me last year in the playoff. So they know the reason they are reacting like that is because of what they expect from me, which his a sign of respect,” Lillard continued. “And it just shows what I’ve done at a high clip more times than not. So I’m not offended by it.
“If anything it should tell you how much it hurt them to go through what I put them through in those situations previously.”
All three players engaged in a war of words on social media after the game, with George writing, “And you getting sent home this year [laughing emoji] respect,” and Beverley writing “Cancun on 3 [three laughing emojis]” in response to Lillard’s comments. The Trail Blazers’ star replied with a simple but forceful statement. “Keep switching teams … running from the grind. You boys is chumps.”
The Blazers (32-39) currently sit one game behind the Grizzlies (33-38) for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, with Saturday’s loss coming against a Clippers team that played without the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell.
There’s more from the Northwest Division tonight:
- Thunder guard Luguentz Dort has shown flashes of improvement in his offensive game, Cameron Jourdan of The Oklahoman writes. Dort, 21, scored 16 points on Friday and nine points on Sunday, demonstrating his potential throughout the contests. He went undrafted last June and has earned the respects of his teammates and coaches this season.
- The Timberwolves now officially own Brooklyn’s first-round pick in the upcoming draft, Chris Hine of the Star Tribune writes. Minnesota acquired the pick in a four-team trade last February, though the pick was lottery protected. The Nets would’ve kept the pick if they had missed the playoffs.
- Nuggets guard Jamal Murray doubled his minutes restriction and shined in his Orlando debut against the Jazz on Saturday, Mike Singer of the Denver Post writes. Murray finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in 39 minutes of work during a double-overtime contest, helping the Nuggets seal their 46th win of the season.
New owner is not going to overpay Beasley 4 years 60 million because Wolves will clearly be the worst team in the west
Knicks need to spend to meet team Minimum salary requirement
Paul George has no business mocking anyone about being clutch.
Paul George is gonna get exposed in the playoffs per usual when playoff p comes out.
That’s why he has Kawhi Leonard. He’s no dummy.
I think you meant Brooklyn would have kept the pick if they MISSED the playoffs. They did make the playoffs.
Classy Clippers
Easy to root against
Big misses though
I haven’t watched much of the Thunder and I didn’t hear much about Dort before the restart, but watching him play I really liked his ability to drive to the basket and finish. It felt like I watched him drive to the rim and get fouled yet finish the basket multiple times.
How many times does Dame have to give it to them cats before they get the point? Have several seats.
Seems they just jacked Dame up. Put 50 on Sixers. They all talk smack, big deal. Blazers vs Lakers looking like fun series. Healthy Clippers team is team to beat. They are deepest team in NBA.
Clippers no doubt have the best team on paper but that doesn’t win you rings.
Harrell has shown signs of wanting out and being unhappy with the special treatment of the star players. Lou Will obviously isn’t as committed as first thought of you know leaving the bubble to go to the strippers and all. Plus with Morris Jackson and Harrell all off contract I wouldn’t be surprised if all 3 didn’t return next season.
Why bro, you don’t believe in wings lol. Must be the sauce. Lou has always been a solid guy. This is minor. Yes on paper you’re right. But all have never won (Kawhi). Then there’s taking out Lakers in LA for PG, Kawhi. This team is committed. Winning cures all ills. Harrell a FA with a ring. Looks real good to teams. His team has a chance for multiple rings. In LA. Do not take that lightly. This team has attitude and right combo of players. No one is beating them.
I just said why, Harrell is annoyed and absent. Lou Will would rather be at the strippers at home in the ATL than with his team. Then you have PG and Bev playing around with Lillard. Like Lillard said he’s waved goodbye to both these dudes before he’s real focused on winning. PG and Bev obviously want to win but they don’t have that same focus. KaWhi has already won his chips in the past. I just think by looking at them it’s obviously they aren’t as focused. No doubt they have the right players on paper but I just can’t see them doing it.
Lakers will be really pushing for it, Bron getting older chasing the goat, AD never made the finals before. Bucks will be going hard with Giannis and those guys getting their first chip. Raptors look very focused and want to show why they are the reigning champs. Celtics look like they have something to prove. Mavs and Doncic are starting to put up great numbers. Nuggets need to show they aren’t young push overs.
I just can’t see Clippers winning it, then Harrell and Morris will leave. Reggie will want a starters job if there is one available and that’s 3 big players gone which makes every year after this one harder
All the LAC team are chumps, that is why they are the most hated team in the league & no one roots for them. They are an absolute disgrace & fans want them out ASAP! Wish they played POR in the R1WC… they would lose big time!
“Wish they played POR in the R1WC… they would lose big time!”
Really? Is that why a healthy Trailblazers squad lost to a Clippers team sans two starters and their sixth man in Harrell?
Dame is clutch & no one in the chump team also called the LAC is clutch, so when you leave the RS into playoffs that is what counts, not silly depth or sixth men, that ain’t nothing, all is about star quality & clutch! Dame above the whole chump team, no doubt about that!
Kawhi isn’t clutch? Are you joking? I thought you were a Sixers fan. Didn’t you watch him eliminate your team from the postseason last year?
Nope, that was the luckiest shot in NBA history, nothing more nothing less! He ain’t no clutch!
Two times Finals MVP. Where’s Lillard’s ring?
Dame at 32 in all reality probably only has 2/3 years at his best then will fall away a lot.
I think he’s given so much for the Blazers that they need to go hard to build around him and plan for the future.
Him and McCollum have been nice but for the last 4 years since his MIP they haven’t exactly been that successful.
Why see what you can get on the market?
Maybe CJ McCollum and Trevor Ariza for Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson.
Dame JRich Harris and Nurkic and when Dame retires they still have a good core.
Maybe CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Massir Little and a first for Joel Embiid
Dame and Embiid would be insanely hard to stop.
Maybe CJ McCollum, Nassir Little and a first for Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles
Dame plus a young killer and Ingles would be a nice wing and depth piece
Maybe CJ McCollum, Zach Collins (sign and trade) and a future first for Jrue Holiday and Derrick Favours (sign and trade)
Dame plus Holiday helps the defence and Favours and Nurkic form a twin towers.
Maybe CJ McCollum, Nassir Little and a future first for Kevin Love, the Cavs 2nd overall pick and Darius Garland.
Kevin Love going home and forming a twin towers. In the future you have Garland Simons Collins and the second overall pick
This I know for sure.
The Timberpuppies WILL NOT get the top pick.
The pick they do get will place them on the outside looking in at the perceived top picks.
Whoever they do pick will be a bust.
Remember Justin Patton?
The second round pick will be a “throwaway”
Remember “Hardware” Henk Norel?
This franchise has been cursed since it’s 1989 inception.
Even their first ever draft choice was POOH !!