1.) Stop ‘Dame Time’ from happening
Damian Lillard is one of the NBA’s most elite point guards, and has a penchant for hitting insanely clutch shots throughout his career. His clutch 4th quarter scoring performances have been so prolific that it’s even been given a name — ‘Dame Time’.
In reality there are only two ways to stop this phenomenon from happening. Either ensure that the game is a blowout before the 4th quarter, or key in on Lillard so much that he’s forced to give the ball up to another teammate.
The second one is much more difficult to pull off. Lillard is incredibly crafty with the ball in his hands, and his ability to pull up from way beyond the three point line means that his defenders need to key in on him as soon as he crosses half court.
This obviously opens up the driving lanes for Lillard, and allows him to display his elite finishing ability. However, even if you do succeed in forcing the ball out of Lillard’s hands, he has two equally gifted shot-makers in CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony to pass the ball to.
It’s this ability to hurt you in multiple ways that makes him so deadly, as the team doesn’t really have a perimeter defender capable of going toe to toe with him for the entirety of the game.
The Lakers would be wise to try and shoot for option one, and get the game well out of reach by the time the clock strikes for the 4th quarter. If that doesn’t prove to be the case, the team needs to lock in on Lillard and his supporting cast, and make sure they don’t wind up on the wrong side of a game-winning shot.