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Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in a Game 1 loss to Portland Trail Blazers!

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Wenyen Gabriel #35 of the Portland Trail Blazers blocks a shot by Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half in Game 1 of Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Wenyen Gabriel #35 of the Portland Trail Blazers blocks a shot by Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half in Game 1 of Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

Here’s a thought…Can the Los Angeles Lakers just double Damian Lillard?

This wouldn’t be as exasperating if Damian Lillard hadn’t smoked the Los Angeles Lakers for 48 points in the Staples Center in Portland’s 127-119 victory over the Lakers on Jan. 31. This wouldn’t be so irritating if the man didn’t win the bubble MVP in a streak so hot, it made his earlier streak this season look like a slump.

Damian Lillard absolutely took the Lakers backcourt apart in every basketball way possible.

Lillard finished with 34 points on the strength of six 3 point shots (Remember the Lakers had five as a team!) along with 5 assists, 5 rebounds and a block. Not only did he put up these numbers, but they also were never forced.

If he did, he would have dropped about 45. Instead after dropping 23 points in the first half, he allowed his backcourt mate CJ McCollum to get untracked in the 3rd quarter. Why is that important?

When the Lakers had their 84-78 lead in the fourth quarter, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum led the Blazers with a 19-6 run to take control of the game. Honestly, the game was over here.

Here’s the point. The Lakers are dead last in defending point guard scoring among teams in the playoffs (18.0), assisting (6,3) and field goal shooting (48%). Word around the campfire is that Damian Lillard might be the starting point guard on Thursday night.

Usually, Lake Show Life leaves an entire page for the opposing point guard.

Let’s go to the next page and talk about the Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard. 

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