Damian Lillard Needs a New Coach to Win a Championship

The season came to a close for Portland on Thursday after a home loss to a Denver team without star point guard Jamal Murray or starting SG Will Barton. Damian Lillard had a team-high 28 points to build on his impressive series while Nikola Jokic did the same with 38. The Blazers’ first-round exit marks the fourth time they’ve done this in the last five seasons. It is clear something needs to change, and looking at finding a new coach should be the front office’s first focus.

INTERESTING FACTS

Trail Blazers have failed to make it out of the 1st round in 4 of their last 5 seasons
Portland hasn’t won a single conference finals game since 2000
Damian Lillard was the 1st player to record 55+ PTS & 10+ AST during a loss in NBA history (regular or postseason)
1st player with 200+ PTS & 60+ AST over a playoff series that didn’t go 7 games
Set the NBA record for 3PM over a single NBA Playoffs series with 35

Odds vs. DEN: POR -200 (Spread -5.0)
POR Stock Price: $11.20 (via FANDEX)

MAIN TAKEAWAY

DAMIAN LILLARD NEEDS A NEW COACH TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP

COLORS KEY | FULL BLAZERS OUTLOOK

A team with Damian Lillard, the most clutch player in the NBA right now, paired with CJ McCollum should be making more consistent deep runs in the postseason. Portland was set up nicely with a favorable first-round matchup against what is considered to be one of the weakest teams in the West due to Jamal Murray’s season-ending injury.

Along with this, Dame has been playing some of his best basketball ever, but they failed to win a single playoff series yet again (4 of their last 5 seasons). Portland had a near 20-point lead in the 3rd quarter that was blown after not calling a single timeout during Denver’s 3rd quarter run, failing to challenge a crucial 3-shot foul call, and no use of Enes Kanter that exposed them on the boards. It was just another sign that in order for Lillard to avoid going home early every year, the Blazers need to make a change at the head coach position.

BEST HIGHLIGHTS

Jokic’s big night to put Denver into the second round

Nikola Jokic puts up 36 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST as the @nuggets prevail in Game 6 to advance! #ThatsGame
DEN will matchup with PHX in the West Semis… Game 1 on Monday at 10pm/et on TNT. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/jsqnZ2EonD
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2021