Portland Trail Blazers All-Star point guard Damian Lillard challenged the team during halftime of Tuesday's game against the Dallas Mavericks amid their recent slump. With another defeat at the hands of the Mavs, the Blazers are currently on a three-game losing streak.
Jason Quick of The Athletic wrote about the Blazers' slump, including Lillard's challenge to his teammates to examine themselves and get back to their winning ways:
“Sometimes,” Damian Lillard said, “you have to govern yourselves. Coaches can get mad and they can say things, but we (players) are out there together, and I have to be able to look at the next person and they have to be able to look at me, and know that I want to get this done same as you. Sometimes, you just have to talk to each other. It’s gotta be about us. Especially right now. It has to be about us.”
The Blazers have lost six of their last seven games as their embarrassing 43-point loss against the Milwaukee Bucks could have dispirited the team. Lillard, being the team leader he is, took it upon himself to call out the whole team and make sure everybody is accountable.
Lillard, 28, did all he could in the Mavs game. His stat line of 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists went for naught as the Blazers slid to a 13-11 win-loss card.
It's easy to understand how frustrated Damian Lillard is, as this could be the year that could make or break this Blazers roster. After consecutive postseason disappointments, it's safe to say Portland could see a revamp in the lineup if the current one does not deliver again.
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