Memphis Grizzlies veteran Anthony Tolliver wants rookie point guard Ja Morant to be like Damian Lillard in terms of how the Portland Trail Blazers superstar responds to failing.
After missing two clutch free-throws against the Los Angeles Clippers and getting trolled by Patrick Beverley and Paul George, Lillard responded by averaging 51.3 points in his last three seeding games, all wins for the Blazers.
Tolliver, who played with Lillard at the beginning of the 2019-20 season, has been telling Morant to follow in Dame's footsteps.
“I actually told Ja [Morant], I said, ‘the way that Damian Lillard responds after failing — that should be your goal and it’s not necessary that you need to go score 60.' But just responding. I think that’s what makes Damian as great as he is — is he responds,” the Grizzlies forward said, via Jamie Hudson of NBC Sports Northwest.
“When he fails, he responds, and so everybody is going to fail. And so, I just told Ja, I said, ‘you know that has to be in your DNA in this league. If you want to be the best guard in this league, which you have the potential to be, that has to be in your DNA and learn how to respond, and learn how to lead your team whenever they need it.”
Ja Morant and Damian Lillard will be pitted against each other in the play-in game between the Grizzlies and Blazers.
The winner takes on the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2020 playoffs, while the loser goes home after a valiant effort at Walt Disney World.
It should be fun to watch Morant and Lillard go at it in the play-in game. Dame is clearly the better player, but the Grizzlies rookie doesn't back down from anyone and will certainly do his best to make things difficult for the Blazers star on both sides of the court.
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