Prior to their Wednesday night matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center, Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard opened up to the media.
In an article by Sarah Todd of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Lillard gave the Sixers a high amount of praise.
“I think they're really good. They've obviously got a lot of talent that they've built up over the years in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. I think they've put really good pieces around them,” Lillard said Tuesday evening following Blazers practice at the Sixers training complex.
Damian Lillard also added that when it comes to the Sixers, teams can no longer face this team of rising stars without expecting a really tough game.
“I think in the past we took them lightly. They kind of jumped out and played hard and they beat us,” Lillard said. “This year, you have no choice but to respect what they’ve done and how they’re playing. They’re not doing it like it’s luck, they’re out there hooping.”
Known as one of the league's most dynamic players, the Blazers star will be very difficult to slow down for the Sixers. In 17 starts this season, Lillard is currently averaging 24.4 points, 6.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 36 minutes of action per contest.
Blazers head coach Terry Stotts was also vocal about the Sixers and the lineup balance they bring every night.
“They have a really good mix of passing and shooting and size, so it’s going to be a challenge. They can hurt you inside, outside, and in transition,” Stotts said on Tuesday. “It’s a very interesting mix and it’s going to be interesting how the matchups go.”
The Sixers and Blazers game will tip off on Wednesday night shortly after 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
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