Portland’s megastar Damian Lillard captivated the NBA audience with his first-round performance against the . Now, hours before Game 1 of the conference semifinals, Lillard has become the Nuggets’ problem.
“In this league, right now, you cannot lock someone (like him up),” said Nuggets center . “Maybe we can keep him below 25. But itap still 25. Or 30. But he’s playing a really, really high level of basketball, so itap gonna be a really good task for us.”
In four games during the regular season, the Nuggets had more success than most teams against Lillard by limiting him to 21.3 points on 37 percent shooting from the field. will likely draw the assignment of containing him, and itap that matchup that will likely have the biggest impact on the outcome of this second-round series.
Even before the series tipped off, the respect Lillard has garnered among the Nuggets was palpable at Monday’s shootaround.
“He’s been killing in the playoffs,” said. “I’ve been following every game. We just gotta make him uncomfortable.”
Murray, the Nuggets’ fiery point guard, said he has learned from watching how Lillard conducts himself.
“For sure, someone I look up to,” he said. “Especially his game, his confidence in the way he takes threes, the way he leads his team. He’s not a vocal guy, but leads with example.”
If he drew the defensive assignment, Murray joked he didn’t know how far beyond the 3-point line it was reasonable to guard him. Lillard hit a 37-foot shot to beat the Thunder in Game 5 of their first-round series.
“How high would you guard him?” Murray said laughing. “I’m gonna stay at the logo. If he pulls up from there, just shake his hand.”
Denver’s success could be predicated on Murray’s ability to match Lillard’s intensity. Thatap just one component of why Murray respects Lillard so much.
“Just him as a being,” Murray said. “The way he loves the game, the way he plays, the passion, his competitiveness, his toughness. He goes at his opponents. He just loves to compete. I love to compete. Itap a respect factor. Just go at each other and the best man wins. Itap just going to be a lot of fun to go against a guy that is similar.”
Lillard, who spoke to reporters Sunday at while the Nuggets were recovering from their dramatic Game 7 win, acknowledged something similar regarding Murray.
“He’s a really good, young guard,” he said. “He’s really aggressive, really confident, and he’s played a big role in the success of their team. If you want to beat this team, you’re going to have to keep both those guys (Jokic and Murray) under control.”
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