The Portland Trailblazers haven’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs since 1999 - 2000 with the exception of the 2013 - 2014 season when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
Now you’re probably thinking, “Why pack up the family and cruise down I-5 to The Moda Center to watch the Blazers if that’s their past?”
Two words: Damian Lillard.
Since being drafted sixth overall in 2012, Lillard has been one of the most exciting players to watch in the NBA. Averaging 19 points a game and earning seven double-doubles as a rookie, the kid didn’t mess around.
Oh yeah, and he won Rookie of the Year that year too.
Lillard has been in at least the top 16 in scoring since jumping on the scene in 2012. In the 2013 - 2014 playoffs, Lillard hit a game-winning buzzer beater, at home against the Houston Rockets. His mic drop (literally) pushed the blazers past the Rockets where they would lose to the spurs in the conference semi-finals.
But enough about the past: lets talk 2015 - 2016.
Over the summer, Lillard lost crucial teammates in Lamarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez to free agency. Along with free agency, Nicolas Batum was traded to the Bobcats. As you can see, Lillard lost a lot of support. But it hasn’t seemed to bother him much.
This season, Lillard is sixth in scoring and just 40 games into the season. He has well surpassed his rookie double-double high by recording 10. The 25-year-old is just three seasons into his NBA career and already the leader on his team. Portland fans are seeing his name on lists with players like Lebron James, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
But there's one list that the Oakland, Calif. native's name didn’t make it onto...
And that's the 2016 NBA All-Star Game roster. Not even as a reserve.
Lillard, one of the best point guards in the game, got snubbed. In fact, this season Lillard is the second-highest-scoring point guard in the League right behind Mr. three-pointer himself, Steph Curry, who currently holds first place in scoring with almost 30 points a game.
Lillard is ahead of 19 of the 24 NBA All-Stars in scoring, and 20 out of 24 in assists, and yet his name is still missing from that list. Dame is almost a full six points per game ahead of Western Conference reserve point guard, Chris Paul. Tough to be voted into the Western Conference starting lineup with Steph Curry at your position, but he outscores Chris Paul of the LA Clippers.
Along with Lillard getting snubbed, his partner in crime CJ McCollum also was an NBA All-Star hopeful, as he is boasting 20.8 ppg in his first year with Portland.
With Lillard getting left out of the festivities, he will have a nice break to rest and come back afterward, ready to keep the Portland Trialblazers afloat as they are playoff hopeful this season thanks to Lillard and McCollum. If the season ended at the All-Star break, the Blazers would finish eighth in the Western Conference and snag the last playoff spot.
Not being in Canada for All-Star weekend could lead to some musical inspiration for Dame DOLLA; then maybe Portland fans wouldn’t be left too disappointed on Monday morning.
