Best – Damian Lilliard (PG) Portland Trailblazers – 45PTS 13-21FG 11-18 3PT 8-10 4REB 12AST 3STL 2TO 41MIN
The Blazers came into the bubble as the biggest threat to the Memphis Grizzlies to take over the coveted 8th and final playoff spot for the Western Conference. So far, Damian Lilliard and the Blazers have not disappointed in putting up a fight. The Grizzlies have lost all four games, while the Blazers have gone 3-1. Lilliard was a dangerous force to be reckoned with; not only was he scoring, but he also ensured to get his teammates involved like a genuine point guard.
Lillard has never had an issue with leading this team to victory; last season, they went all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Lilliard looks like he is revved up and ready to make another deep run and win the West for the first time since the 90s. After disposing of the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, Damian Lilliard has the Blazers only .5 game behind the Grizzlies and looking like real contenders in the West, not just a team sneaking into the playoffs.
Other Notable: James Harden (SG) Houston Rockets – 39PTS 11-19FG 12-12FT 5-10 3PT 8REB 12AST 3STL 1BLK 10TO; Ivicka Zubak (C) Clippers – 21PTS 10-10 1-2FT 15REB 1AST 1BLK 1TO.
Worst – Quinn Cook (PG) Los Angeles Lakers – 6PTS 2-12FG 0-3 3PT 2-2FT 4REB 4AST 2TO 29MIN
The Los Angeles Lakers will go as far as LeBron James and Anthony Davis will take them, but once the playoffs start, they are going to need role players to step up, and what Quinn Cook did on Thursday night against the Rockets proved that he is not the guy to help ease the loss of Rajon Rondo. Cook looked atrocious on Thursday in the 97-113 loss to the Rockets.
With LeBron sitting this game out, it was the perfect chance for Cook to prove that he should get more playing time heading into the playoffs. Instead, we saw the opposite with the Lakers taking time from Cook. LeBron will probably sit out a few games now that the Lakers have clinched the top seed, which gives Cook a chance to redeem himself the minds of the coaching staff. If Cook wants to be a part of the playoff rotation, he will need to come out smoking in every game and hope his teammates and coaches forget about yesterday’s game.
Extra Trash: Dion Waiters (G) Lakers – 8PTS 2-10FG 0-4 3PT 4-4FT 2REB 1STL 1BLK 2TO 25MIN; Bam Adebayo (C) Heat – 6PTS 2-10FG 1-1 3PT 1-2FT 5REB 6AST 1STL 4TO 22MIN.