Lillard out vs. Nuggets with lower abdominal pain

[SlyPokerDog]

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Denver Nuggets with lower abdominal pain.

Lillard has struggled to start the season, shooting below 40% from the field and below 30% from 3-point range.

The Blazers officially ruled Lillard out with "lower abdominal tendinopathy." He had been dealing with an abdominal problem while playing for Team USA at the Olympics this summer but maintained that an injury is not the reason for his recent stretch of poor play.

Lillard is averaging 20 points and 8 assists this season. Sunday will mark the first game he has missed this year.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...amian-lillard-vs-nuggets-lower-abdominal-pain

 

[Mr. Robot]

im not sure one game rest will solve the problem, but carry on...

 

[MickZagger]

As if I thought my life could get any worse….

FML

 

[Chris Craig]

Good let him heal

 

[blazerfan11]

Does this mean Little will start?

 

[FlashWad]

Let him sit out the year and recover, trade cj for a complimentary player and play the young guys alot.

 

[PDXFonz]

Ant's ready! Let's GO!

Good, he will need to score 20+ for us to win

 

[illmatic99]

glad he's resting, but is that really a permanent solution?

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Ant is ready for this. I hope he starts.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

Great choice - does he play hurt and struggle or sit out long enough to heal. Either choice, or both, could turn this into a lost season.

I really liked the Powell trade at the time, but now I am beginning to wish we had kept Trent. Not because Trent is better (he isn't), but because he is young enough (along with Ant and Little) to be part of a major revamp.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I want Lillard out however long it takes to heal completely.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I want Lillard out however long it takes to heal completely.

Sit him for the season and get our house in order if necessary. Need a trade for a legit wing in conversation for all star bid.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Dame out and people are saying Ant should start???

I thought we’ve been asking for more height but y’all want to continue with the three guards?

CJ
Powell
Nas
RoCo
Nurk

Ant will get plenty of time but let’s take the opportunity to play a little bit bigger (pun intended).

 

[tiredhunter]

Dame out and people are saying Ant should start???

I thought we’ve been asking for more height but y’all want to continue with the three guards?

CJ
Powell
Nas
RoCo
Nurk

Ant will get plenty of time but let’s take the opportunity to play a little bit bigger (pun intended).

Would also entertain CJ/Powell/RoCo/Nance/Nurk

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Dame out and people are saying Ant should start???

I thought we’ve been asking for more height but y’all want to continue with the three guards?

CJ
Powell
Nas
RoCo
Nurk

Ant will get plenty of time but let’s take the opportunity to play a little bit bigger (pun intended).

Little is 6'5", Ant is 6'4". we don't get that much bigger. Get Simmons in here and now we're talking.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Would also entertain CJ/Powell/RoCo/Nance/Nurk

Stotts always liked to keep people in their roles so I'm almost positive he would've gone with DSJ/CJ/Powell/RoCo/Nurk.

 

[royo]

Can Nas play SG?

 

[BonesJones]

Little is 6'5", Ant is 6'4". we don't get that much bigger. Get Simmons in here and now we're talking.

Ant is 6'3, and wingspan/standing reach/ strength matter...

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Sit him for the season and get our house in order if necessary. Need a trade for a legit wing in conversation for all star bid.

The Warriors just did this with Curry and are currently without Klay.
It will not hurt Lillard to get healthy and take a few less miles for a season. It will give Chauncey a chance to get his team working and they might even be able to really develop some players that need minutes.
This season is not hitting on all cylinders at this point.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Theoretically, with the way Dame has been playing, and our refocus on defense, it may not be disastrous.

If ME J decides it’s on him to be the hero though, I reserve the right to change my mind about being disastrous

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Maybe if Lillard sits out extended games the Blazers fall out of the playoff race and can never recover. Or maybe without Lillard other guys step up and they stay in the playin hunt.

I do know that a hurt Lillard in the playoffs is never winning anything, so this is the only way to give the team a chance.

I just hope Lillard doesn't try to rush back before he should. It would be great if the team wins upcoming games without him; and it pushes him to wait until completely recovered.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I will say, that this is majorly concerning it seems that he wasnt able to recover from an ab injury in the summer with many months before the regular season.

If he takes off months now, will he still not recover?

There was some talk that Dame has dealt with his abs for years.

I sure hope this doesn't turn into a Brandon Roy knees thing.

 

[julius]

Theoretically, with the way Dame has been playing, and our refocus on defense, it may not be disastrous.

If ME J decides it’s on him to be the hero though, I reserve the right to change my mind about being disastrous

hahah, "if".

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Ant is ready for this. I hope he starts.

let’s shake things up!

Let Dame rest until January

Fire Olshey

start:

CJ
Powell
Nas
Nance
Nurk

Bring Ant and RoCo off the bench

start looking hard at trade opportunities for CJ, RoCo and Nurkic - and the host of “filler” we have on the bench

keepers:

Ant
Nas

the rest are expendable

 

[AldoTrapani]

You guys think Dame will make the All Star game this year

 

[Phatguysrule]

You guys think Dame will make the All Star game this year

Don't care. I could see it, but it doesn't matter.

 

[Minstrel]

The Warriors just did this with Curry and are currently without Klay.
It will not hurt Lillard to get healthy and take a few less miles for a season. It will give Chauncey a chance to get his team working and they might even be able to really develop some players that need minutes.
This season is not hitting on all cylinders at this point.

This works if Lillard is on board. Considering he's been playing through it and is desperate not to waste more seasons, I'm pretty sure he's not going to be okay with being sat for health reasons if he believes he can and should play.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

This works if Lillard is on board. Considering he's been playing through it and is desperate not to waste more seasons, I'm pretty sure he's not going to be okay with being sat for health reasons if he believes he can and should play.

I understand this point. I also agree with your point. However players need to be held accountable for play as well as injury.
The Team has him under contract to produce. If injury is keeping him from production then I would think he needs to follow direction of the team.
But yeah it can get ugly. See Kawhi Leonard.

 

[HailBlazers]

im not sure one game rest will solve the problem, but carry on...

No point in playing him for this scheduled loss..

 

[Chris Craig]

No point in playing him for this scheduled loss..

This is going to be a win bro