Lillard to Westbrook: 'I'm the Last Person You Want to See in the Playoffs'
The Portland Trail Blazers have struggled this season, but Damian Lillard is still warning opponents not to count him out.
That's what he indicated to Russell Westbrook during their trash-talking in a game two weeks ago.
"The Lillard-Westbrook feud is alive and well, rages on pic.twitter.com/LmNRP5KoB9
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 16, 2020"
The 29-year-old revealed to Jason Quick of The Athletic that after arguing about Westbrook's free-throw shooting, the Houston Rockets guard came back by asking, "What playoff seed are you all?"
Lillard responded: "You know I'm the last person you want to see in the playoffs.'"
The pair was assessed a double technical after the incident, but the message was sent in what became a 117-107 Portland victory.
It's true the Trail Blazers have struggled this season with a 20-27 record, entering Wednesday three games out of the final playoff spot. However, Lillard has been on fire lately with an average of 52.7 points per game over his last three, averaging 32.8 points per game throughout January.
He's taking over games in a similar fashion to what we saw during the 2019 postseason when he helped lead the squad to the Western Conference Finals.
This run included a five-game series win over Westbrook's Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, which saw Lillard average 33 points per game. He scored 50 points in the clinching Game 5, including the game-winning three as time expired.
The 29-year-old is hoping to have a similar impact this season while doing everything he can to lift Portland to the postseason.
"In my mind, I'm going out with a real brawl," Lillard said Tuesday. "I'm going out with a real fight."
Westbrook might want revenge in the playoffs if he gets a chance, but the Trail Blazers would certainly be a scary matchup for the Rockets thanks to the elite guard play.
The two teams are set to battle again Wednesday in Houston.
