It has become a mantra on social media with fans of Trail Blazers and sports media. Don’t talk trash about Damian Lillard, because he thrives under that kind of pressure. Yet ashes are often talked about, and not just by the media.
Rivalry between players seems to be about the NBA. It used to be that when we talked about rivalry, it was in reference to teams. But these days, the rivalries seem to be more frequent among individuals. Maybe those are the shortened contracts and team-hopping that are more common among NBA players than it has ever been. Maybe it’s the change of times. Maybe the simple fact is that we have a front-seat more than ever thanks to social media. Whatever the cause, it makes things interesting.
In the Trail Blazers game against the Clippers on Saturday, we saw player rivalry first hand when Patrick Beverly and Paul George made remarks to Lillard after he missed two free throws right before the final buzzer and the Blazers suffered a troublesome loss name. The ups and downs continued in the availability of the media and then spilled over onto social media. For Trail Blazer fans, it was hard to see. Lillard has been such an owner for the team, and he has become the heart of Portland. Seeing him miss shots he normally makes, and then seeing the other team mock him and intervene was not easy. I found my 5’2 ”140 pound self that I could dive into the TV and protect my favorite boys from the bumps. But in true Lady fashion, he did not let It shake him, and he let his actions speak louder than her words.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen Lillard as the focus of a rivalry with another player. Possibly the most famous is his infamous back-and-forth with Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook. Westbrook and Lillard are often the subject of conversations that lead to a matchup of Portland and Houston. The two are often talked about on social media and among commentators. Fans have created famous memes. While the two do not often shout at each other in public, there always seems to be tension on the floor as they play. I’ve never had a problem with Westbrook. But when shots were fired, and a rivalry was ignited, I found Westbrook absolutely despised.
These rivalries tend to burn Lillard’s fire, and in fact seem to positively affect his game. After the meat with Beverly and George last week, Lillard came out and played one of his best games against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 51 points for the Trail Blazers. He followed that up with 61 points against the Dallas Mavericks after being criticized by a well-known media personality. For the fans, it felt like a sweet, sweet victory.
While rivalry exists among players on the court, some obvious and others more private, you can not deny their existence. In my opinion, when a player defeats his opponent, it makes the game more entertaining.
Trail Blazers players have had their share of ongoing rivalries with other players in the league over the years. Their stories overwhelm teams, following the boys as they leave one team and move on to the other. As of now, beef between a Trail Blazer and a player from another team can change so much. A team I have never thought of can suddenly arouse a kind-hearted hatred in me. A player I liked may soon become one I like. It does not take much conflict with any of my Trail Blazers to evoke emotion within me.
I often say I’m a fan of good basketball players, but I’m an even bigger fan of good people. I find my players nice and controversial. But I’m not above a bit of friendly rivalry and competition between players. I like how it seems to bring the highest level of performance into their play, and I do not like to talk a little trash to keep things interesting.
