NBA point guards are notoriously difficult to stop in an era when rules don’t allow contact and shooting skills dominate. Patrick Beverley is one of the best defenders in the league, but even he doesn’t enjoy every matchup.
When asked on the JJ Redick podcast who his toughest defensive assignment is, Beverley replied with a familiar name for Portland Trail Blazers fans: Damian Lillard. Lillard’s speed and shooting ability make a nightmare combination for any opponent.
From the clip above:
Give me is one of the reasons I entered the weight room. I said to my boys, “Hey, I have to go faster laterally. I don’t feel like I’m fast. I can’t keep up with it right now. I don’t know if I need to lose weight. I don’t know if I need to get stronger. I don’t know if I need to hire a new [insert profanity here] equipment. But i need to get [insert profanity here] Faster. So I ask you to break it down. “
So we worked a lot and, you know, an excellent example, last year, iso play, winner of the game, and I stop it. All of that works for one play. One play! But hey, [insert profanity here] that. This is how it is.
Speaking of Lillard’s evolution from Steph Curry’s shadow into his own light, Beverley said:
He is in a system where they allow him to be exactly who he is so that they win at a high level. Those midfield shots are like … to me that’s layups and corner kicks. However, half court shots for him, you know … the dynamics are very different when you go out preparing for such a player … very different.
The Blazers face Beverley’s current team, the Clippers, in Game 5 of the eight-game regular season restart. The confrontation is scheduled for August 8.
