Pondering what’s happening with Damian Lillard, Ethan Thompson, Chris Duarte and Terry Porter …
Ethan Thompson (Courtesy of Oregon State sports information)
Updated 2/21/2021 6:15 PM
Ruminations on roundball heading into the weekend …
• There is plenty of consternation in Rip City over the NBA’s “snub” of Damian Lillard as a starter in the upcoming All-Star Game. You fans who are up in arms: Sit down right now. You still have a chance to win the “Biofreeze Hoop With Dame” contest, where you can shoot it out with Lillard and win up to $100,000. (Personally, I’d rather have it out with Brooke Olzendam in ping pong.).
Seriously, Lillard is deserving of a starting role in the All-Star Game. But so are Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic. Dame will be there in Atlanta, of course, as a reserve, and he’ll play a bunch.
What’s interesting is the roll Portland’s finest has been on of late. Over the last six games (from Feb. 9-16), in which the Blazers have gone 6-0, Lillard has consecutive scoring totals of 36, 30, 20, 34, 31 and 43. He has averaged 30.7 points, 9.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds while shooting .435 from the field, .382 from 3-point range and .923 from the free-throw line.
Not bad, but nothing like the two torrid hot streaks he experienced last season.
In that historic six-game stretch from Jan. 20 through Feb. 1, 2020, Lillard had consecutive games of 61, 47, 50, 36, 48 and 51. His averages: 48.8 points, 10.2 assists, 7.2 rebounds.
Shooting percentages: .548 from the field, .568 from 3-point range, .923 from the line.
Figures from Elias Sports Bureau show the only player in NBA history with those kind of numbers over a six-game period is James Harden. But Harden’s shooting percentages weren’t close to those of Lillard’s.
Damian Lillard (Courtesy of the Portland Trail Blazers)
Lillard also had a sensational five-game span to close out the 2019-20 regular season in the “Bubble” in Orlando from Aug. 6-13. During that skein, he had consecutive scoring totals of 45, 22, 51, 61 and 42. Averages: 44.2 points, 8.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds. Shooting percentages: .549 from the field, .479 from 3-point range, .891 from the line.
In those 17 games, incidentally, Portland holds a 15-2 record. If you let Lillard torch it up, he’ll burn you down.
What’s different in Lillard’s recent streak, though, is his magical performance at “Clutch Time” — inside the final five minutes during games in which the difference between teams is five points or fewer. According to the website “Statmuse,” in those games this season, Lillard leads NBA players in points (82), field-goal percentage (.632), 3-point percentage (.588) and free-throw percentage (1.000). The Blazers are 12-3 in those games.
Yes, Lillard has been good in the clutch in the past. Statmuse says he is No. 1 in the NBA since 2012 in clutch points.
But it seems like he has ticked it up a notch this season. The Blazers have been close to dead and buried at times late in games. Whenever that happens, it seems, Lillard has been the orbital gladiator to the rescue.
Enes Kanter (Courtesy of Bruce Ely, Portland Trail Blazers)
“He’s like a cheat code,” teammate Enes Kanter said the other day. “I’ve played with some great players, but I’ve never seen anything like it.”
During the recent six-game streak, he hasn’t shot well in some games. Yet when the chips are down, he has the huevos to take the big shot. And in an overwhelming number of instances, he delivers.
But I like what Lillard said Thursday night after the most recent display of heroics in a 126-124 win over New Orleans, giving the Blazers their eighth win in nine outings: “It’s been collective. That’s what makes it special.”
Gary Trent Jr. has been money at “Clutch Time.” Carmelo Anthony has been very good as well. Kanter has cleaned the glass — he is third in the league in offensive rebounds (4.1) and
ninth in total rebounds (11.1) — and a bountiful garbage man around the basket. And Robert Covington, Derrick Jones Jr. and Anfernee Simons have had enough good moments to help offset the losses of CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic and make Portland one of the success stories of the first half of this season.
It’s also more than made up for the problems at the other end of the court. The Blazers go into Saturday’s matchup with Washington ranked 29th in the NBA in defensive efficiency, ahead of only Sacramento. Yes, there are periods where the Blazers play good defense — fortunately, sometimes at the end of close games. All in all, though, it has been a weakness for a long time, and it won’t help when they get into the playoffs against a strong opponent.
But the offense has been a sight to behold. And Lillard has been even more than that.
• The end of the greatest brother act in Oregon State basketball history is nearing its denouement. While senior guard Ethan Thompson is eligible to return and play against next season — every player gets an extra year of eligibility due to COVID — I don’t expect him to. An excellent student, the son of assistant coach Steven Thompson earned his undergrad degree in three years and could have his masters degree completed by the end of the school year. I think he’ll take a bow after this season and pursue a professional career. I don’t think Ethan will make the NBA — quickness and defense will be issues — but he is certainly good enough to play overseas.
Steven Thompson has landed some good recruits over the past seven years, but none comparable to his sons, Stevie and Ethan. Both rank among the top 10 in Oregon State’s career scoring. Stevie is fifth, having scored 1,767 points from 2016-19. Ethan has climbed to the No. 9 spot with 1,538 points and could pass No. 8 Charlie Sitton (1,561) in Saturday night’s game against Colorado. Barring a long tournament run, that’s as high as Ethan will go; A.C. Green ranks seventh on the list with 1,694 points.
Without injury or COVID issues, Ethan will set an Oregon State record in the Beavers’ first Pac-12 Tournament game. He has started 115 consecutive games — every game of his college career — and trails only Gary Payton (120) on the list.
Ethan plays in such understated fashion, he has probably been overlooked as one of the better OSU players in recent history. He might be the best post-up shooting guard in the Pac-12. Ethan hasn’t shot the ball well consistently this season — .418 from the field and .326 from 3-point range — but he has been a quiet leader who has taken over when necessary in the clutch.
Stevie was an excellent player, but the 6-5 Ethan is better — a little bigger, a little stronger, a more able defender. Just like his brother, he’ll be missed.
Chris Duarte (Courtesy of Eric Evans, Oregon Athletic Communication)
• In Eugene, Chris Duarte has been Oregon’s Ethan Thompson — the Ducks’ best player, and a guy they can go to when they need a basket late in a game.
The 6-6, 190-pound senior has been more consistent offensively this season than Thompson, though, shooting superbly from the field (.539), 3-point range (.433) and the foul line (.800). He is averaging 17.3 points — hitting double figures in 14 of his 15 games — and 5.0 rebounds and leads the Ducks in steals (33) and blocked shots (15). Duarte tops the Pac-12 in steals and 3-pointers made and is fourth in 3-point percentage.
There are other strong candidates — including Southern Cal’s freshman standout Evan Mobley and Stanford’s Oscar da Silva — but my pick at this point for Pac-12 Player of the Year is Duarte. Like Thompson, I think he’ll go to the pros after this season. Mock drafts have him going in the mid to late second round, but with his shooting efficiency, length and defensive prowess, I think Duarte will make an NBA club as a “3 and D” wing next season.
Terry Porter (Courtesy of University of Portland athletic department)
• Terry Porter’s demise as head coach at the University of Portland seemed a foregone conclusion as the Pilots plunged down the West Coast Conference standings this season.
A premature end to the 2019-20 season due to COVID-19 probably saved Porter’s dismissal after last season. The Pilots had a promising preseason, going 6-2 including an 87-86 overtime victory over Oregon State, but an 0-8 WCC start convinced UP athletic director Scott Leykam to pull the plug on Porter on Feb. 6.
I thought Porter was an excellent hire for the Pilots in 2016, figuring he’d be able to recruit well enough to compete with most WCC schools. That wasn’t the case. UP went 7-69 in league play during Porter’s 4 1/2 seasons and 43-103 overall. It’s a results-driven business, and though the former Blazer great’s integrity and basketball knowledge is impeccable, he wasn’t able to win enough games to keep his job.
That’s been the case on The Bluff forever. Jack Avina was the most enduring and arguably most successful, lasting 17 seasons and capturing attention with excellent teams led by Rick Raivio, Jose Slaughter and Darwin Cook in the late 1970s and early ‘80s.
Rob Chavez had his moments, too, guiding the Pilots to their first 20-win season in 41 years his first season (1994-95) and taking them to the NCAA Tournament the next year. His teams spiraled the next three campaigns, though, and he was gone.
Two other former Blazer guards — Larry Steele and Michael Holton — couldn’t get it done there. Neither could Porter’s predecessor, Eric Reveno.
The records:
For years, word has been that UP’s high admission and academic standards have hindered the ability for its coaches to recruit. Does that mean that coaches at Gonzaga, Santa Clara and St. Mary’s — also schools with excellent academic reputations — have more administrative help in getting kids into school, and keeping them eligible?
I have no answers. But all these years of futility make you wonder.
Readers: what are your thoughts? I would love to hear them in the comments below.
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