PORTLAND — There was much speculation about who would replace injured Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez in the starting lineup. Head coach Terry Stotts refused to reveal his selection prior to Wednesday’s game against the Bucks.
Blazers players were mum and seemingly on alert to not divulge what the coach decided. Minutes before tip-off, the screens inside the Moda Center which had Joel Freeland listed as the starter changed to reveal Thomas Robinson as the starter.
Wednesday was Robinson’s first start in his three-year career.
Robinson was asked Tuesday about whether he saw an opportunity to play more with Lopez out.
“I don’t want to think about nothing,” he said. “I don’t want to get all hype and coach have a different decision. Who knows. I have no idea what’s going to happen. I’m sorry I’m so dry about it. I just don’t want to get excited.”
At least for one night he has a reason to be excited. Robinson finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
Lillard’s work pays off
Damian Lillard is shooting 68 percent from less than three feet according to Basketball-Reference. Over the last two seasons, Lillard has never shot better than 53 percent from that distance.
Lillard is taking a near identical percentage of his shots around the basket. He’s just been much better at it and lots of summer work is paying off.
“Going up to the rim and getting hit with pads and stuff like that,” Lillard said of the summer workouts to improve his finishing. “Playing against contact. Sitting down in a the chair then just coming out, getting pushed and still trying to come out and finish. It’s just paying off.”
Other techniques such as getting the ball higher on the glass, Lillard says, have helped improve his finishing.
Despite Lillard, the Blazers are in the bottom-five in points in the paint.
