With Damian Lillard flying home for the birth of his child, who replaces him?
By Ty Delbridge
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has flown home for the birth of his first child Tuesday night. The Blazers are currently on a road trip, and Lillard will miss Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies
Before the Portland Trail Blazers set off on their road trip, Damian Lillard scheduled private planes to be in each city the team would be in, just in case his girlfriend went into labor back home. After the loss to the Boston Celtics, Lillard told the media, ”When it’s time for him to come, that’s when I go. It’s that simple.”
The due date for his baby was March 19, and Lillard explained to the media how he was feeling waiting for his son to come last Friday.
"“I’m really anxious. I mean, the due date passed. I was hoping he came when [it was] the due date. I’m on standby right now. So we’ll see. He’ll come when he ready.”"
Well, Lillard doesn’t have to be anxious anymore, his baby is on the way. After Tuesday night’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Jason Quick of NBCSN tweeted out that Lillard was heading home.
Damian Lillard says he is headed back to Portland. Will not play in Memphis.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) March 28, 2018
Lillard had an excellent game against the Pelicans where he scored 41 points (including 20 in the fourth quarter) grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists. After the game, he had an important text message waiting for him.
Damian Lillard said he found out his girlfriend was in labor after the game, when there was a message waiting for him: "Get home."
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) March 28, 2018
"I'm excited," he said, wearing a big grin. "Been waiting."
The Portland Trail Blazers are currently 46-28 and own the third seed in the West. They are on a three-game road trip. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, won against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday and will finish their road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.
The Blazers obviously don’t want to be without their star, but they have enough space between them and the other teams in the West that they can afford to miss Lillard for a game and not take too big of a hit in the standings if they were to lose. The Blazers will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back, but face the Memphis Grizzlies, who are 20-54 this season.
The Blazers have been without Lillard seven games this season, and they went 5-2 in those games. Terry Stotts used two different starting lineups with Lillard out back in December. With Lillard out Wednesday, who should start in his place? Here’s a look at each option.