Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players need to step up in NBA playoffs vs Blazers

1. Danny Green

You know those people saying “The Lakers are fine, the seeding games didn’t matter”? Well, they are almost entirely correct if you exclude Danny Green.

Despite being a 2X NBA Champion and one of the best 3-and-D players in the history of the league, Green remains the most inconsistent player on the Lakers roster. He’ll shoot lights out one night, only to brick all of his shots on the following.

In the bubble, he has been shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 25 percent from behind the arc, numbers that fail to depict the shooting abilities he has demonstrated during his 11-yeah NBA career.

Now against Portland, he will be handed the most difficult task of all, to defend Damian Lillard, currently the most unstoppable player in the league. So how exactly do you stop, or at least limit a player like Dame?

During this season, Lillard has started shooting more 3-pointers than ever before, at an average of 10.2 attempts per game. That number is exactly half of his total shot attempts, meaning that if Lillard is even remotely close to the 3-point line, be very aware Danny. Sometimes, even the half-court line can do just fine for Dame.

Fighting through screens has been an aspect where Green has found a lot of success during his lengthy NBA career. He is also known for his ability to avoid silly fouls, like the ones Lillard often forces his opponents to make.

His defense has been a bit shaky in the bubble, but if there were ever a time when it would be the most needed, it would be now. His offensive game might not be needed against Portland and almost his entire energy stock could be used to limit Damian Lillard.