Damian Lillard’s shooting has improved and the Trail Blazers’ wins are following

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, center, drives to the basket on Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond, left, and guard Tyrese Maxey, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. The Trail Blazers won 118-111. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes) AP

Maybe no factor has had a larger impact on the Portland Trail Blazers’ initial slow start to the season than the poor shooting of Damian Lillard.

He got off to the worst statistical start of his career, and that only added to the team’s initial struggles on the road and its adjustment to new defensive and offensive schemes.

But it appears that Lillard has turned the corner and is gradually returning to being the player who was an MVP candidate for most of last season.

Through the first nine games, Lillard shot 57 of 169 (30.1%) from the field and 18 of 85 (21.1%) on threes and averaged 17.8 points per game.

But starting with the team’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 6, in seven outings (he sat out the team’s loss at Denver), Lillard is 64 of 141 from the field (45.4%) and 26 of 68 (38.2%) on threes while averaging 26.4 points per game.

The Blazers (9-8) went 5-2 in those seven games, including winning three consecutive home games last week. On Saturday, Lillard scored a season-high 39 points during a 118-111 win over Philadelphia.

“It shows your true character,” Lillard said of working through his slump. “Whether you can deal with struggles and deal with hard times and criticism and everybody kind of kicking you when you’re down. And just continuing to fight that fight and find a way. I think the best of the best are capable of that. That’s just been my mentality to just keep on moving forward. Doing the work. Keep my mind clear. Keep my mind strong. Eventually, it will start to click.”

Lillard said he still doesn’t consider himself to be fully back. But his shooting percentage over the past seven games is on par with his numbers from last season, when he shot 45.1% from the field and 39.1% on threes.

The mystery behind the slow start remains. However, Lillard pointed out two situations that could have contributed to his struggles.

First, he has been dealing with running a new system that has been mentally challenging for the entire team.

“It’s challenging when you’re having to play hard and you’re having to remember what you’re supposed to be doing while you’re doing it,” he said. “That’s taxing.”

In the past, Lillard explained, he would come up the court and instantly be able to mentally flip through 25 plays to call against a certain defense.

This season, Lillard said he has had to think more about what play to call, which takes time and can wear on him mentally. But now he and the team are becoming more relaxed with the offense.

“I think because we’re getting more comfortable with what we’re supposed to be doing, what our jobs are, it’s taken less out of us,” he said. “That’s what I see. Because I can feel it on myself.”

The other impactful factor has been Lillard’s commitment to playing better defense this season. He has a defensive rating of 109.3 compared with 115.6 last season. Playing harder on defense leads to tired legs, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.

“When you guard like that, it wears you down,” Billups said. “I thought a lot of times early in the season, his shot is off, he’s hitting the front rim. That’s legs a lot of times and when your legs are tired, sometimes your shot is short. But I do think he’s committed to really competing on the defensive end. And that mentality has permeated through the rest of the guys. It makes everybody else step up when your best player is showing that level of commitment. So, I was happy with that.”

Challenging himself defensively was the goal, Lillard said, and that meant sacrificing energy on offense. But he didn’t fully blame his slow shooting start on all of that.

“I think I’ve had a great start defensively in isolation situations, on the post, getting over pick and rolls, everything,” said Lillard who blocked three shots against the 76ers. “Obviously that’s going to make it a little bit harder offensively. You’re going to be a little more tired, a little more beat up. But I wouldn’t say that’s the reason for dead legs or missing shots or anything like that. But I am just getting used to having to close out, and close the space, and guard one on one, and be to help, and meet guys at the rim, and stuff like that.”

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).

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