Damian Lillard finished Game 1 with 31 points, nine rebounds, and five assists—becoming the first rookie in Blazers history to score more than 30 point in his playoff debut. More importantly—after teammate LaMarcus Aldridge fouled out with a minute left in overtime in a tie game—Lillard scored the Blazers’ next five points and the Blazers managed to escape Toyota Center with a thrilling upset.

“It was a Damian Lillard performance. Damian rises to the occasion,” Terry Stotts told reporters after Game 1. “For all those people who were wanting to know if he was ready for the playoffs, I think he answered that question.”

Scoring 46 and 43 points respectively following Game 1 and Game 2 against the Rockets, Aldridge clearly remains the number one option in Portland’s dynamic offense. Kirk Goldsberry of Grantland created a shot chart detailing Aldridge’s efficiency with his mid-range shooting. Although Aldridge is having a breakout campaign, we cannot forget that all of this would not be possible if not for their second-year floor general.  

Fresh off signing an Adidas extension worth as much as $100 million for 10 years, Lillard might as well be dubbed this generation’s Mr. Big Shot. With 3:50 left in regulation of Game 1, Lillard converted a long four-point play that ignited a 10-0 run to tie the game with a little more than a minute left in regulation. Then with 29.1 seconds left in regulation, Lillard dropped another three at the top of the key to tie it. At the end of regulation—after Wesley Matthews missed a potential go-ahead three—it was Lillard’s offensive tip-in attempt that kept the ball alive for Aldridge’s tip that forced overtime. 

Over the course of the season, with less than five minutes in regulation or overtime, and neither team with more than a five-point lead, Lillard rises to the occasion. In crunch time per 82games, Lillard shot at a 47.3 percent clip and also an impressive 57.7 eFG%.

According to Adam Figman of Slam Magazine, Lillard attributes Bruce Lee for performing in the clutch through his Oakland based trainer Anthony Eggleton. 

“Lillard also stays in touch with Eggleton throughout the season, receiving text messages from the trainer filled with notes about improving his mental toughness and overall mindset. In early January, Eggleton sent Dame a YouTube link to a video called “Power and Serenity of the Focused Mind,” a series of Bruce Lee highlights from Enter The Dragon spliced together as Lee, and then a separate narrator, describe how one can use mind control to defeat an opponent.”

Even though Lillard has to deal with one of the toughest and feistiest defenders in the league in Patrick Beverley, Lillard has been able to contribute in huge ways that have given Portland a surprising 2-0 lead on Houston. Lillard’s competitiveness and tenacity have definitely rubbed off on the rest of his teammates to have the same hunger and passion to win close games. Relating to his competitive nature, after Beverley’s knee injury in Game 1, Lillard tells Jason Quick of The Oregonian that he hopes he would be on the floor for Game 2. 

“I don’t wish injuries on anybody. I hope he gets healthy. I want that team to be at full strength, just like I want our team to be at full strength. You don’t play a whole season to get to this point and then go through something like that. So I’m glad he’s healthy and going to be playing.”

With Lillard on the court, the Blazers average an impressive 108.8 points per 100 possessions. Yet when Lillard heads to the bench, the teams’ offensive efficiency drops to a much less efficient 96.8 points per 100 possessions—12 full points fewer with Lillard not in the game.  

Over the course of the season, almost half of Lillard’s offensive plays are created as the pick and roll ball handler (42.8%) per Synergy Sports. Although this play only nets an average of 0.88 points per possession, the pick and roll by Lillard helps create the proper floor spacing for teammates—17.7% of the Blazers offensive plays are thanks to spot-up shooting.

After the losses of Greg Oden and Brandon Roy, the first round pick that the Nets inexplicably traded away for Gerald Wallace has revitalized the Portland franchise. Lillard thrives when he is faced with adversity and welcomes the challenge when he gets the chance.

“That’s the East Oakland in me,” Lillard tells Slam Magazine. “It’s like this kind of chip that you have on your shoulder that you carry with you, that underdog mentality. It’s always been where people didn’t believe in me or I didn’t have an opportunity, so I kind of have a me-against-the world mentality. I feel like I still need to earn it.”

The Blazers have certainly found a keeper in the 23-year-old budding superstar and will be a tough out in this years playoffs.