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Lillard Returns to Practice
Sunday, Oct. 11
Mike Richman of The Oregonian noted the point guard did not go through the full session and is listed as questionable for the team's next preseason game against the Utah Jazz.
Lillard Comments on Injured Ankle
Saturday, Oct. 10
"It’s more precautionary than anything else," Lillard said, per Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com. "I tweaked it a little bit against (Sacramento) the first game and then last game I tweaked it again. I don't want it to be a lingering thing, something that just keeps going on, so I’m just going to get it 100 percent."
Lillard Is Face of Blazers After Aldridge's Departure
The departure of LaMarcus Aldridge left Lillard, an All-Star in each of the last two seasons, as Portland's unquestioned franchise player and its most important. Given that Portland would need to rely on the unproven Tim Frazier if Lillard misses extended time, the drop-off is significant.
These Blazers are different from the incarnation of Lillard's first three seasons. Lillard is the only starter remaining from the 2014-15 team, as Aldridge, Wes Matthews, Nic Batum and Robin Lopez each left in the offseason. Replacing them is an intriguing, youth-filled group that Portland hopes can grow into a playoff core.
''Now we're back at that stage where nothing is expected of us,'' Lillard told reporters in September, per the Associated Press (via Fox Sports). ''But we've been working hard, I know that for a fact, and I do have confidence in what we have. I know it will take some time for us to jell together and get completely comfortable in a real game. But I think what we have is a lot better than what people think.''
Lillard has emerged among the league's promising crop of young point guards as a unique off-the-bounce scorer with a propensity for late-game heroics. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game last season and shouldn't have any trouble matching or exceeding those numbers as he takes a more integral role in the offense.
Luckily for the Blazers, Lillard does not have a history of major injuries. He has played in all 82 games every year of his professional career so far.
