A hot start for the Portland Trail Blazers this season is getting notice across the NBA. In the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Bill hosted former player and head coach Doc Rivers to discuss a variety of topics in this young NBA season. Among them was the success of the Blazers and Rivers’s former point guard, Damian Lillard.
According to Doc, the key to their winning ways is Dame’s happiness and his willingness to defer the alpha role to Deni Avdija.
Doc: He’s just happy. He’s happy to
be at home. And, you know, like, Dame, you got to give him credit. And he told me this. He’s like, “Man, we made it clear whose team it was early.” And he said that. And that was coming from Dame and Ja. Like, they gave the other kid, it’s your game.
Bill: You’re talking about Deni.
Doc: Yeah, we’ll figure it out around you. We’ll figure it out around you. Dame’s just at a great place in his life right now.
Rivers also touched on why Dame’s time in Milwaukee was difficult and why he was unsurprised that Lillard was able to fully recover from his Achillies injury.
After a hot 6-1 start to the season, the national basketball pundits are starting to take notice of the Blazers and what makes them tick. Lillard regaining his previous form and the willingness to empower his All-Star teammate, Deni Avdija, are among the first facets gaining wider recognition.
The Blazer-related discussion between the two of them starts at the 44:26 mark of the podcast.
