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Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, May 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) AP
With the first two games of the NBA's Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers having been held in Oakland, Calif., it meant that former Weber State star Damian Lillard returned to his hometown as the Blazers' leader.
As such, a number of pieces were written over the past few days detailing Lillard's relationship with the city. ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote that Oakland may be losing Oracle Arena, the longtime home of the Warriors, but it "will always have Dame," while The Athletic's Marcus Thompson wrote how Lillard will be the last Oakland-bred star to play at the arena.
On a lighter Lillard-related note, a Twitter user pointed out during Game 2 on Thursday night how Lillard's uniform and shoe combo made him look like a character on the old NBA Jam video game.
I just turned on the Warriors Blazers game and I absolutely love how Damian Lilllard's shoes are essentially just NBA Jam unlimited Turbo shoes. pic.twitter.com/ESzk8uyJht
— Ben Koo (@bkoo) May 17, 2019
The Warriors came back from a 17-point deficit on Thursday to win Game 2 and take a 2-0 series lead as the teams now go to Portland for the next two contests, but Lillard predicted after Thursday's game that his team will win at least one of the next two and thus that he hasn't played for the final time in Oracle.
VIDEO: "We plan on being back here." - @Dame_Lillard on extending the series back to Oakland ???? #RipCity
Postgame podium brought to you by @DriveToyota pic.twitter.com/YDj461wL0Z
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) May 17, 2019
Over the past few seasons alone, a number of different players around the NBA have been linked in some form or fashion to joining the Utah Jazz.
SLC Dunk writer Taylor Griffin on Thursday shared via Twitter that as players such as Mike Conley and Kevin Love, among others, have been linked to the Jazz, he has Photoshopped images of them in Utah jerseys so we can see what they would look like in Jazz threads.
In sharing the images, Griffin publicly wondered which players he'll add to his collection this summer as free agency and trade talks heat up.
i keep a folder of all the jazz photoshops ive made based on rumors/my own desires that never went through. wonder how many more ill add this summer. pic.twitter.com/hHcqApipak
— Taylor Griffin (@griffdunk) May 16, 2019
- Where does Utah's Zack Moss rank nationally among senior running backs?
- Former Ute Eric Rowe happy to be with Miami Dolphins
- Former Alta High, BYU star Michele Vasconcelos thriving for Chicago Red Stars
The Salt Lake Bees didn't get to play their scheduled game against the Las Vegas Aviators at Smith's Ballpark on Thursday night because of rain, but the weather didn't stop a special reunion from happening.
The family of Sgt. First Class Gary Packer thought they were just being honored as the Family of the Night at the game, but as they stood with their backs facing one of the dugouts to be recognized during the rain delay, Gary Packer emerged from that dugout to surprise them.
He has been serving in Iraq for the last 18 months.
What a great surprise for our family of the night! pic.twitter.com/OFcTSQhc6e
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 17, 2019
We may not have gotten to play baseball tonight, but it was still a very special night for The Packer Family ?? pic.twitter.com/2E1qY34f6f
— Salt Lake Bees (@SaltLakeBees) May 17, 2019
Here's video of the reunion.
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