Damian Lillard Continues to Make His Case for Rookie of the Year

Damian Lillard is something special. The Portland Trail Blazers knew it when they drafted him with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 draft. Throughout the season he has been making plays like this one against the New York Knicks in Thursday night's 105-90 win.


Go ahead. Admit it. You're impressed (I know I was).

Lillard was one of three Trail Blazers with a double-double on the night with 26 points and 10 assists. LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points and 10 boards; J.J. Hickson had another 16 boards to go with 12 points.

The month of March is a perfect showcase for why Lillard should be the Rookie of the Year. So far he has managed to score at least 20 points in every game this month, and in nine of the last 11 (dating back to a February 19th game against Phoenix).

On the season Lillard leads all rookies with 19 points a game and 6.4 assists; the next closest is Dion Waiters (14.8 points) and Alexy Shved (3.9 assists).

With the win the Trail Blazers improved to 30-34 on the season, three games behind the Lakers for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. New York on the other hand is on the way down after being decimated by injuries of late. After starting out the season pretty hot at 18-5 they have gone 20-20 ever since.