Terry Stotts stated it very clearly. The Portland Trail Blazers coach had something to get off his chest.
It concerned the fact that his point guard Damian Lillard had been left off the Western Conference All-Star team.
In his words, as he addressed the media before Friday’s game against the Hawks: “I will just get his off my chest now. I don’t understand how or why he was not voted to the team to begin with. I don’t understand how or why he wasn’t named a replacement. The guy was an All-Star last year. He was a third team All-Pro last year. He is having a better year this year. He has not missed a game - ever. He’s all about winniing. We are having a better season in many ways than we did last year. He has proven to be the best clutch player in the league over the last couple of years. For him not to make the team, he’s been durable, he should have made it on his own merits. I’m extremely disappointed that he didn’t make it both as voted on and as a replacement.”
Lillard was not voted into the game and the Kings’ DeMarcus Cousins was selected by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace the injured Kobe Bryant earlier Friday.
Stotts was asked how the issue does not become a distraction.
“I don’t know if it is a distraction,” Stotts said. “It will be a story of the past eventually but today it’s the story of the day. It’s very unfortunate. Damian has proven he should be on it. I thought he sent out a great tweet today and expressed himself very well. I think he’s going to have a great second half of the season.”
