Proving yourself in the postseason is something we demand of all newcomers and mainstays, and yet it’s also one of the toughest things to do. Remember Damian Lillard announcing his playoff presence by beating the Houston Rockets years ago on that great series winner? Since that incredible moment, Lillard and his Portland Trail Blazers have gone just 7-22 in the postseason, with one series win. Before this year’s matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lillard and the Blazers had been swept by Golden State (understandable) and New Orleans (not understandable) in back-to-back postseasons. The Blazers had to prove themselves again going into the playoffs.



In Denver, the Nuggets hadn’t won a postseason series since Carmelo Anthony led them to the conference finals in 2009. Jamal Murray hadn’t even hit high school yet when they had last won a playoff series. Denver hadn’t been to the postseason since Steph Curry burned down its organization in 2013. A...