Tuesday night, in his Lake Oswego home, Damian Lillard will turn on his television and settle in for a night of NBA basketball.



Philadelphia at Charlotte. Houston versus Atlanta. Warriors and Timberwolves. Nets and Kings …



“I’ll watch every game,” Lillard said. “When one goes to a commercial, I’ll turn to the next one.”



For a player with a celebrated work ethic in the weight room and practice court, it is from his couch where Lillard has taken the next step in his game.



No longer is he watching as a fan, sticking with a game because a player is hot, or because a team is making a comeback. Instead, he has noticed he is watching as a student of the game: He recognizes play calls, catalogues player tendencies and notices in-game adjustments.



As a result, his seventh NBA season has become his finest, with his physical attributes now complemented by calculated and educated precision.



“You...