It's all up to Lillard. I have no doubt he is capable, and now it seems he is also determined to be a killer on D.
Damian will be better defensively this year by just getting more calls his way. As he alludes to in this article, early on in the season he backed off because he was picking up fouls. Later in the season...not as many. Rookies get picked on, plain and simple. He will play more aggressively this season, no doubt.
You know if you see Dame yapping next year, he will absorbed all of the Glove's lessons. I remember seeing a game Payton was playing against the Bullets. Tom Gugliotta came out to guard him, I saw Payton moving his jaw and the next thing I know Googs doubled over laughing. I would love to know what Payton said.
One of the things that has put Chris Paul above other point guards is his spot on the All NBA defensive team. This should be a goal for Lillard and one that I have no doubt he has the drive to do.
I think it have me chills too. I am trying to keep from going full Mags, but MAN do I hope this is true!!!
It is very encouraging news. We don't need Damian to be an all-nba defender or anything, if he could just be an AVERAGE defending PG that would be an enormous improvement. He was one of the worst in the league last year. I'm glad he is working on this but I'm going to keep my expectations tempered, we often hear summer reports of players improvements that don't amount to diddly. But with team USA at least we can watch the scrimmage on Thursday to see for ourselves! I can't imagine what Barrett would be saying if he was doing the reporting, haha.
Although summer reports from other players could be just tongue and cheek; but I tend to be more optimistic with Lillard. You can see his motor. The guy does what he says he does. I expect him to take this to heart and really improve.
Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes Clippers coach Doc Rivers on Damian Lillard: That kid is going to be great. He's a natural leader.
Trail Blazers @pdxtrailblazers "Offensively, the game comes easy to me. Defense is how I'm going to get myself to the next level as a player." - @Dame_Lillard #RipCity
I think one of the biggest difference, for me anyway, between hearing how much Damian has improved and others in the organization, is that others besides the Mikes and Casey are saying it.
Exactly... It's one thing when your homer announcers are saying shit like "After watching this summer league team in the practice facility, I have no doubt they win the title" --- Rice Its another when a coach like Thibs that isn't afraid to call people out actually say "His defense has improved!"
Full quote (which is better imo): "I know that, offensively, there's some things I need to improve on. But offensively, the game comes easy to me. Defense is how I'm going to get myself to the next level as a player." - Damian Lillard
