Rewatched a bit of the game last night and the one against Minny and could clearly see him pressing. Guys are flying out at him at the 3pt line and daring him to go inside, but in addition, there's always a second or third defender shading him so he can't get those straight line drives to the hoop anuymore. Kinda looks like these teams are trying to take Dame out while letting LA get single coverage. His confidence definitely looks shaken but I think the remedy to his woes is pretty obvious. Look at Nic's ineffectiveness in this same stretch when Dame's struggling. He's passing up shots (again!) and isn't spacing the floor whatsoever. And his passing is down as well. If he's not gonna be able to do anything on offense, he clearly needs to sit. Oddly enough, I think Nic is our most irreplaceable player because he does so much on both O and D. That said, the best option might be to stick CJ in the starting lineup and move Wes to Nic's spot until he gets healthy again.
He also needs to hit his shots. He'll settle in somewhere between his hot start and his recent cold streak.
When Batum is passing open shots and not doing much, it makes us a 3 offensive player team. Which allows the defense to really lock into Wes/LMA/Dame. So basically were screwed. I do think Batum needs to sit. Dame will find a counter (he'll need to). Hitting shots he normally makes also will help. Not sure if they're just tired or what, but Batum definitely isn't helping us at this point due to his injuries.
That would be interesting. If Batum is hurt I was thinking that Wright would be the move. But I would be intrigued to see what a CJ and Damian backcourt would look like. There would be some growing pains, but I like the extra ball handler in the lineup. Even with Nic I think ball handling is a weakness against certain teams. Without Nic it will be worse. But adding CJ to the starting lineup would help. If he can stay on the floor. I was impressed with his defensive last night. He plays physical for his size, but the refs gave him the rookie treatment on a couple calls. There are a few teams where he would be abused (i.e Indiana) but they can start someone else in those situations.
Ya that's my thinking. CJ can not only stick an open 3, but he can also drive and kick, or run the P&R. Mo would obviously be able to do the same if he were inserted into the starting lineup, but then the bench would suffer quite a bit.
What worries me is that it looks like he's lost that swagger that we've become accustomed to. He almost looks apathetic out there right now, and it's concerning. I really hope he snaps out of it soon. I feel like the team took on some of his attitude earlier in the season, and now that he looks a little lost, it feels like the team is a little lost as well. It could be fatigue, but it seems like more than that.
Tired or not, though, you kind of expect him to get up for a game in Oakland. You think it's old hat for him now?
Could he be sick? Don't know about the Northwest but here by the Bay we are dropping like flies, I spoke to a colleague this morning who said half his department is out.
While I'm sure he's tired, I'd go with defenses adjusting to what he likes to do as the main reason for his declining numbers. I think they're putting more pressure on him on the perimeter and it's rattled him a bit. He's too good for it to last long, IMO.
If teams are really paying that much attention to him, then someone has to be open. I Nic is hurt, we may as well rest him and let him heal for the playoffs. I like the McCollum at SG Matthews at SF idea.
Ouch man. I know Nico is turning into the scapegoat this year (that is nothing new), but it's now Nic's fault that Dame is in a funk?
You know, there may be something to that; with Nic no longer a credible offensive threat, teams might be back to annoying the heck out of Lillard. It worked well last year...
Matthews is having a career year and I would consider him to be a credible offensive threat. LA is the biggest offensive threat he has ever been in his career. Lopez has offensive game. Nic and Mo are helping with the ball handling so Lillard can concentrate on scoring. At some point Nic can't be blamed for all the Blazers problems, including Lillard's slump.
Didn't you hear? Last summer it was Nic who worked with Lillard and taught him how to drive to the hoop. That's why Dame sucks so bad at it. All. Nic's. Fault.
I agree Nic has been scapegoated and shouldn't be; I just wonder if defenses are catching wise to his hand troubles and pressuring the player more likely to do damage in response.
I think anyone's confidence would be shaken after Lawson, Rubio, and Curry are zipping by you like you're standing still, and it gets to the point that your coach pulls you off of those players and puts Mo Williams on them.
Which if he is as good as we all think he is, it shouldn't be an issue, right? It seems that if he's not hitting his outside shot he becomes a pretty average player.
