Now that we got a glimpse of McCollum

Well, if you want Lillard playing 27 mpg and never defending, I guess that's his role?

 

I agree that Lillard has 2nd-year doldrums (possibly caused by Mo's style). Lillard's game-winning shots are a lot fewer, with more misses. I don't care whether stats say so. I use the eye test.

McCollum is bulkier than I expected. This is a plus and a minus. A year from now he may have solidified into a Matthews body. He swishes through traffic, reminding some of Roy, who was as bulky but taller. But Roy had great fakes under the basket which no one else has.

Like Lillard, McCollum doesn't have the usual rookie fear. He has that "big deal, I can do this" look. Quick hands. Mo will leave after this season and playing time will take care of itself.

 

Blue9 is officially a troll?

 

Blue has good analysis.

 

CJ comparison to J-Craw a good one. Shifty, snazzy ball handling skills, smooth jumper, intelligent/we'll spoken. CJ wll be better. Crawford doesn't have work ethic or drive to be great that CJ does. "Basketball doesn't define me" Crawford admitted after his hot start year in 1st season with Clips that he had never used the offseason to work out before. Never put up a bunch of shots or worked on his game/getting stronger (apparently he decided to START offseason workouts before last season). Makes sense, as he's a better player now then he was with us. CJ has a better motor and desire to be great. I think he'll be what Jamal could have been. Can't see Roy comparison. Young B-Roy was a much better athlete then given credit for, and had combination of size/strength/body control/agility that allowed him to finish at the rim. Don't see same attributes in CJ. But I'll take a more consistent and refined version of Jamal Crawford . . . minus the forced jumpers that miss by a mile, the circus scoop shots at the rim that never go in, and the ho-hum approach to defense.

 

Maybe. But I thought his analysis was well reasoned. He thinks CJ has a more well-rounded game than Lillard, hopes Lillard will add facets to his game to become more well rounded, and thinks Lillard has the greater killer instinct. I agree. As to defense, yeah that's a problem. Although CJ's defense looks to have better potential than I thought, and most of us think Dame can get better too.

 

I like the Crawford comparison as well. Maybe also a taller version of Jason Terry?

I will say he has a very Roy-like midrange game. He's not the threat to dunk it from there, but he's like Roy in that he seems to have extra time to think about things in the midrange than other players do. He's juking and crossing and just doing these little clever tricks from the three point line and in that you just don't normally see from a rookie with only a few games under his belt. Roy was like that right from the start as well.

I always look to see if there's at least one special skill a rookie can hang his hat on. When he gets in the game it can get him in the flow. It means he won't get the quick hook by the coach when he fucks up, because the coach knows that skill can be used fairly reliably and the rookie will steady his own ship by relying on that skill. Right now CJ may be the best player on the team at creating a quality midrange shot for himself. This midrange game is CJ's special skill, and it's one our team desperately needs--especially on the bench.

 

I see a larger/slower version of Monta Ellis.

 

Damian and CJ remind me of Thomas and Dumars. Obviously not at the same level - yet, but maybe someday they'll come close to the 2 HOFers.

 

I really like CJ's skillset but what makes him stand out is his basketball IQ...this is a bright kid! What he lacks is experience in playing at the NBA level but so far he seems relatively fearless on the court, unlike Nolan Smith. Too bad he sat out half the season but next year he should be in the rotation as a 6 or 7 man. He has to beat Wesley for the starters spot and I don't see that happening for a couple of years. Damian's assists are way down. I think Damian is putting more effort into defense and it's tiring him out by the end game where he has been stellar earlier on. I think Damian has suffered a bit from the media hype he got early on. He needs to get back on track. I hope CJ surprises me by the playoffs and he may but at this point I think we need to be patient with him. Meyers Leonard has some high scoring games early last season but tapered off quickly. Stotts is a player development coach and I trust his judgement when it comes to rotations. Last season I wasn't so sure.

 

CJ has the skill set to be a very good 6th man. Whether his body holds up is another question. Breaking the same foot 2 seasons in a row is a big red flag.

 

To me it's only a small yellow flag. It could very well be a case of improper treatment/repair the first time around. Time will tell, but my gut tells me all is well.

 

The Mote with the Golden Gut!

 

Let me qualify that: if the Damian Lillard that we're seeing now is what he provides from here on out he'd be better suited as a 6th man. I also said (maybe not in this thread, but in others) that I DO think he'll develop more to his game. And I also said (in my original post, I believe) that he was on track to becoming a star PG in the league. So I think Lillard has all the potential to become a great player. But he's faltered - greatly. He is an average starting PG right now. If this is what he has to offer we'd be much better off with him playing the "Jason Terry" role. He'd certainly be a closer, but not necessarily a starter.

Also see:

Not a troll, just someone with unpopular opinions. I love the Blazers, but I don't jump all over the hype wagon for individual players. Especially when those players have huge holes in their games.

I really do hope (and think) that Lillard starts making some forward progress with his game and regains his status as "star PG of the future". But it's rough watching him play right now. If there was some magical way to trade him for Rondo AND Drummond, I'd do it!

 

remember, average starting pg today is still really freaking good

 

ok but you are coming out with this after a little bit of a slump. the kid led the league in mintes last year and really didnt have much of a lull last year. hes played great through out this year except for this what....6 7 game minny slump? you can say anyone could be "better suited" for a 6th man roll when they in a little slump. look at the whole body of work before saying hes a 6th man right now

 

Exactly how is McCollum more well-rounded than Lillard on offense? He basically plays off the ball and either shoots the ball or drives.

He's averaging 1.5assists/36. If anything, he reminds me of a smaller version of Wes Matthews.

 

I - perhaps unlike others - do not feel it's been a "mini slump". He's been in a shooting slump, which is to be expected for outside shooters, but for much of the season I've been disappointed in his play. He often struggles to get past defenders on the perimeter, doing more lateral dribbling than penetrating. And when he does penetrate he telegraphs the fact that he's "going hard to the hoop", which makes it incredibly easy for a defender to get in the way and jump straight up resulting in what's essentially a turnover. His passing has never been his strong suit, nor has his defense. He's an adequate PG for a system that doesn't really utilize a PG in the traditional sense, but in terms of having the ability to "quarterback" a team, he's fairly average.
I was as amazed as everyone else last season - he looked like the real deal. But this season the only thing I've been impressed with is (a) his 3-point shooting and (b) his competitiveness. Aside from those two attributes I feel he's played like an average starting PG this season...and during his mini slump he's displayed neither attribute that made him appear to have a track to greatness.
With all that said, please recall that I do think that he'll improve his game. BUT (big butt) if he doesn't dramatically improve on what he's done this season then I'd rather have him in the Super 6th* role and get someone who can QB a team and play decent defense.
*And then the hypothetical conversation is who is the better Super 6th; CJ or Dame?