Quick writes about what everyone has been thinking but too afraid to admit

#LillardTime has become a farce.

http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/harsh-reality-blazers-need-get-over-intoxication-lillard-time

I'm sitting here cringing at his shot selection in fourth quarters these days. Given his ability to get to the rim, or even put up a midrange shot, why he insists on long three pointers is baffling to me. Dame is a smart player and is aware of his weaknesses and strengths, and in his short career, he has shown ability to improve. But we're not seeing that with these threes. Needs to stop.

 

I haven't been afraid to say it. As pretty much everybody knows how I feel. Again, I love Dame his leadership, his integrity, and pretty much for the most part everything about the dude. But Dame right now in my honest opinion is slightly overrated. Hes too streaky (currently only shooting 41% OUCH) and still lives off the great performance of his first 2 and half years in the league. Now, could he change all that and get back to being more consistent? Absolutely but right now hes just a slight chucker with great hype.

 

I'm ok with it

 

MANNNNNNNN I feel you on those damn 3 pointers. The guy thinks he's Steph Curry out there, I dont know how many times Ive said in the game threads STOP SHOOTING 3s! I wish he would limit them to about 3 a game or unless hes WIDE OPEN then fine but for the most part everything else about his game is fine even his defense is getting slightly better

 

did Tunchi just post twice, acting like he hadn't posted 4 minutes prior?

Anyway, Lillard is fine. We all knew he'd be a scapegoat this year with some aspect of his game.

 

Scapegoat? Hardly.

It's a legit critique to his game. It's two years of shitty shot selection and percentages.

 

This thread is like his wet dream. A thread bashing Lillard's shooting?

He was probably like "ZOMG hnnnnnghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

 

Eh, it's really one year. Didn't his percentages tank about midway through last season? And we're only 1/4 of the way through this year. That's not really two years. You make it sound a lot worse than it is.

 

He was going to be the scapegoat this year, if he did anything subpar. It was written before the season started.

Lillard will be fine. Besides, if there's a year for him to suck, wouldn't the year that we need the best pick possible be the best year? What's so wrong with that?

 

It's really about 50 games. OH NO!

 

would be interesting to see his splits on this stat, pre and post-finger injury.

 

Wasn't there a point last year, around that insane San Antonio game, where he was shooting like 50% in the 4th quarter?

I still maintain that Lillard needs to find his balance. He needs to become one with the force. He is dealing with becoming THE MAN, and he hasn't quite learned when he should and should not take over. I think this will change over time. He's still pretty young. I think if we had another legit weapon, he would feel more comfortable giving up the ball.

 

It's representative of what he has around him. I agree the last second 30'er was a bad shot but he doesn't have Matthews, Aldridge, Batum around him as more veteran shooters at the end of a game. He is still not afraid to take the big shot and that is what is important. As this roster develops and as pieces are added that give him more options, he'll get better looks during the game and in crunch time.

 

Years ago when a large part of this group used to hang out on BBF, there was a poster who claimed that Zach was responsible for some of his team-mates being bad FT shooters. THAT is scapegoating.

Being critical of a player's shot selection - not scapegoating.

 

Yup, I don't like that he's trending towards Brandon Jennings/Kemba Walker levels with his percentages and attempts. He's taken 150 threes this year for 3rd in the league behind only Curry and Harden. Yet he's 63rd in 3pt FG% and I bet that it's due to his ridiculous shot selection. And yes yes, it's obvious that this will improve with better personnel around him. But the current critique remains, especially given the stats from last year with better teammates

 

"Jason Quick writes," lol...

 

As much as I hate media leech-lackeys, I have to agree with Quick on this one.

 

Not all that different from last year when LMA was #3 in FGA, but #47 in FG%. But at least Lillard gets others involved, and players generally like being around him.

 

Plenty to love about Dame, obviously. But this needs correction.

 

It's a coaching issue. Strong coaches hold players accountable, and make changes to address things that need addressing.