I love Dame. He's got a will to win and dependable dominant game that he's always improved upon. But Kyrie is a star that just explodes. Some of his drives to the hoop are INSANE. But if you look at their numbers they are quite similar. Yet, I don't know if Kyrie has reached his peak yet.
It's sad that people have such rose colored glasses on that they can't see this. Dame's very, very good - but he's not a #1 player on a contending team.
I can name quite a few PG's on Championship teams that were really good but never even mentioned in MVP voting.
Exactly, look at dominique Wilkins he was a great player as well, but he was never close to being a champion cause he didn't have help. That is the team trajectory with Lillard as our number 1, 0 NBA championships.
The point is not whether Lillard reaches the historic standard of the point guard on championship-winning teams. The point is that Lillard doesn't reach the historic standard of the best player on championship-winning teams. Lillard is a very good player, but he's not the type of franchise superstar that usually heads up title-winners.
Well i guess if that's the way you want to spin that then okay. He is one very talented piece of a team that needs another very talented piece. Not sure where you are going with this? Are you saying Lillard isn't good enough so they better trade him because he isn't as good as say Curry with Durant and Green? Or are you saying Lillard is only as good as Parker so they better get another "Franchise" player like Duncan? Or is it that he is not as good as Irving was with Lebron? Derrick Fisher and Kobe? John Paxton with Micheal Jordan? If you are saying the Blazers need Durant, Duncan, James or Jordan? I guess i can't argue that at all.
I'm saying that the team currently doesn't have the kind of superstar necessary to be a true title contender. That's all. Also, your examples are pretty strange. But he is much, much better than Derek Fisher or John Paxson, so he's got that going for him. Unfortunately, neither of those guys were the best player on their teams.
I guess we are agreeing. Sure it would be great to have a superstar on the team. The examples are simply quality PG's that won Championships both recent and in years past. Lillard is what this team has. The original statement was that he was not an MVP. No he is not. Probably won't be but might be in the discussion some day.
I agree that you can win a title with a point guard of Lillard's ability. I think he compares pretty well with Tony Parker, among your examples. The problem is that you probably can't win a title with a best player of Lillard's ability, except with an unusual team (like the Detroit Pistons, who's best players were Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Ben Wallace). It's just an observation and "it is what it is." Obviously, if Olshey could find a superstar, he would.