It's Lillard's defense that's holding us back

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Zach Collins Enthusiast, Feb 23, 2021.

  1. Zach Collins Enthusiast

    Zach Collins Enthusiast Bored

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2019
    Messages:
    353
    Likes Received:
    228
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Occupation:
    None
    Location:
    Somewhere
    I saw in another thread a conversation about our defense. One poster said we tried all possible lineups and nothing worked so it must be the coach's fault. But let me remind you of one blow out win we had over the Sixers where we played our best defense of the season. What was different about that game? You guessed it. It's the only game Lillard didn't play.
    He is a decent one-on-one defender but he always hides on the worst opponent players and then doesn't play any help defense whatsoever, leaving his side of the floor absolutely uncovered.
    It's also the coach's fault of course, our coach is the worst in the league, no argument there. A different coach would tutor Lillard and hold him accountable. I don't want us to trade Lillard, I want him to work on his game and improve. But for that, we need another coach
     
  2. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    90,156
    Likes Received:
    52,173
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    His defense doesn't help, but other teams have been able to hide sub-par defenders. The problem is that we have too many sub-par defenders. We can't hide him. Do you think Curry is an amazing defender?
     
  3. MadeFromDust

    MadeFromDust Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,137
    Likes Received:
    540
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, Illinois
    We can be so mesmerized by his offense that it's easy to forget that he is really a terrible, terrible defender. Like, he needs to step up big time on that end. It becomes a culture thing.
     
    stampedehero likes this.
  4. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    116,223
    Likes Received:
    114,265
    Trophy Points:
    115
  5. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    116,223
    Likes Received:
    114,265
    Trophy Points:
    115
    Huh?
     
    AmirIcon likes this.
  6. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    116,223
    Likes Received:
    114,265
    Trophy Points:
    115
    One win doesn't mean anything.
    Lillard does work on his game and improve.
     
    Nhawz likes this.
  7. James lamphear

    James lamphear Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2018
    Messages:
    7,860
    Likes Received:
    5,531
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It's not just Dame on defense end it's the whole unit is bad playing has a unit on that end. We got Covington and Jones good help defenders but the problem is there average man to man defenders but they get beat there's know one to help. To me the center is the key to the defense due they got everything in front of them and player get beat if they take the angle away from the dribbler he has do something different with the ball. But our centers drop all the time and there trying to defend a player going straight to them that's put it he offense player with advantage. I did like when they was switching but it was more a match up zone type of D.
     
    HailBlazers and UKRAINEFAN like this.
  8. MadeFromDust

    MadeFromDust Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,137
    Likes Received:
    540
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Chicago, Illinois
    Meaning when your best player doesn't take defense seriously why would the rest of the team?

    I believe we are last in the NBA in defense.
     
    lamlor likes this.
  9. Nhawz

    Nhawz Lickety Brindle

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2008
    Messages:
    842
    Likes Received:
    757
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Dame does take defense seriously, he has said it in multiple interviews before the season. He has also improved his defense immensely in the past 3 years. We changed our personnel this off-season ( DJJ and Covington) along with our defensive philosophy, without a training camp or regular preseason. It’s gonna take a little time, but bashing the franchises best player and saying defense is not important to him is bush league, especially when we are talking about Damian Lillard.
     
    Darkwebs likes this.
  10. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,997
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Other teams will sign guys that will cover for Dame's mistakes on defense, because Dame by himself is a top 5 offense.

    Our GM signs Carmelo Anthony.
     
    Natebishop3 and TBpup like this.
  11. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    23,213
    Likes Received:
    28,650
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Consultant
    Location:
    Oregon City, OR
    And RoCo and DJ Jr. And, of course, he was probably counting on the defense of Nurkic and Collins.
     
  12. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

    Joined:
    May 7, 2015
    Messages:
    44,368
    Likes Received:
    38,405
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    We ran drop scheme against Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Fix that first.

    2nd, using using the Philly game, even the Blazers have had better defensive performances with Dame is a bit flawed.

    Trent hasn't been much better this season. Melo has definitely been worse.
     
  13. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,997
    Trophy Points:
    113
    And Anfernee Simons, Enes Kanter, Rodney Hood.
     
  14. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    23,213
    Likes Received:
    28,650
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Consultant
    Location:
    Oregon City, OR
    So what's your point? That the Blazers have some crappy defensive players? No shit.
     
  15. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,997
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The point is that Neil constructed a broken roster. Why flank your best player, who is a defensive liability, with more defensive liabilities? Makes no fucking sense.
     
    Natebishop3 likes this.
  16. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    90,156
    Likes Received:
    52,173
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    And the fact that we have been rolling with only Kanter for this long is..... ridiculous.
     
    UKRAINEFAN likes this.
  17. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Messages:
    19,591
    Likes Received:
    16,197
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Need The big Euro with the hurt thumb back asap.
    Please Harry need to step up when he's back.
     
  18. AldoTrapani

    AldoTrapani Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2019
    Messages:
    8,748
    Likes Received:
    2,541
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Oh god this team wouldn’t be shit without Dame
     
    bobf and blazerkor like this.
  19. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2014
    Messages:
    13,904
    Likes Received:
    14,821
    Trophy Points:
    113
    So Dame is a subpar defender but he's not, as one poster said, "terrible, terrible". He's just not good. I don't think Steph is much better but he does play in a much better system. I think the OP got it right when he said that Dame needs someone who will push him more, hold him accountable, teach him, have a better scheme and not just be a cheerleader. Dame needs work on defense but I don't think anyone is really demanding that.
     
  20. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2015
    Messages:
    12,443
    Likes Received:
    9,267
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Part Time Building Inspector
    Location:
    NJ
    >>> Or a bench coach that communicates with Lillard and the rest of the team, except for Covington and Jones. Really, what do Portland bench coaches do to improve the team, defensively.
     
    Darkwebs likes this.

Share This Page