Dame and CJ were considered a top 2 or 3 backcourt in the NBA for a few years my guy. Whether Blazer “fans” thought so or not. Thats A LOT to live up to….and I’m an Ant fan.
I've seen more than 3 games. You have also. You know what Lillard brings. You know what Simons brings. You have seen the two on the court together. You know neither play defense well. The Biggest difference is that Simons might be a better spot up shooter than CJ? That MIGHT be a factor that leads to some better looks for Lillard around the rim? I just don't think so because CJ was also lethal from 3 point if not guarded. CJ on the offensive end was a bigger threat than Simons. Dude could cook teams. We all watched it. So yeah that is fact.
Two #3 seeds and a WCF. That is a hell of a lot better than where the Blazers are now. Look at the year the Blazers made the WCF; starting forwards of Harkless and Aminu, who became basically irrelevant before and after their Blazers stints. Plus a one armed Kanter who is out of the league. Next highest paid player was a $70 million bench player in Turner who is out of the league. The main problem with the DameCJ era wasn't Dame & CJ..... it was the shit teammates they had all over those depth charts in spots #3-#8
The problem with sticking with the Dame route is that if the goal is to have a legitimate shot at winning the title the Blazers need the addition of a player superior to Dame. The team is capped out and obviously doesn't have the assets to trade for a player better than Dame. Damian level players don't win championships. Him being arguably the best player in franchise history doesn't change that reality.
I imagine that Coach Billups is firmly convinced that Dame is good enough to be the best player on a championship team
Having been the best player on a title team himself, I imagine he's more of an authority on the subject than either of us are.
And to an extent Dame/Simons might be able to work if the Blazers could get quality around them as well. This year has a chance to become something special if just a couple players really come into their own. Just think if Little takes off? Just think if Hart and Payton gel? We all know Grant can have an impact. Sharp? What if he shows he is a generational talent?
If the top "2 of 3" back court in *all* of the NBA gets you the #3 seed and 1 trip to the conference finals (and swept) in 8 years, and they were far more likely to lose in the 1st round...maybe they weren't as good as we think.
If the Pistons are the template I guess we don't need a player superior to Dame, we just need to have 4 allstars around that same level. You also need those 4 allstars to be 2 way players with size so the team can play some historic defense. Sounds totally achievable for our midgets.
I'm a Dame fan and I NEVER considered them a top-2 or top-3 backcourt. They shot a lot and accordingly scored a lot of points, but raw scoring average isn't enough and never has been even though it seemed to work for the talking heads trying to sell blazer broadcasts or inflate olshey's vision. Dame/CJ were way too small, way too redundant, and way to defensively challenged to be a top-3 backcourt. CJ was overrated and was a terrible fit with Dame. That was obvious in 2015. Those two never developed a synergy past 'it's-my-turn-it's-your-turn' now, it very well could be that Dame/Ant will have the same disadvantages. If so, then there's hope that Cronin won't be anywhere as close to welded to Simons as Olshey was to CJ; and that Billups won't be as locked into Dame/Ant rotation as Stotts was to Dame/CJ
