With us going into Cleveland, thought maybe this would be interesting. One odd thing is the writer talks about Irving having more turnovers because he has the ball in his hands more, but then gives statistics showing Lillard with more touches and more time of possession? http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...n-lillard-headed-in-very-different-directions
I went to the Cleveland/Portland game here last year... that was really fun to watch both of them go. Irving got the game winning bucket on Lillard, but it was still a great game (and anytime you can get ten rows from the court for $60 on stubhub... that's a win too). I am really looking forward to tomorrow's matchup. Kyrie is one of my favorites to watch outside of the Blazers.
Floor General vs ISO guy. Irving: 20.9 PPG 3.1 RPG 1.09 SPG 5.8 APG 3.1 TPG PER 18.2 Lillard: 20.1 PPG 3.5 RPG 0.76 SPG 5.7 APG 2.2 TPG PER 19.2 Irving: 18.7 FGA .411 FG% .325 3P% 4.9 FTA .80 FT% Lillard: 15.5 FGA .394 FG% .405 3P% 5.6 FTA .92 FT% I think they are both talented. I would take Lillard to lead my team though. It could be a team talent issue where Irving has to create more and shoot more, which I think he is perhaps more skilled than Dame at doing. But I would still prefer Dame over Irving to build a team around.
Both are having down years (as much as a 2nd year and a 3rd year player can) in shooting %'s (overall). But both are exciting PG's in this league and should have long productive years. Both, so far, have been super consistent in their games too. In a somewhat related note, I like how Lillards minutes are under 36 now.
Does anyone know how to figure out Damians PER if he was shooting at least a somewhat respectable 43% from the floor (if 3 point % didn't change)?
A year and a half for an athlete is a huge difference, considering a good to great players career is usually over in 13 years or so
FTA: He's hitting close in shots at a .222 level. That is utterly pathetic. That's Damon Stoudamire-pathetic. If Damian ever figured out how to finish around the rim and in the paint at a Tony Parker level, he'd be the best PG in the league. If he were even just mediocre at it he'd be a notch below Chris Paul. As it is teams are learning to let him drive into the paint all he wants, but do anything they can to prevent the mid- or long-range jumper.
We have all said it many times, one word - floater. I have ZERO doubt in mind that Lillard has the skill and will to prefect it and not just talk about it.
Another factor that takes a toll over a career are injuries. Irving has had 7 separate injuries in 2 years that have caused him to miss games. And that does not include his injury in college. Some say he is injury prone. I would not go that far, but it is worth watching.
So, we have one of the best young point guards in the league, each won rookie of the year, but it's not entirely clear as to which one is better? As a fan, I think I can live with that.
Where did you find that stat? I was looking at NBA.com: less than 5ft, restricted area, paint outside restricted area, driving lay up, layup shot... etc. I don't see anything at 20% except for in the paint non-restricted, which he is shooting 25.6%, and Westbrick is shooting 24% from the same area. Dame is 40% in the restricted area. Granted, that is still pretty darn low, and he has to learn to get better at it. It's something he wants to get better at and I am going to take his word for it. On the other hand, he does other things much better than his peers, assist to turnover ratio being one of those. Neither Westbrook or Irving are over 1.9 whereas Dame is over 2.6. And Westbrick is shooting 10% worse from behind the arc. This isn't to say Dame doesn't need to find a way to finish at the rim, but just think how long we've been talking about Wes' inability to finish at the rim. He's kinda killing it this season. Dame will get better. As far as learning to let him drive? That would require you let up on defense, which would only help his shooting percentage, if not allow him more space to find the open outlet. So, I can't say I'm worried about teams "letting him" drive.
The funny part is that in ISO situations at the end of each half......his percentage in the paint is excellent.
