Taking a look at Dame so far this season...

This season - 21.6 PPG, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 40.5% (2P%), 44.5% (3P%)
Last season - 19 PPG, 6.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 46.9% (2P%), 36.8% (3P%)

Advanced stats

This season - 20.1 PER, 58.5 TS%, 52.5 eFG%, 119 ORTG, 110 DRTG
Last season - 16.4 PER, 54.6 TS%, 50.1 eFG%, 108 ORTG, 112 DRTG

So it seems like the two real obvious areas that he has not improved is assists and 2P%, but he has been so good in every other area that it really doesn't matter. His offense is much better, his defense is better, his three point shooting is insane, and I think there's a very good chance he makes the All-Star game.

Is this what you expected from him this year? More? Less? I definitely hoped he would take the step up to star status.

 

If I were comparing non-advanced stats, I'd compare per 36 minutes since his minutes are down more than 2 minutes a game this year.

That said, I love his long range "think you can stand behind the line and guard me? Fuck you, I'll shot it from half court!" Game. It's such an exciting thing to watch. Dudes like Reggie Miller when he gets a bug up his ass about Lillard Time too.

He needs to improve his rim finishing but we're seeing that improvement slowly come; last night he had a few good finishes.

Overall, I love his improvement. He'll get better too, because he knows he needs to. His improvement is beyond my expectations because I secretly thought he was a bit closer to his ceiling than he was.

 

The point differential in his PPG becomes much bigger in PER 36.

 

And the assist differential nearly disappears.

 

Nate, respectfully, he does not need to "improve" in assists. He's playing less minutes overall and much less at PG.

I too am excited about his improved play and recognition. How do people rate his defense? Is it only a little better than last year or is it much better?

As for the advanced stats, the one I like is Net rtG:
last year: -4
this year: +10

frankly, it's only +10 because he plays a lot with the 2nd unit (and Mo Williams)

 

In that it even exists, his defense is much better this year

 

More than anything, I love his attitude. Mean mugging all over the court. I can't wait for him to get some playoff experience and exposure around the country.

At this point with Kobe/CP/RW out with injury, I think it's a foregone conclusion that he's an all star. So he's gonna be in that game, the rookie game, the 3pt contest, and the skills challenge (as he won it last year). Gonna be a busy weekend for him

 

I didn't actually say that he needs to improve, I was only pointing out that it was one of the few areas he did not improve. I think a lot of that can be attributed to Batum.

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Best unintentional nickname for Nic ever.

 

This is why I hate posting on my phone... lol

Friggin auto correct

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That and the stupid Sent from Tapatalk sig.

 

That too.

 

http://bkref.com/pi/shareit/pppss Here's Lillard's Per36's. He's SO MUCH BETTER in in SO MANY aspects than last year.

 

The only real glaring hole is his 2p%. I would like to see that come up a bit.

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Also: This is how special Lillard's season is (I seem to remember saying that last year): http://bkref.com/tiny/Sg5J8

 

Yeah. 6% down on his 2's is glaring! But, he does so many things on the court well that that one area can be fixed without it being a huge issue the whole time. In that I mean, such a focal point that it becomes a distraction and the "why isn't he producing at all?!?!" quotes aren't bombarding at all. It'll get fixed, for that I have no doubt.

 

He's nearly up to 45% on 3pts with >7 attempts a game. That is unheard of. These days, if it's an open look, he makes it every time

 

especially since he's taking ridiculously deep ones. I am also very impressed with his FT%.

 

The Schonz is very happy with this team right now.

FT's are so damn important. I would hate to be a fan of a team like Detroit or Cleveland who just do not have good FT shooting teams. It would drive me nuts.

 

That's why his ts% and eFG% are so good.