Quick's article on Dame (and I believe why we will win)

Wait, for real? Reassess Damian Lillard's future? Did I read that right? Im honestly asking here

 

Perhaps while Wes is out, but Wes is more valuable as a SG than Dame is. If we had a big PG who could defend SGs and set up the offense then we could get away with Dame as a SG.

 

As much as I love Dame, I would at least consider trading him (or anyone on the team) if the offer appeared to improve the team. There isn't anybody on the team that's untouchable. I certainly wouldn't be shopping Dame, though.

 

What am I missing here? Dame's game is not perfect but in his 3rd year he compares pretty damn well with some of the top PG's in their 3rd year. And by they way the only PG on this list or only PG for that matter that I would consider especially if you are talking long term is Curry.

http://www.basketball-reference.com...conlemi01&y6=2004&p6=parketo01#per_game::none

 

Speaking more Nic. But Dame is not beyond being reassessed.

 

Every player should always be evaluated to see what they can do better but I guess Im just not sure what it is that people want from our PG at this point. Why dont people think he cant get any better? What has he done to prove otherwise?

 

Honestly. I'm more disappointed in Nic and how he has conducted the year and more specifically how these behaviors are impacting his teammates. I don't like his energy and I think for some of his teammates it's been contagious. I've just about had enough and it wouldn't hurt my feelings to see him moved even if it means taking a hit of talent at that position. Il take someone that fits in and plays with energy and fire with less talent over what I've seen from him this year. And His absolute must of having to play with team France I feel is effecting he and the Blazers.

Just wouldn't put up with it any longer.

 

It would not be surprised at all with how Nic conducted his season it impacts LA decision to stay.

 

I doubt anyone is saying he can't get better. The fact that he has improved some aspect of his his game each year tells us he will get better. All the greats do. Magic is the perfect example. As much as I hated him, I still respected that he worked on something each summer.

 

With Memphis' defensive prowess, I'm scared to think how badly our offense will break down when they trap Lillard every time down the floor. If Stotts hasn't figured out an adjustment for that, we're getting swept. Lillard's defense is pretty much my last concern.

 

It would really help Dame's defense in the playoffs if the refs would give him a little star deference and CALL A FUCKING MOVING PICK ONCE IN A FUCKING WHILE YOU FUCKING DOUCHE BAGS!!!

 

I definitely expect Dame to get better every year, for the next 5+ years. However, play-making seems to be something you either have or you don't. I don't think Dame will ever be one of the best play-makers in the NBA because if he hasn't developed the ability by now he never will. I think it's a natural skill that manifests in high school and is honed in college. If you don't enter college with natural play-making abilities chances are slim that you'll ever be great at it.

 

Amian Lillar's problem is not effort. It's awful technique and defensive IQ. He works hard enough, but to no avail. He needs to spend an off season learning how to play defense and pick up the technique and skill behind it. Right now he's just tiring himself out with poor defensive stance, being out of position, lunging and not being able to recover, not understanding when to play up against a guy and when to give him space and keep him in front, and an inability to play screens.

The difference between how Wes plays defense and how Amian plays defense is based on technique and defensive IQ.

 

I'm a huge fan of Lillar, and I think he has a lot of room to grow. But Curry's numbers are far, far better than Lillar's. Steph is a much better shooter, it's not even close.

Steph year 3 - 49% FG, 45.5% 3pt shooting. I'll take 18.6 pts off of those percentages than Lillar's 21 ppg off 43.4% FG and a very poor 34% from 3 anyday. Lillar's three pt shooting has regressed to a career low. He's not even close to being as good a shooter as Steph, and on the defensive end the gap is even worse.

 

Totally agree. It's part of the 'I'll do the least to get by - but still look cool' attitude the Blazers seem to have played with at times this year.
I think a lot of it comes from the King - Nic 'Resting/coasting on your laurels' Batum.

I don't want to see next years squad infected with this indifference. He needs to be traded.

 

agree with you

 

I know that's what I been trying to say. Every time he shoots 3s now I cring. Then people use the excuse about his fingers injured but he was shooting perfectly fine for a month or so after that.

Lillard fell off around mid Janaury and never really recovered to that "top 5 pg" category. Is he a below average point guard? Hell no! Should we trade him? Absolutely not! But is he up there like we thought he was and this superstar who we can argue and compare to the the Curry's and Westbrooks of the world? I think not. I still believe he's a solid above average point guard (Jeff Tegue type level) but nothing like this "amazing" pg we thought he was.

He had a great 2 month to start the season which really saved his stats from shooting all the way to hell but the inconsistency that followed from Janaury on is not a good sign to the level Adidas banked for.

 

Sly, I like Dame a lot and want him to stay, but talking about his shortcomings IMO help us to think about bettering the team in the future as in who would it best to pair Dame with? As has already been pointed out pairing him with a 6'5" or taller PG (or SG with solid enough PG skills - Wes does not have that) that could defend SG's would IMO be the best outcome. So with a huge offseason coming up when 4 of our starters are up for new deals, and our starting SG was badly injured with a torn Achilles, this is the time to start talking about making this team better as this offseason could be wild and huge. And perhaps we also consider trading a guy like Nic who many of us are tired of. This offseason is going to be huge with so many free agents, and injuries and play this past season have IMO made it much more likely that mgmt could seriously re-evaluate things and we just might be a much different team next yr that most of us thought just 3-4 months ago. We will see