Time to trade him now, before he bolts. After this joke - I think that what Ed said with "He dictates how fast the game is going to go. He's taken it to another level. He puts so much pressure on the defense, they're off-balance from the get-go." is basically where we have seen Dame grow as a player. The game is slow enough for him. He is not in a hurry unless he wants to be in a hurry. He really sets the pace himself now and everyone else has to adjust. It is beautiful to see.
I've heard this before. "I want to be the best Blazer -- ever," Aldridge said. "If I stay the rest of my career, I should be able to catch Clyde by then. I should be able to leave a mark on a big-time franchise that is going to be seen forever. And I will be able to say I played here my whole career. This city has embraced me and grown with me. I have so much history, it just makes sense to stay." I believe Lillard though. The franchise is in a much better place with Lillard at the helm.
So I was curious. LMA's best season in the NBA: 23 ppg, 11 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1 block, 21.8 PER, Last season Dame average: 27 ppg, 5.9 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1 steal, 24 PER Outside of the fact that LMA averaged a double double, Dame is crushing him. It's not even close.
Accounting for the change in style of play today, with a lot more points on the board, especially by primary ball handlers, and factoring in that PER is basically a redundant stat to ppg in the comparison, I'd say it's actually pretty close.
LMA was a False Prophet. His forked tongue soured my angelic heart. When Dame's number is retired to the rafters my it will be whole again!
I love Dame, but it's tough to rank him above Drexler and Walton. I think he's at the Porter level now. 1. Drexler 2. Walton 3a. Porter 3b. Lillard 5. Lucas 6. Kersey 7. Roy 8. Paxson 9. Petrie 10. Buck Williams 73. Aldridge After Dame signs his next 5 year contract after this one, and brings the Blazers to the WCFs (+), then he'll rival Walton and Drexler.
He's better than Porter, played longer than Walton, and more of a leader than Drexler. None of them have done what Dame has done and Rasheed Wallace belongs on your list, probably at 7 ahead of Roy. Technicals and speeding tickets aside, we could beat anyone as long as he was on the court and he got us to two WCFs.
Yeah, Wallace was a tough one for me. Buck played more games as a Blazer, and more playoff games. Plus Buck had more total rebounds, and went to the championship twice. That Best Blazer Ever 7-10 range is tough. Lots of criteria to consider. Mychal Thompson, Damon Stoudamire, and Larry Steel are all worth considering in that range too.
