Game Thread GAME# 19: BLAZERS @ WARRIORS - NOVEMBER 23, 2018 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM, NBCSNW

Agreed...which is why I followed that with the caveats of the types of shots he is taking. However, he continues to take those shots so even though he may be a great shooter when he is taking open/good shots, his percentage doesn't reflect that because often he is not taking those types of looks. It is a bit of a catch-22 because of course we need him to shoot. But I still believe that as he continues to mature his game, he will find more opportunities to pass on those shots where he is only hitting around 25% and look for a better option elsewhere.

Otherwise this team will never reach the levels we all are hoping for.

 

A discussion of great 3 point shooters should include recognizing that Meyers is now 2nd in the NBA with 53.3%. In addition, Dame (CJ, Chief, Jake, Zach, Nik, etc) have gotten some of their best open swish3 attempts by screens and often handoff assist screens by Meyers. The offense is stronger with Meyers in the game, and his defense has steadily improved to the point that he is positive on DBPM and BPM. It is time to increase his role and emphasize the synergy that Meyers and Dame offer.

By the way, despite some impressive shooting episodes, Klay is not on the list of the top 20 3 point shooting percentage list. Let's promote getting Meyers back to the 76.9% NBA record percentage in the playoffs that we know he is capable of scoring.

 

See, the problem is people will only lopk at percentages and thats it. You need to realize the effect his aggressiveness and potential to get hot has on the defense. He opens up the offense and spreads the court, and it's also why Nurkic can get so open on pick n rolls.

He also gets fouled a lot. For every 100 3pt shots, the average player gets fouled maybe twice. I'd say Dame gets fouled around 6 times. So he's producing around 11pts more per 100 3pt shots compared to the average player shooting the same percentage. Given his 3pt percentage now's that'd be as efficient as the average foul-drawer shooting 37.8%.

But people just look at the percentage and base everything off that. For example:

 

Absolutely! You cannot look at percentages and get a true picture. Stats are only so effective at telling you what a player does. This is why Aminu is worth more to this team than his stats might indicate also. But on the converse side it is also what teams are doing to the Blazers with him on the court that is tough to watch. When Aminu goes cold it immediately lets team double Lillard without paying the price. That price is having a SF or PF shut down any chance at Lillard blowing past his man when his defender jams him. It makes Lillard have to shoot a tough shot or try to find another open look which is not there. Then he passes to Aminu for another wide open attempt. If that shot falls the Blazers are in business. If not? Well we all know what happens then.

 

I just find it weird that some people can't realize going 1 for 10 with 10 FT attempts (from an 80% shooter) is better than going 4 for 10 with 1 FTA. But "He's shooting 10% WTF"...

That's why I like TS%.

 

And Lillard is a 90% Free Throw shooter at that! Total money at the line.

 

58.5 TS%. Definitely efficient despite him being in a slump.

 

It's kind of funny though. I listened to an interview with Clyde Drexler. They asked about today's stats and if they would have made him look closer. He said "All i ever did was look to see if i had more points than shots". Ever since hearing that it is the first thing i look at and at what the rate is?

 

Sure stats dont mean everything, but Dame does shoot a lot of 3’s and his percentage is pretty bad in comparison to how many he shoots. He’s got “unlimited” range, but I dont really consider him an elite 3 point shooter. An elite scorer no doubt and he can definitely get hot. Id consider him like the 4th best 3 point shooter on the team. CJ, Seth, and ML I think are better shooters than him, obviously none of those guys comes even close to the full skillset that Dame has.

 

Totally agree. I actually really hate watching Dame come down and launch long/contested 3s - it's bad basketball. But I do like Dame and think he's the best Blazer ever (except for Sabas!). He just needs a good coach who will let him know when he's taking garbage shots and hold him accountable if he continues to take them.

 

Dame would kill Curry and ML in a three point shooting contest. It would be really interesting between him and CJ.

 

Dame shoots open threes like they are free throws. The difference is, opponents don't leave him open.

 

If Green AND Curry are still out, this should be a win. No excuses.

 

Steph and Green out

 

I said this last time and I got killed for it. He’s not that great of a 3 point shooter.

 

Yup exactly. Every year he has 10-15 games like you said (usually post all star break) where he’s super nova that gets his percentages up. But in theory all things considered I wouldn’t say Dame is an excellent 3 point shooter.

Dame does better from the mid range and driving to the rack. Also drawing fouls. But his 3 point shooting is overrated

 

I been saying it to my buddies for years too. His overall playoff numbers aren’t great in general (career 40% from the field and 34% from 3)