I hope we just shut him down for the year at this point and let him focus on getting healthy. Our best-case scenario right now is making the play-in. It's just not worth it. I'd rather see us rebuild this year around Nas and Simons and whatever we can trade for CJ and Roco, and hopefully have a 100% Dame next year plus whatever happens with our lottery pick. Lillard can be an effective threat from deep until he's 40 if he can stay healthy. Not necessarily as a star when he reaches his twilight, but as a Robert Horry kind of role player who can win you a series with timely shooting. But the guy has got to play healthy.
Yesterday was the first time the idea of surgery for Dame was openly mentioned. Conversation has always been about managing the pain and reaching a point where it can't get any worse by playing. But Jared Greenberg in a mid-game update on TNT about Dame's injury mentioned that Dame would eventually need it. If this is the case, do it sooner rather than later. I see no positive in breaking him down further to get an 8th seed.
Absolutely! Shut him down. Fix the roster. Get a draft pick. Let Chauncey get a clue about actually being a coach.
Yeah if surgery will fix this, let's get it done. We trade CJ, RoCo and Nurk for the best we can get... take our chances in the lottery and start fresh next season. Depending on the recovery time from the surgery maybe we get Dame some run with the new roster for a little bit at the end of the season.
You guys crack me up with the medical advice. Dame's already consulted with a bunch of doctors on this and it sounds like they've finally been able to pinpoint the issue. Dame has said that they've told him that it is about as bad as it could get and he can't hurt it more by playing with the injury, which is why they did the cortisone injection for pain relief purposes. He said it feels fine. I'm sure that he and his doctors have discussed the surgery and how long the recovery period is. If doing it after the season was going to lead to the recovery period running into the start of next season, I'd assume that he would shut it down and get the surgery done immediately. Since that's not happening so far, I'd also assume that the medical advice is that recovering over the summer will be adequate to be ready for next year. There's a whole lot of assuming going on in what I've said, but I guess that the bottom line is that I'm trusting that Dame is getting good medical advice and will make a smart decision.
If you're looking for fantastic medical advice, wait till you see this: http://www.sportstwo.com/posts/5279592/
I believe they said he would need another shot in March. But yeah, sounds like he will have surgery in the summer. I would assume that means he will be back in time for camp or games.
Do we have chemistry issues? Feel like this team is most disconnected of any team we’ve had in Years. Regardless we need a shakeup
Omicron might be a blessing. A lesser variant that will help with immunity. Also not to make light of it but we should be lottery team if they shut down league for remainder of year
With Simmons I think it would allow Dame to sit. Dame is a shell of himself with this injury - playing through it isn’t the answer.
regardless of medical advise, is it not clearly evident that Dame is a shell of himself though? Do you think that is all because of the new scheme, ball etc? Dame is as tough as it gets. He wont let on how much its affecting him. He's not about excuses. But this team is ass with him playing like he is. Guys like him need others around him to yank the reigns. Its why Dame is Dame and we all love him. Toughest guy to ever wear the pinwheel. Even without further injury, he needs to get right to have any chance of doing anything more. Sit him, tank, use the pick and cj and whoever, to go after that second star.
No it’s not clear. I see a guy who missed a bunch of games and is not yet back in game shape. He was obviously gassed at the end of the last game. He missed shots and free throws at the end of the game that he normally would hit. If he hits a couple of those, the Blazers win.
Hmm. possibly just rust and lack of endurance, but Dames work ethic is good enough to not lose much endurance over a five game lapse. Twenty game lapse? Sure. He just doesn't seem right and thats more of an overall picture. Not just last night. im just not sure wearing Dame down to get a first round exit is worth it at this point in his career. Id rather see him get the surgery, sit the season, tank like a mofo and nail a top three pick. Go after paulo Trade cj and roco for cap relief and a solid bench player. Resign nurk Dame/smith jr? Norm/Simons Little/?? Nance jr/paulo Nurk/??? With the right bench help, i like that starting linup and we have a new younger core of Paulo/Simons/Little if it doesnt work. Trade Dame and Nurk for pick and go full on rebuild around those three.
two words: Not Happening. I understand the thought process, but it goes against everything that Damian Lillard is as a player and a man. As long as there’s a chance, he’s fighting to win. There may come a time in the season where tanking becomes the only option because there’s an injury or just no way to make the playoffs. This isn’t that time.
Well right. Thats kinda what i said in the other reply. Thats why someone has to force him to do it now. He will be thankful in the long rum when were a contender next year. Think San Antonio losing Robinson for a year and nailing Duncan. If we wait, then tanking moves us from 12 to 8 or something. Not enough of a chance to get an impact player unless we can move that up in the draft to get a guy like Paulo. And id rather lose games to move up, then have to trade assets to move up. I know its a long shot, but every game i watch the more i think this is the best path.
The guy you get with the pick isn’t likely to be a major contributor in Dame’s window. I want to see a trade for someone who is and be in a position for that to show fruit in this season’s playoffs.
1. No guarantee that you get a top-3 pick. 2. I’m talking about a trade before the deadline, whether it’s CJ for Simmons or something else of similar magnitude. I don’t want to give up on the season until we know that kind of deal isn’t going to happen.
