Skip Bayless says Dame isn't a star

Ditto.

 

Easy to defend..... gee I wonder why?

 

Because he's a shrimp.

 

Fuck Skip Bayless.

I know this is almost two months old, but back in March, ESPN had Lillard ranked 7th in their NBA Player Power Rankings, ahead of Harden, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, etc.

Here's what they said about Dame:


7. Damian Lillard

Portland Trail Blazers
RPM: 2.27 (No. 50)
MVP odds: 150-1
Previous rank: No. 7

"It was a tough week for the Blazers, who dropped the last three games of a six-game road trip, but that was not because of Lillard. He put 50 points on Toronto's Kyle Lowry, one of the league's grittiest defensive point guards, and then 41 points and 11 assists on John Wall, as he went for 30 or more points for the eighth time in 11 games since All-Star Weekend.

Think about this: Wall hasn't been able to lead Washington to a playoff spot in the East. Without Durant for much of the past season, Westbrook failed to get OKC to the postseason. But Lillard has the post-LaMarcus Aldridge Blazers -- with guys named Vonleh, Aminu and Plumlee starting -- still firmly in the Western Conference playoffs, even with their recent skid."

Pay close attention to that last paragraph. If Lillard isn't a star, please explain to me how this roster captured the 5th seed in the West. Wall can't get WAS to the playoffs in the East. Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins can't do it in the West. So, look at our roster and ask yourself how many other players in the league could get this team to the 5th seed in the West. Other than the obvious ones like Steph, LeBron, Durant, etc., there aren't a lot. Westbrook can't do it without Durant, but then, according to Mark Cuban, Westbrook isn't a superstar.

Bayless is an idiot.

BNM

 

And he scored 16 points in the 4th quarter vs the Clippers in the pivotal Game 5 on the road. Bayless is an idiot.

 

I think he really wants to get his teammates involved though, whereas Carmelo really wants his shots.

 

And all of those best players have bad games. Jesus, Durant shot 7/33 in Game 2 vs Mavs.

 

Now I don't think the Blazers would have got past the Clippers in game 5 or 6.
But are you actually denying that the Blazers looked to be in control of games 3-4?
Like it wasn't a blowout... But it certainly looked from the pace of games 3/4 that the Clippers had no chance of winning those games.
CP3 and Griffin didn't get injured until halfway through the 3rd quarter...
Certainly looked like they had no answer for what the Blazers were doing and were ready for game 5 back in LA to come.
I wouldn't say going back to LA tied 2-2 is complete control

 

everyone has an opinion. The stuff Skip says isn't actually his opinion on what is, but rather what will generate a reaction... it's as real as pro wraslin'. The fans who like to be perpetually annoyed give him & the Canzano's/Screamin' A's of the world a platform to serve up this garbage because they like having their chain yanked. Those fans get all self righteous and say "what an idiot' ignoring that they're getting played. It all strikes me as a funny little cycle that goes on and on.

whatever...

STOMP

 

As a Ravens fan (you can tell by the color of the pinstripes), he taught me that when he starts hating on my boy Flacco, we tend to prosper. I hope he continues this pattern.

 

Ok fine their the same player. Dame is the better leader but nothing in the realm of 1st team stars..

 

BINGO

"...his inconsistency throughout many games.."

I couldn't have said it any better. Again his leadership skills is superstar level and worth keeping forever but let's not be blind and think this guy is with the Chris Pauls, Steph Curry, etc

 

Nailed it. I been telling these guys all year. Granted I don't personally think he's a regular season superstar, more like great player to have or a notch under "superstar". I even called him a high level Mo Williams but what saves this guy is his tremendous leadership and great personality. That alone to me is worth keeping.


He's been incredibly underwhelming in these playoffs this year. Literally he's had one great game from START TO FINISH with consistency and that was game 3. He was nice that game. The rest is exactly what you said in how he's invisible for three quarters and has a big (usually) fourth quarter, when the game is out of reach. Last game it was the 3rd quarter, but you get the point.

 

One thing I've never understood is how strongly some people focus on what isn't. In this case, on what a player isn't. The constant harping on what Batum isn't; on what Meyers isn't; on what Dame isn't. And the beat goes on. Every player isn't something or other. And some people will just obsess over that thing the player isn't, for no real benefit that I can understand.

Knowing a players limitations is important, sure, but focusing on what a player isn't doesn't do much to help achieve success. For that you can only work with what is. You can only play with the team you have, with the players you have, with what they CAN do, not what they CAN'T. Coaches don't game plan or go into the huddle talking about what their players can't do. That would be pointless.