Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot Of’

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Boise Blazer, Dec 12, 2013.

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  1. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    They are two games over .500. How is that crappy in your insane world?
     
    magnifier661, Dec 12, 2013
    #21
  2. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Conley? Why?

    His stats aren't really better than Lillard, and his team is not very good this year. What would justify him making it over Lillard, Parker, or Westbrook?
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #22
  3. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    His stats are a little better than Lillard's, but Conley is a vastly superior defensive player.

    Yes, the Blazers have been much better than the Griz, but I'm not one to penalize a player for playing well on a bad team.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Dec 12, 2013
    #23
  4. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Some of his stats are a little better, but not enough IMO.

    Dame - 20.7 PPG, 5.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds 40.5% FG
    Conley - 17.7 PPG, 6.4 assists, 2.0 rebounds 47.7% FG

    If you look at their advanced stats though, it's pretty close.

    Dame - 19.9 PER, 56.8 TS%, 119 ORTG, 109 DRTG, 2.7 OWS, 0.4 DWS, 3.1 WS
    Conley - 21.5 PER, 56.4 TS%, 115 ORTG, 109 DRTG, 2.1 OWS, 0.4 DWS, 2.4 WS
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #24
  5. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    I don't disagree that it's close. Overall, I like Conley a little better statistically than Lillard. I also wonder how much better Conley's numbers would be if he were a part of arguably the best starting five in the league, as Lillard is.

    But that's not the point. Like I said, I'd take Conley over Lillard because their stats are similar, but his defense is superior. I would like to reward two-way players. I'd also consider Batum for an all-star bid, because other than Durant, I don't think there has been a better SF in the west this year, and I still like the idea of the all-star team being at least two deep at every position (though I wouldn't require it).

    Get me on the S2 podcast, and we can argue this out for realsies. :)
     
    PtldPlatypus, Dec 12, 2013
    #25
  6. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    See, I look at Conley as a role player. He's a good point guard, but he's not special. Lillard is a star. We have one of the best starting fives BECAUSE of Lillard. If you put Conley on this team, we no longer have one of the best starting fives.

    The funny thing is though, you say that he's a better defender than Dame, but the advanced stats don't really show that. Identical defensive win shares, identical defensive ratings, but Conley gets more steals. Dame is just so much better on offense than Conley. He's averaging 4 more points per game, he has a better offensive rating, he has a better OWS, and he has a better true shooting percentage.

    I definitely think there's an argument to be made about who's better between Dame and Parker, but Conley just isn't as good. He's a good point guard, but not a star and not an All-Star. The stats just don't back it up, and their team isn't very good this year.
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #26
  7. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Dame's < 40% 2pt% is killing his efficiency
     
    illmatic99, Dec 12, 2013
    #27
  8. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    But his three point shooting balances it out. His TS% is almost 57%. He's shooting very poorly from 2, but his three point shooting is excellent.
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #28
  9. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Yup, his stats are better across the board this year, but his 2pt% dropped from >46% his rookie year to <40%. Imagine if he returns back to form, he'll be in for a huge jump in PER
     
    illmatic99, Dec 12, 2013
    #29
  10. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    It will go up. I guarantee it. I don't see any way that Dame finishes the season this low. It'll balance out.
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #30
  11. rasheedfan2005

    rasheedfan2005 Well-Known Member

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Wes put the S in SG
     
    rasheedfan2005, Dec 12, 2013
    #31
  12. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Parker, CP3, Harden, Westbrook and Curry are all deserving too, so as the younger player I expect Lillard to get snubbed. I won't be outraged. Look at the east, the best guard over there would be the 8th best in the West. I think the above plus Lawson are all clearly better than Wall, Wade or Kyrie right now.
     
    Draco, Dec 12, 2013
    #32
  13. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    I don't think Parker is going. His stats just really aren't good enough this year.

    Paul
    Curry
    Harden
    Westbrook
    Kobe

    That's probably the guards right there.
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #33
  14. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    I listened to this interview. Stan asks very good questions, our media and Blazer broadcasting should listen.
     
    Draco, Dec 12, 2013
    #34
  15. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Three games but whatever. Tied for 8th seed. Not impressive.
     
    KingSpeed, Dec 12, 2013
    #35
  16. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Its voted on by the coaches, they don't follow stats as much as media or fans. Parker was a top MVP candidate last year and excelled in the finals against the champs; he'll makes it. He's more important to that Spurs team than Duncan.
     
    Draco, Dec 12, 2013
    #36
  17. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Curry has a far more impressive career than Lillard. He was the 3rd best player in the entire playoff last year.

    The Warriors have played the most road games in the NBA, against good teams too, and their second best player is injured.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2013
    Draco, Dec 12, 2013
    #37
  18. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    There can only be so many guards. If Paul and Kobe are voted in, how many spots remain? Who is Parker going to beat out?
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #38
  19. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Come on, Nate, you and I both know that defensive statistics are spurious at best. Conley's DRtg was 102 and 100 the past two years--does that mean that he suddenly forgot how to defend? Watch them play, you know that Conley defends his man better than Lillard. 5 more years of NBA experience has that effect.

    As for the contention that Conley's a "role player"--well, that's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. I'm not going to try to change it, just like you're not changing mine. Conley is leading the Grizz in scoring and assists, and is the main reason that they're even close to .500--that's not a "role player" in my book. And I wholeheartedly disagree with your statement that the Blazers would be "much worse" if Lillard were swapped for Conley. Now, swap Tayshaun Prince and his 7.6 PER (starting SF for all 21 Grizz games) for Nic Batum, and then see how well each team's starting unit plays.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Dec 12, 2013
    #39
  20. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Re: Stan Van Gundy Calls Damian Lillard ‘The Biggest Star (Fans) Haven’t Seen A Lot O

    Perhaps his DRTG is worse this year because he doesn't have one of the best defensive centers in the league watching his back?
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 12, 2013
    #40
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