Ok call this a trolling post if you must so be it. The people lately who have been complaining that Lillard isn't so great blah blah blah, seriously disgust me, like make me ill to see so little appreciation for his game, either that are simply cynical bridge jumpers. Yeah he had a slump, who cares all players have them, its part of the maturing process. Just a couple weeks ago we was conference player of the weak... his 2nd time of the season. Unanimous rookie of the year 2 time all star in 3 seasons, He's having Career highs in Scoring, Rebounding, Steals,and 2pt fg%. If we go into the per 36 add on Assists too. So he's been a bit down in his 3pt%, it happens players have down seasons in that stat... He has a Career high PER of 21.3 for crying out loud. Quit looking for failure and respect the man for what he's done this year people.
There's no Lillard hate. He is the guy that helped us move past the ashes of BRoy, so none of us can truly hate the guy. It's just...he is in his third year now, and has improved a lot of things in his game, but his playmaking and shot selection still leave a lot to be desired. He still struggles with double teams a lot. With a losing streak, some of these faults just get magnified. It's coming though. Saw some tangible improvement in the past two games compared to a few weeks ago. What scares me is that the team we are most likely to matchup against in the first round (Clips- 30% probability) has shut him down for the most part all season. His worst head to head games come vs CP3. Doc's forced continuous traps on Dame, getting him frazzled, while letting LA roam free with single coverage. Dame needs to get better at his weaknesses in these last 12 games to get ready for the playoffs.
It's only going to get worse when he gets a new contract. People are going to bitch about him even more.
All those fairweather fans who wanted to trade him for Conley. You get a mild response after 1 loss, anger after 2 losses, panic attack after 3 and blow up the team after 4. I was shocked we didn't have 30 player, coach bashing threads after 5 losses. Winning seems to shut them up. Lillard is a treasure on this roster.
That's not the crime. The crime is some people come in here and say he's not good when his ONLY down stat is his percentage from 3. He's having career numbers in almost every other stat. Those people are trolling HARD.
This might as well be a troll thread... http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/wes-lillard-and-cj-afflalo.281977/
Just like when Aldridge gets doubled it's not just on the player getting doubled to make a good pass out of it. It's on coaching, and the 4 other players on the court to have proper rotations. Last night when Aldridge was getting doubled on the pass by Utah late in the 3rd quarter... The turnovers he had wasn't just on him. Person who should get the most blame is Stotts for not adjusting quick enough. I can't stress that enough.(I was yelling @ my TV last night because Stotts didn't adjust) Secondly it's on the guy who has no one guarding him to give Aldridge an outlet pass... Or cut to the rim SOMETHING. Rather than force Aldridge to throw a cross court pass. Third, it's on the entry passer to get open. Fourth it was on the rest of the players on the court to have proper spacing and not allow 3 players to guard 4. Lillard at times does well when he gets blitz'd on the p&r. 2nd game vs Thunder comes to mind. But there are other times when the team doesn't present him a good outlet for the double. (the Screener, the wings need to COME TO THE BALL) Lillard's shot selection needs work sure. But point is a turnover on the double team isn't typically ever one players fault.
Blazer fans have an insane love/hate relationship with the players. The Bench scrubs and role players are ridiculously overvalued and loved, while the "stars" are nitpicked and expected to perform at superstar levels constantly. That's why Jerome Kersey and Maurice Lucas are more revered in Blazer lore than Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler. I guarantee you in 20 years Wes Matthews and Robin Lopez will be remembered more fondly than Lillard and Aldridge.
Here are Damians Splits this year... for those who think he's regressing, or are missing Lillard time. October (2 games) 15pts, 4.5reb, 3.5ast November (15 games) 20.5pts, 5.1reb, 7.2ast December (16 games) 24.1pts, 4.7reb, 6.1ast January (15 games) 20.9pts, 4.1reb, 6.1ast February (9 games) 20.7pts, 4.4reb, 5.3ast March (13 games) 21.2pts, 5.8rebs, 6.6ast So March the month that many have been vocally dissatisfied, was his 2nd best scoring month, his best rebounding month, and his 2nd best assist month, arguably his best overall month this season.
Did some research on percentages Percentages: FG/ 3pt/ FT October (2 games) : 30 / 40/ 91 November (15 games) : 48/ 43/ 88 December (16 games) : 45/ 36/ 87 January (15 games) : 37/ 28/ 83 February (9 games) : 47/ 26/ 84 March (13 games) : 43/ 35/ 91 For the season (70 games) : 43/ 34/ 87 Key ones In wins (45 games): 46/ 37/ 87 In losses (25 games): 39/ 31/ 86 This last one is I scrutinize his shot selection and FG%. He shoots well, we win.
Haha that's so true. It's the whole keep Portland weird thing. Although drexler doesn't deserved to be idolized around here, he almost doesn't even acknowledge his blazer days.
Compare Lillard to Steph Curry in his 3rd season, per 36 Curry 18.8ppg, 4.3reb, 6.8ast, 1.9st 3.2TO Lillard 21.3ppg, 4.8reb, 6.2ast, 1.3st, 2.7TO
