He is okay? He's playing like sh*t in the playoffs! I know that we dont have any chance to defeat the clippers. Actually, im think in next season. What you guys think for next season? We can find a good free agent, no draft picks... What you guys expected? I hope we can win at least 2 games against the clippers.
Welcome. I hope this doesnt sound rude. Not trying to, but there are several threads discussing this topic currently. Some good reads and info.
He is not playing like shit cus he is in the playoffs. He is playing like shit cus he is matched up against Chris Paul. He has never played Chris Paul consistently well. Not even in the regular season. The guy is Dame's kryptonite.
One thing you gotta know about Lillard hes been doing this since last season when he was a no show all second half of the year. This has become a worrisome pattern recently in his career. Great for a stretch, then equally terrible for a stretch, then good again then bad again.. It’s just sad to see my friend I agree with you
1. Chris Paul is an amazing defender and the refs let him get away with a lot of grabbing, slapping, and holding on defense. 2. The Clippers are trapping Dame every time he has the ball, and forcing him to either take a bad shot or pass. 3. His teammates aren't hitting shots, so Dame clearly feels like he needs to step up and carry the load, but he's not hitting shots either. 4. He's trying to get to the hole, which is what good players do when their shot isn't falling, but the Clips are clogging the middle and he's getting blocked.... a lot. 4 blocked attempts in the last game. 5. He's trying to do too much. This is his first series as The Man and he's trying to be the leader, but it's not working out so far.
Lillard was hurt for the second half of last season. He averaged 25 ppg this season. That was his AVERAGE. He wasn't just "good for a stretch," he was amazing for a stretch. Your criticisms of Lillard are tired and ridiculous.
This is way off base. Plus, how much of that has to do with who he is surrounded with and the good vs bad games they have?
Nothing. He is a very good player - but he is not at the Jordan/LeBron level. He can't win the series without some help from his team-mates.
I truly believe part of it is that he is tired. Sure CP3 is a problem, but Dame has been looking tired since about 10 games to go in the regular season. Next year it might be time to pace better.
See, I think I see our disagreement, Nate... You are saying he's doing too much, but then his teammates aren't hitting shots that he's passing to. How is that Dame's fault? He's making the right decision with the pass... it's the help around him that's helping him falter. And, think of it this way... as a human, if someone is not doing the job correctly (I.E. making the shot), isn't it within our human nature to say "We'll do it ourselves". As they say: "If you want the job done right, do it yourself". May not be totally accurate, and quite selfish in sports, but if it isn't working... that mindset, as a human, can take over. Or, as the old windbag pipesmoker Bill O'Rielly said (The only good thing he's ever said, mind you): "We'll do it live! Fuck it!"
And about 15000 other NBA players will never be those two. So why compare them? (If you're not, sorry... but it's still worth saying)
Here's the problem though - as badly as our guys are shooting, I'll take a wide open Harkless, Aminu, Crabbe, CJ, or Hendo over a shot where Dame is trying to rise up over two guys for three. He has to keep passing. If his teammates miss, they miss, but Dame isn't shooting well either. I could understand carrying the load if he was hitting his shots, but he's not. Again, I get it, I understand why he's doing it, but as the point guard and as the leader (and as the guy with the playoff experience), he has to keep passing. It's the only way we're going to win. If Dame is in the zone, that's another story. Shoot all he wants. I'm not thrilled with all the blocked attempts, but at least he's trying to be aggressive. I'm fine with that. He just needs to keep trying to draw the defense and pass the ball. It's our only hope, Obi Wan Kenobi.
So, my question is, if he keeps passing, and only takes, say, 7 shots, how do we know if he's ever in the zone? Besides, if he passes and the teammates aren't hitting, then the defense isn't going to change and we'd still lose... so what benefit would that be? We'd just lose by even more.
I'm not saying 7 shots. Take the shot if he's open, or if it's a good shot, but even some of the drives just seemed bad. Charging into 3 guys and getting horribly blocked instead of passing out.
Still stands though... if the others aren't hitting, why is the defense going to change? That's my issue. For the record, everyone seemed to get blocked last night.
Last night he missed several uncontested or easy shots that he would normally make though. I guess that could still be an effect of Paul and also being conscious of Jordan blocking shots around the hoop, but he looked terrible last night.
No doubt he looked off last night. My qualm is the "he needs to pass out to change the defense"... but, if they aren't hitting shots (which is highly evident) then the defense has no reason to change.
