My theory is a combination of reasons. 1) First & foremost his confidence has been Yo-Yo'd. Remember this? http://forwardcenter.net/lillard-uses-top-5-point-guard-omission-as-motivation/ Snubbed from the list of Top 5 (really Top 9) PG's. It clearly bothered him. But then he goes out and has 2 of the best games of his career against SA & OKC in the same week. The narrative changes. Less than a month later it's "Who's better: Lillard or Paul" http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12165319/damian-lillard-chris-paul CP3 outplayed Dame that night, but he also got all the calls . . . in a game @ PDX. No respect! That was the night his shooting slump began. He's still having a career year up to this point. But 2 weeks later he's snubbed by the coaches for the AS game. That hurts bad given the kind of year he's having, but he's still going to play because Kobe's out. "Not the way I wanted it . . . " he said. Then, the unthinkable - Silver picks another player from a losing team who's led the league in tech fouls 3 years running (head case), & missed a large chunk of games with viral meningitis. Dame has yet to miss a game, EVER. Cousins is nice for sure. But wow, really? Does anybody think I'm worthy? Self doubt creeps in. Not only that, but the pressure of his first signature shoe launching with a special colorway to be showcased at the AS Game (that he won't be playing in!) He ends up "making" the All Star team thanks to a freak staph infection to BG. But does he really feel like "fits in" as an All Star? Not to mention the actual game was all about his nemesis, Russ Westbrook (these guys don't like each other - Dame respects Russ, Russ resents Lillard's "Most Clutch" label & thinks Dame isn't even in his league) One more thing - injuries to his teammates are piling up & the team is struggling. A lot of eyes are expecting a bitter for being snubbed #O to save the day. We don't think about how these things can affect a player, like they should be able to block all that stuff out. He's human. He'll bounce back, but his swag is currently MIA. 2) Injuries, Batum's struggles, & the way he's being defended. Teams have been able to smother Dame defensively w/o having to pay a price for giving him extra attention. Batum has . . . enough has been pointed out here by others. Not bashing Nic, but his poor play has given opposing teams an extra incentive to force the ball out of Dame's hands. There simply hasn't been a consequence for leaving Nic open or allowing him space on the perimeter. And as good as Wesley is as a "catch & shoot" guy, he's simply no threat at all off the dribble. Now factor in all of the injuries and line-up changes & even the injuries Dame sustained himself. Sprained fingers, sprained ankle, bruised hip bone . . . and still hasn't missed a game. I think, no, I KNOW there will be "Dame Time" again. This is just a bump in the road. I'm more worried about how the team is going to get better than I am Lillard getting back on track.
did he catch "Nic-itus" that horrible disease that destroys ones shooting ability and causes sloppy/lazy passes? if he has we are doomed
What if the Blazers stopped running certain sets so NBA defenses couldn't get used to defending them. Anyone have the time on their hands to see if there are plays the team isn't running? I realize you could scout for these between game 1 and game 2, but adjusting as a defense is more than knowing what the other team is going to run...
The biggest issue Lillard is having at the moment is normal for young players. This is the first time I've watched Lillard have issues with the way the defense is playing him. And show his NBA age. But it's not just on Lillard... Stotts/Wes/Batum/Rolo have to make teams pay for blitzing Lillard on the P&R. If Stotts can't figure a way to get Lillard easier shots then he needs to go. For as much as Aldridge's game has improved because of Stotts system. I see very little help for Lillard in Stotts system other than the 3 point shot. Make an adjustment Stotts. It's on you to get Lillard easy shots while working off the ball. And the next time you pull Lillard when he's at 14points, should be the last time you get to pull him... ever.
You know I can't disagree. For the very time last night, I saw a Nate (Stotts) like confusion on his face in the fourth quarter. His offense right now isn't much better than what Nate's was when he was here. Very little movement which could be on the players. And just a lot of uncertainty on what to do by the players. As I said. Everyone seems spent right now. He's one of them. It seems as if he is mind isn't functioning in the critical moments.
Maybe he's a victim of his own success. Face it, how many super-stars in NBA history have really been able to chuck up shots like that ALL THE TIME. Sure, they get hot every once in awhile, but for the most part, they take high quality shots.
Dumbest substitution of the year, easily. I don't even care that Blake went off during that time... I'm sure it was still in Dame's craw when he came back out and played... he was making poor decisions.
I don't know about that.... In the second quarter with the second unit.. The offense had a ton off ball movement and it looked really good. Spurs type of basketball. They also played great defense in that quarter. Stotts has to get credit for that. In the third quarter the offense looked pretty good too. Yes Lillard got hot and went for 14 in that quarter...(idiotic to pull him at that moment) But they put up 39 in that quarter... Stotts has to get some credit for that too. There was good ball movement there also that led to wide open 3's. So he has to get some credit for those two quarters.. However pulling a hot player is a lot like Nate. Cept I don't think Nate would have pulled Roy if he was hot with 14 in the quarter and 3+mins left in it. He'd pull Bayless... But not the superstar guard.
There were two times in that game they gave up 11 point leads. One in the second quarter and one in the fourth quarter. The offense was confused on both occasions and there was no answer to the defense that was being thrown at them. Give Memphis credit. But also give the coach credit for a lack of adjustments both times occured. There was very lil movement and offense being played both times. And the coach did in fact look confused. Nate like. When they see that kind of defense, that's when you go beast mode offensively and torch the defense. They played right into the Grizzlies hands.
So you are saying this isn't just another CJ is horrible or Batum tracker thread? Give me a break.....
Those were warranted too. But I see where Mags is coming from. Lillard was pretty damn consistent until the last 2 months... whereas CJ and Batum can't even stay consistent for 2 months. THAT'S where the difference lies.
