Dame: All NBA 2nd Team

[Natebishop3]

The league LOVES anointing young stars early. I'm not saying Luka isn't deserving, because he is (Dame should be there over Kawhi( but if Luka were a 27-30 year old player, I don't believe he would have started over Lillard in the All-Star game or been named First Team All-Name the past two years over Dame.

The bigger/better question is why was Steph so unanimous? Dame's numbers from the past two years are so similar across the board, yet it was Dame who found a way to the postseason both years while Steph lost twice in the play-in. I realize it's a team sport, but it's frustrating seeing Steph get a pass due to past successes and still get the First Team nod over Lillard.

Steph is still riding his fame. He's a really good player, but it really is funny how now that his team isn't epic, he can't seem to carry them to anything.

 

[B-Roy]

Dame was just on an Instagram live. Pretty interesting insights.

Was asked if his heart was still in Portland and he said “ you know where my heart is that’s all I have to say about that”

 

[B-Roy]

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQKv8hVqSIO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

From 22:00 and on. Very interesting and real interview with Dame. The frustration is real.

Asked if he wanted to stay in Portland - Dame dodged the question.

Asked about new coach - Talked up Terry Stotts, really like Terry and didn't talk about any other candidates. Says management has to do what it has to do. It sure sounded like he didn't want Terry gone though, thought it was management's call.

Asked about 2nd team - "This is where my place in the league is." He knows he's going to be behind Dame and Luka in the media so it is what it is. Acknowledged being in Portland is part of it.

Asked if he would feel fulfilled if he never wins a title - Says no, but he wants the team to put it's best foot forward. If he feels like the team is not trying it's hardest to win then he may think about doing what's best for himself. Direct quote "If we're just cool not being a bad team, then you might have to re-evaluate how to take shit in"

 

[Natebishop3]

Asked if he wanted to stay in Portland - Dame dodged the question.

I don't understand why he's suddenly acting like it's the teams fault that we're a treadmill team. He needs to own some of the blame.

 

[Sean.ivity]

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQKv8hVqSIO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Asked if he would feel fulfilled if he never wins a title - Says no, but he wants the team to put it's best foot forward. If he feels like the team is not trying it's hardest to win then he may think about doing what's best for himself. Direct quote "If we're just cool not being a bad team, then you might have to re-evaluate how to take shit in"

wow spin into the negative, lol. He said could walk away from the game peacefully and be cool not winning a championship as long as he feels like the front office is trying to win a championship but "If we're just cool not being a bad team, then you might have to re-evaluate how to take shit in". which seems perfectly reasonable to me.

 

[Sean.ivity]

I don't understand why he's suddenly acting like it's the teams fault that we're a treadmill team. He needs to own some of the blame.

Context:

 

[B-Roy]

wow spin into the negative, lol. He said could walk away from the game peacefully and be cool not winning a championship as long as he feels like the front office is trying to win a championship but "If we're just cool not being a bad team, then you might have to re-evaluate how to take shit in". which seems perfectly reasonable to me.

How is it spinning the negative? It's exactly what's been said all along. Even speculated on by people here. If the team isn't trying to win a title he's going to ask to leave.

 

[B-Roy]

I don't understand why he's suddenly acting like it's the teams fault that we're a treadmill team. He needs to own some of the blame.

He didn't?

 

[Sean.ivity]

How is it spinning the negative? It's exactly what's been said all along. Even speculated on by people here. If the team isn't trying to win a title he's going to ask to leave.

He was asked, would you feel UNfulfilled if you didn't get a ring, and he said, "Naw I wouldn't say I would feel unfulfilled, but... then he goes on to speak for 3-4 minutes on the question. You misquoted the beginning part then focused on one sentence on a much longer answer. That's why I suggested you put a negative spin on it.

 

[blazerkor]

I think that the way Olshey threw Stotts under the bus so blatantly during his presser had to make Dame feel really angry. Stotts was Dame's guy and I'm sure he understood it was time for Stotts to go but Olshey not taking any responsibility had to make Dame mad and concerned that Olshey is just going to do the same damn thing and just expect some new coach to make it work.

 

[B-Roy]

He was asked, would you feel UNfulfilled if you didn't get a ring, and he said, "Naw I wouldn't say I would feel unfulfilled, but... then he goes on to speak for 3-4 minutes on the question. You misquoted the beginning part then focused on one sentence on a much longer answer. That's why I suggested you put a negative spin on it.

The one sentence was literally his answer to the question.

 

[Sean.ivity]

lol, ok. you still made sure to get that one sentence quoted perfect but misquoted the QUESTION and his initial response.

 

[BBert]

I thought he deserved 1st...

Over Steph Curry.

 

[Natebishop3]

He didn't?

He did?

 

[calvin natt]

Over Steph Curry.

lol no. Steph is a 1st team All NBA no doubt about it.

 

[wizenheimer]

lol no. Steph is a 1st team All NBA no doubt about it.

I love Dame and I would not trade him for Curry, but that's my bias in control. Curry is the better player and probably the best shooter of all time; and he had a season with better highs than Dame, and better lows too. Curry deserved 1st team. Not sure Doncic did, but he's the anointed one

I don't understand why he's suddenly acting like it's the teams fault that we're a treadmill team. He needs to own some of the blame.

how so?

did Jody Allen make Dame the GM and Olshey the assistant GM? Do you think Dame's friendship with CJ caused Olshey to make CJ untouchable in a Paul George trade? or was that Olshey's bias for CJ at work? Are you really naive enough to believe that Olshey was ready to fire Stotts after the Pels series, but it was only Dame that prevented it? Where did that rumor come from anyway?

did Dame tell Olshey to trade Batum for peanuts and not make an extension offer to Robin Lopez? Did Dame tell Olshey for the last 7 years to not add a competent backup PG? Did Dame tell Olshey to make max contract offers to Roy Hibbert, Enes Kanter, Greg Monroe, Chandler Parsons, and Hassan Whiteside? Did Dame tell Olshey to draft Zach Collins in 2017? Did Dame tell Olshey to match the Crabbe offer sheet and make a 70M offer to Evan Turner? Did Dame tell Olshey to sign Derrick Jones for a max-MLE? Did Dame go to Olshey and tell him what Portland really needed was another 6'3 SG so draft Simons in 2018?

Dame didn't buy the treadmill Portland is on. Olshey did the shopping for 9 years and got the Allen's to pay for it

I think that the way Olshey threw Stotts under the bus so blatantly during his presser had to make Dame feel really angry. Stotts was Dame's guy and I'm sure he understood it was time for Stotts to go but Olshey not taking any responsibility had to make Dame mad and concerned that Olshey is just going to do the same damn thing and just expect some new coach to make it work.

yeah, I mentioned that at the time and wondered if that was more fuel on the fire. I'd even wonder if Dame had some subsequent communication with Seattle and that's the reason we're seeing some rumors that just maybe, Seattle is in more control of the coaching search than Olshey

 

[Natebishop3]

I love Dame and I would not trade him for Curry, but that's my bias in control. Curry is the better player and probably the best shooter of all time; and he had a season with better highs than Dame, and better lows too. Curry deserved 1st team. Not sure Doncic did, but he's the anointed one



how so?

did Jody Allen make Dame the GM and Olshey the assistant GM? Do you think Dame's friendship with CJ caused Olshey to make CJ untouchable in a Paul George trade? or was that Olshey's bias for CJ at work? Are you really naive enough to believe that Olshey was ready to fire Stotts after the Pels series, but it was only Dame that prevented it? Where did that rumor come from anyway?

did Dame tell Olshey to trade Batum for peanuts and not make an extension offer to Robin Lopez? Did Dame tell Olshey for the last 7 years to not add a competent backup PG? Did Dame tell Olshey to make max contract offers to Roy Hibbert, Enes Kanter, Greg Monroe, Chandler Parsons, and Hassan Whiteside? Did Dame tell Olshey to draft Zach Collins in 2017? Did Dame tell Olshey to match the Crabbe offer sheet and make a 70M offer to Evan Turner? Did Dame tell Olshey to sign Derrick Jones for a max-MLE? Did Dame go to Olshey and tell him what Portland really needed was another 6'3 SG so draft Simons in 2018?

Dame didn't buy the treadmill Portland is on. Olshey did the shopping for 9 years and got the Allen's to pay for it



yeah, I mentioned that at the time and wondered if that was more fuel on the fire. I'd even wonder if Dame had some subsequent communication with Seattle and that's the reason we're seeing some rumors that just maybe, Seattle is in more control of the coaching search than Olshey

That's a lot of typing for my short answer

Dame is largely responsible for the Dame/CJ/Stotts show running as long as it did. He's not entirely to blame, but he 100% played a large part in it.

 

[e_blazer]

I love Dame and I would not trade him for Curry, but that's my bias in control. Curry is the better player and probably the best shooter of all time; and he had a season with better highs than Dame, and better lows too. Curry deserved 1st team. Not sure Doncic did, but he's the anointed one

There's one rather important stat where Curry leads Dame by a mile: Games missed due to injury. Steph has never played a full season (Dame did his first 3 years). Steph has missed a total of 203 regular season games in his 12 seasons, for an average of 16.9 games missed per year. Dame has missed a total of 37 regular season games in his 9 seasons, for an average of 4.1 games missed per year. Steph is undoubtedly the best shooter of all time and he's certainly a dominant player when he's on the court. This year Steph missed 4 more games than Dame. In my book, that fact counts more than any edge I might give to Steph in other statistical categories. I don't really have a problem with Curry making 1st team though, but I do with Luka. His stats don't match Dame's and Dame should have made 1st team over him.

 

[calvin natt]

There's one rather important stat where Curry leads Dame by a mile: Games missed due to injury. Steph has never played a full season (Dame did his first 3 years). Steph has missed a total of 203 regular season games in his 12 seasons, for an average of 16.9 games missed per year. Dame has missed a total of 37 regular season games in his 9 seasons, for an average of 4.1 games missed per year. Steph is undoubtedly the best shooter of all time and he's certainly a dominant player when he's on the court. This year Steph missed 4 more games than Dame. In my book, that fact counts more than any edge I might give to Steph in other statistical categories. I don't really have a problem with Curry making 1st team though, but I do with Luka. His stats don't match Dame's and Dame should have made 1st team over him.

Dame should be over Curry because he played 4 more games?

 

[e_blazer]

Dame should be over Curry because he played 4 more games?

Did you read the next sentence? I think both Dame and Steph should have made 1st team. My other comments were more addressing wisenheimer's statement that Curry is the better player. Over his career he's missed 12.8 games per year more than Dame. When looking at who is the better player, the amount of games the guy is on the court matters.

 

[calvin natt]

Did you read the next sentence? I think both Dame and Steph should have made 1st team. My other comments were more addressing wisenheimer's statement that Curry is the better player. Over his career he's missed 12.8 games per year more than Dame. When looking at who is the better player, the amount of games the guy is on the court matters.

Yes its just that the first 90% of your post was about Lillard playing more games than Curry and that is an issue for you with regards to All NBA.

 

[e_blazer]

Yes its just that the first 90% of your post was about Lillard playing more games than Curry and that is an issue for you with regards to All NBA.

I should have made it more clear that I was commenting on his “better player” assertion. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[TBpup]

Did you read the next sentence? I think both Dame and Steph should have made 1st team. My other comments were more addressing wisenheimer's statement that Curry is the better player. Over his career he's missed 12.8 games per year more than Dame. When looking at who is the better player, the amount of games the guy is on the court matters.

A little thing like NBA Championships might have something to do with it....

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Just imagine how good he'll be with a competent coach.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

No offense, everyone, but what a ridiculous argument this thread is. Who cares if Dame was named 1st Team, 2nd Team, whatever team. His team lost in the first round to a Denver team that got swept afterwards. Dame is a great player, but the team around him is in shambles. Truly great players can will their team to playoff success, or command leadership to make fringe players play above their ceiling. If Dame really wants to improve his legacy from a great player on a mediocre team to a great player on a championship contending team, he's going to have to stop with the whole "buddy-buddy" relationship he has with him teammates, start barking at people (other than the refs) and kicking some ass on the court and in the locker room. I have doubts that he is the kind of person that would do this.

 

[e_blazer]

No offense, everyone, but what a ridiculous argument this thread is. Who cares if Dame was named 1st Team, 2nd Team, whatever team. His team lost in the first round to a Denver team that got swept afterwards. Dame is a great player, but the team around him is in shambles. Truly great players can will their team to playoff success, or command leadership to make fringe players play above their ceiling. If Dame really wants to improve his legacy from a great player on a mediocre team to a great player on a championship contending team, he's going to have to stop with the whole "buddy-buddy" relationship he has with him teammates, start barking at people (other than the refs) and kicking some ass on the court and in the locker room. I have doubts that he is the kind of person that would do this.

And Curry’s team couldn’t get into the playoffs and and Luka’s team couldn’t get out of the first round. And the league MVP/1st team all NBA center was so dominant his team got swept in the second round.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

And Curry’s team couldn’t get into the playoffs and and Luka’s team couldn’t get out of the first round. And the league MVP/1st team all NBA center was so dominant his team got swept in the second round.

Steph's legacy is already secure. He came back from injury to will that team almost singlehandedly into the play-in games. Jokic and Luka are YOUNG. Their legacy hasn't been written yet. This was Dame's 9th season. By the time Curry was his age, he had won three championships and led a team to the best regular season record in NBA history.

I am not diminishing the individual accomplishments that Damian Lillard has achieved. But unless he wants to be remembered in the vein of Elgin Baylor, Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkins, he needs to up his leadership and not stand for other players, coaches, GMs, not having the same level of desire and commitment that he has. And if he doesn't get it, I hope he walks and goes somewhere where he can win a ring, because the way it stands now, he's not winning one in Portland.

 

[e_blazer]

Steph's legacy is already secure. He came back from injury to will that team almost singlehandedly into the play-in games. Jokic and Luka are YOUNG. Their legacy hasn't been written yet. This was Dame's 9th season. By the Curry was his age, he had won three championships and led a team to the best regular season record in NBA history.

I am not diminishing the individual accomplishments that Damian Lillard has achieved. But unless he wants to be remembered in the vein of Elgin Baylor, Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkins, he needs to up his leadership and not stand for the same level of desire and commitment that he has. And if he doesn't get it, I hope he walks and goes somewhere where he can win a ring, because the way it stands now, he's not winning one in Portland.

You're managing to do a pretty good job of diminishing his accomplishments for a guy who says he's not trying to do it.

Number 1, All-NBA teams are an award for a single regular season. They're supposed to be based on what a player did during the regular season, not in the playoffs. Otherwise, they would be announced after the playoffs end. Dame carried the entire team for two months this season when Nurk and CJ went down with significant injuries.

Second, if you're going to tout Steph's accomplishments in winning titles, get back to me when Dame has had anything comparable to guys like Durant, Thompson, and prime Draymond to work with. Let me know when he's had guys coming off the bench anywhere near as talented as the guys Curry has played with. Do you honestly think the Warriors' records would be different if you swapped Dame for Curry, or that the Blazers would be significantly better with Curry playing with the talent that Dame has had? Differences in rosters is on management, market size, and salary cap constraints, not Dame.

Third, do you really think that Dame hasn't expressed his desire for stronger teammates to Neil Olshey? He was outright consulted the past off-season before Olshey brought in Covington and Jones Jr. He was not at all subtle after this season's playoff disaster in letting management know that his loyalty has its limits.

Your comment about leadership is off the charts ridiculous. There isn't a better leader in sports than Damian Lillard. The Blazers don't have the talent to compete for a title and all of the rah-rah crap in the world that you're suggesting he needs to bring to the table won't do squat to fix that situation. Only management can resolve that problem and, due to Olshey's GM prowess or lack thereof, the Blazers sit with no cap space, no first round draft picks and only CJ as a better than mid-grade player to use in trade scenarios. Dame can pound the table all he wants and those issues won't be affected one bit.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Your comment about leadership is off the charts ridiculous. There isn't a better leader in sports than Damian Lillard. The Blazers don't have the talent to compete for a title and all of the rah-rah crap in the world that you're suggesting he needs to bring to the table won't do squat to fix that situation. Only management can resolve that problem and, due to Olshey's GM prowess or lack thereof, the Blazers sit with no cap space, no first round draft picks and only CJ as a better than mid-grade player to use in trade scenarios. Dame can pound the table all he wants and those issues won't be affected one bit.

Then the Blazer organization has screwed Damian Lillard out of his legacy and he is fully justified if he demands a trade. In fact, I'd encourage him to do so if the roster and atmosphere next year isn't VASTLY different than what we've seen over the past 8+ years. He deserves better.

 

[e_blazer]

Then the Blazer organization has screwed Damian Lillard out of his legacy and he is fully justified if he demands a trade. In fact, I'd encourage him to do so if the roster and atmosphere next year isn't VASTLY different than what we've seen over the past 8+ years. He deserves better.

If the Blazers can't make a significant upgrade to the roster this off-season, then the only competent thing for them to do next summer is to trade Dame while they can still get major assets for him. Dragging it out until he demands a trade or is on the last year of his contract would be flat out stupid...or basically what they've allowed to happen in the past with guys like Rasheed Wallace and LaMarcus Aldridge. That said, I'm hoping that Olshey, or preferably his replacement, can pull a rabbit out of the hat this summer because Lillard is the best player to ever wear a Blazers uniform and I want him to win a title here more than I've ever wanted anything as a 50-year fan of this team.