Dame - the new scapegoat

[Natebishop3]

Maybe he needs to eff up his finger again?

Eh, I think he's still recovering from having his finger(s) effed up in the first place.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Maybe he needs to eff up his finger again?

The Lethal Weapon shoulder fix technique?

 

[Binx]

The weird thing is that his shot looks a little different..

And McCollum's shot looks so much better than his. More fluid and more in rhythm.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Eh, I think he's still recovering from having his finger(s) effed up in the first place.

His slump started last season, right around the time he stopped taping his fingers together.

Just sayin'.

 

[Natebishop3]

His slump started last season, right around the time he stopped taping his fingers together.

Just sayin'.

So just tape his fingers together.... no effing involved

 

[Strenuus]

And McCollum's shot looks so much better than his. More fluid and more in rhythm.

So was Dames when he first started out... and CJ will go in slumps too... maybe prolonged. Shit happens. lol.

 

[WillG]

Firstly I love Dame the player and person, but his shooting percentages and, particularly, his shot selection are a detriment to the team at the moment.

The thing that bothers me, with Dame, is his shot selection is just downright lazy.
He forces long, contested, off-balance three's early in the clock. It goes against everything that Dame' mindset is normally about. (non-lazy)

I think he needs to focus purely on the game, drop the forced 'tough man' attitude, and start working with his old coach that he worked out with before he was drafted.
His shot in his draft videos is just so effortless. He needs to go back to focusing on the basics, and have less concern/distraction from upholding his image - for his shooting to turn-around IMO.

A.K.A. I believe it's mental, not physical. . .

 

[Orion Bailey]

Come on! Get real. You get assist by setting up shots players can make, not misses. I am speaking of using processions to make assist not take 3 point attempts and I clearly noted one choice where the possibility occurred and the wrong choice taken. He clearly is good enough to do it better if it were demanded of him.

Sure they are. Keep trying.

You bet! Especially if he jacket up threes and hit them at a .143 clip. Dang! I though the playoff were bad at .161.
He is a hell of a player except for this flaw.

Good! He shot a high percentage than Damian too. Feed the man.

I doubt it, not a guy that shooting them in the tiny percentages.

Good God your impossible!!!

I say that with respect.

I wont say anything more though because... well... your impossible!!!

 

[Strenuus]

Dame hit 6 threes against Utah a couple weeks ago. He's fine.

Thank you!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Every day we don't trade him his trade value only gets lower.

Or something like that.

 

[Strenuus]

Every day we don't trade him his trade value only gets lower.

Or something like that.

So drafting him was like "driving the car off the lot" :MARIS61:

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So drafting him was like "driving the car off the lot" :MARIS61:

It sure was with Roy and Oden.

 

[Draco]

It sure was with Roy and Oden.

Would've taken real balls to trade rookie of the year Roy and draft Durant. That would've got a hell of a haul and probably multiple titles.

Unfortunately I will admit I was strongly in the draft Oden camp. I did want to trade Roy and Aldridge for Seattle's pick #2 and pair Oden with Durant though.

 

[PCmor7]

Dame's not the scapegoat, but there should be some expectations on his play, too, and, honestly, if he was happy with his fourth-quarter play he's not nearly the player or leader I think he is.

He took bad shots. He took some of them very early in the shot clock without involving young teammates who are expected to grow with him. And he missed a couple of easy, open shots, too. Basically, he did the only thing that could give NO some life, and they did crawl back to within, what, 10-12?

The NBA is littered with guys who put up big numbers but aren't great players. I don't think Lillard is one of them, but if he plays like he did in the second half last night, he will be. And it's not the first time I've seen him do stuff like this, otherwise I wouldn't bring it up. He's a vet now and he needs to start understanding time and score and making his teammates better. He didn't do that last night.

 

[Strenuus]

Dame's not the scapegoat, but there should be some expectations on his play, too, and, honestly, if he was happy with his fourth-quarter play he's not nearly the player or leader I think he is.

He took bad shots. He took some of them very early in the shot clock without involving young teammates who are expected to grow with him. And he missed a couple of easy, open shots, too. Basically, he did the only thing that could give NO some life, and they did crawl back to within, what, 10-12?

The NBA is littered with guys who put up big numbers but aren't great players. I don't think Lillard is one of them, but if he plays like he did in the second half last night, he will be. And it's not the first time I've seen him do stuff like this, otherwise I wouldn't bring it up. He's a vet now and he needs to start understanding time and score and making his teammates better. He didn't do that last night.

He wasn't happy with it.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Would've taken real balls to trade rookie of the year Roy and draft Durant. That would've got a hell of a haul and probably multiple titles.

Unfortunately I will admit I was strongly in the draft Oden camp. I did want to trade Roy and Aldridge for Seattle's pick #2 and pair Oden with Durant though.

Shit, Roy and LA to Orlando for Dwight then pick Durant.

 

[Natebishop3]

He wasn't happy with it.

Like.... where is he even getting that?

 

[PCmor7]

He wasn't happy with it.

OK, so then why are people feeling the need to defend him if by his own admission he didn't play well?

I don't think it's scapegoating someone who is an all-star-caliber player and the face of the organization to say they didn't play up to a standard they've set in the past and to which they aspire to play at all times. Missing open shots is bad. Looking like you are going for your own and trying to pad your stats at the detriment of your team is worse. I'm glad he said he wasn't happy with it. Now show me and don't do it again.

 

[Natebishop3]

OK, so then why are people feeling the need to defend him if by his own admission he didn't play well?

I don't think it's scapegoating someone who is an all-star-caliber player and the face of the organization to say they didn't play up to a standard they've set in the past and to which they aspire to play at all times. Missing open shots is bad. Looking like you are going for your own and trying to pad your stats at the detriment of your team is worse. I'm glad he said he wasn't happy with it. Now show me and don't do it again.

Because his overall contribution is more than a shooting percentage.

 

[PCmor7]

Like.... where is he even getting that?

If that is directed at my post than you can ask me. I am right here. Asking another mod like you are the Van Buren Boys or something is, IMO, pretty weak.

 

[PCmor7]

Because his overall contribution is more than a shooting percentage.

So taking bad shots early in the shot clock when you could be involving your new teammates doesn't figure into overall contributions that are more than a shooting percentage?

Where are you even getting this?

 

[Strenuus]

OK, so then why are people feeling the need to defend him if by his own admission he didn't play well?

I don't think it's scapegoating someone who is an all-star-caliber player and the face of the organization to say they didn't play up to a standard they've set in the past and to which they aspire to play at all times. Missing open shots is bad. Looking like you are going for your own and trying to pad your stats at the detriment of your team is worse. I'm glad he said he wasn't happy with it. Now show me and don't do it again.

Man, take it down a notch. I am defending him because I know he can play better but he still played well. We are wanting the same thing, don't bark at me.

 

[Natebishop3]

So taking bad shots early in the shot clock when you could be involving your new teammates doesn't figure into overall contributions that are more than a shooting percentage?

Where are you even getting this?

11 assists.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

11 assists.

11 assists is only 2 away from single digits, single digits is one word away from single. So Lillard really only got a single assist.

#Math

 

[Orion Bailey]

OK, so then why are people feeling the need to defend him if by his own admission he didn't play well?

I don't think it's scapegoating someone who is an all-star-caliber player and the face of the organization to say they didn't play up to a standard they've set in the past and to which they aspire to play at all times. Missing open shots is bad. Looking like you are going for your own and trying to pad your stats at the detriment of your team is worse. I'm glad he said he wasn't happy with it. Now show me and don't do it again.

So do you expect him to head to the press conference and dwell on his poor performance in the 4th? Like you said he is a vet. He knows he played well, overall, but I'm also sure he knows he forced some stuff late that he wont need to do as often as the season progresses.
He is also new to being a leader with a bunch of new guys around him. Its the FIRST game. He probably wanted to close it out in superstar style and forced a few shots. Its been said all summer everything is on him now and he is feeling that. But as he comes to trust his teammates in crunch time more, he will settle down himself and make better decisions. He is smart and works at his game and has improved every year. I think he is already improved from last year. If his 3 takes a hit, but he can drive into the lane and finish against anyone? That's a trade off I take any day of the week.

Now before we start bashing Dame for a few bad decisions in the fourth, lets not forget that last year many were bitching about him not having enough assists. Dude had 11.
Now lets take this a bit further... IF I have to I will dig up references to the likes of an LBJ and an MJ and a Durant and a Kobe, ALL forcing shots up in a fourth quoter and having a rough time.
Dame is a scorer. Shooters need to shoot through their funks. Not stop shooting.

I am personally at peace with what he did all four quarters because I know Dame expects perfection of himself and will continue to work on himself until he meets it... and he never will.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Let's be honest. This team has very little margin for error.

For one night, CJ was burning down the nets - and with good defense and rebounding that was enough to win. How often is CJ going to be that hot? Most nights, this team will not win unless Dame is carrying the offense. That's why the poor %/forcing shots issue is drawing so much attention.

It isn't scapegoating - it is an acknowledgement of just how critical Dame is to this team. It is part of the burden of being a star/team leader.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Let's be honest. This team has very little margin for error.

For one night, CJ was burning down the nets - and with good defense and rebounding that was enough to win. How often is CJ going to be that hot? Most nights, this team will not win unless Dame is carrying the offense. That's why the poor %/forcing shots issue is drawing so much attention.

It isn't scapegoating - it is an acknowledgement of just how critical Dame is to this team. It is part of the burden of being a star/team leader.

Meh...

I think it was proven that we have more than just those two. I don't mean as scorers, but I mean as a force. AMino and Davis played lights out overall. I have realized that Dame, as critical as he is, isnt AS critical as I once thought.
Also, CJ cooled way off in the second half, he wasnt hot all game. Maybe the D collapsed on him. But we have two bonafied playmakers who cna score. Thats one more than most marginal teams out there.
This year is a year for learning. Let Dame learn from his mistakes and how to play with his new TEAMates. Dame will be just fine. He may not become that LBJ/MJ type MVP some think he could become, but he will be a star for many years and will be part of the big picture. He knows it and he is doing all the right things to help himself to be as prepared and ready as possible.

Further more, Njot becuase of any regression from Dame, but I do think that CJ might end up being the leading point scorer on this team. I think he will become much more consistent than some ( HCP) think.

 

[THE HCP]

Really? You don''t think at least half the teams in the league would not gladly take C.J. as their starting SG? Yes, last night was just one game, but it builds on what he did in the playoffs last year (and he did that against Tony Allen, one of th ebst perimeter defenders in the league). In his last two games, he's averaging 35 ppg on .619 FG% and .650 3FG%. In his last 4 games he's averaging 28.5 ppg on .618 FG% and .654 3FG%.

The guy just turned 24, has great handles and can get his shot off against anyone. So, if that's not starter quality, name 30 other SGs in the entire world who are better. I bet you can't even name 15.

BNM

Good call. SG is the thinest position there is. He has played at a fantastic level for a stretch, if it continues, I could see him moving up in the SG rankings.

 

[MarAzul]

I wont say anything more though because... well... your impossible!!!

Yeah, I know. It is difficult to counter keen observations.

 

[magnifier661]

It really seemed like Lillard is the new punching bag from what I was reading last night. The guy put up 21 and 11 in 36 minutes. His final line was 21 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. That's a pretty damn good line. Yes, his shooting slumped. He was 8-21 and 1-7 from three, but he did so many other things on the floor last night. People are really focusing on the one bad thing.

He was actually shooting a really good percentage until the 4th quarter. He was 8-15 through three quarters. It was the 4th when things started to go off the rail, and mostly because I think he could see our lead slipping away and he started to do too much. I think that will slowly go away as he learns to trust his new teammates. Right now he just thinks he has to carry the team when we're having trouble scoring.

I also think people need to stop acting like his shot is gone forever. He is in a slump. It's been going on for a while. His shot will come back. Dame is not the kind of person to just accept that this is the way things are now. I get that he signed the big contract. I get that he's the leader. I get that he's our star, but he played pretty damn well last night. Stop acting like he stunk up the joint.

Of course he will be our new scape goat. He's getting paid like a superstar. Well deserved, I might add. The best player on the team will get the most scrutiny. Drexler had it, Sheed had it, Statbo had it, Roy had it and Aldridge had it.

The good thing is Dame likes the scrutiny and will overcome like he's overcome everything else