Dame

[tester551]

Is anyone else sick of watching Dame chuck up bad shots early in the shot clock?

In tonight's game I counted 5 times (4 in the last quarter alone) where Dame takes a bad shot early in the shot clock without anyone else touching the ball.

Occasionally he makes the shot (it's still a bad shot), but more often than not the other team comes right back & scores. He needs to be reigned in on his shot selection.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I think he needs to shoot more, be a ballhog and want to destroy everyone.

 

[riverman]

I think Lillard time has stopped being a 4th qtr thing...

 

[Minstrel]

When Lillard is on, he can hit shots from anywhere. Like Curry. Unlike Curry, he's not that on most of the time. Unfortunately, he doesn't recognize that.

 

[A$AP Meyers]

I think Lillard time has stopped being a 4th qtr thing...

Lillard time was never a real thing. Look at the numbers. He's terrible in crunch time.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Shooters shoot. Shooters need to get into a rhythm to make shots. Lillard is one of THE best in the NBA at distance. He's also the best player on the team. If he wants to shoot let him.

 

[illmatic99]

Hated some of his shot selection tonight, but he was honestly a step slow this evening. Didn't have that usual burst. Don't blame him

 

[Minstrel]

Shooters shoot. Shooters need to get into a rhythm to make shots. Lillard is one of THE best in the NBA at distance. He's also the best player on the team. If he wants to shoot let him.

Yeah, but smart players smart. Outside of when he's at his hottest, a 30 foot heave with a taller player's hand in his face is a terrible shot with minimal chances of going in. He wasn't on fire--he needs to recognize that tonight isn't the night to take a terrible shot. Making smart decisions is important even for the best player on the team, not just the plebs.

 

[illmatic99]

Yeah, but smart players smart. Outside of when he's at his hottest, a 30 foot heave with a taller player's hand in his face is a terrible shot with minimal chances of going in. He wasn't on fire--he needs to recognize that tonight isn't the night to take a terrible shot. Making smart decisions is important even for the best player on the team, not just the plebs.

Glad Terry pulled him aside after that second chuck in the fourth

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yeah, but smart players smart. Outside of when he's at his hottest, a 30 foot heave with a taller player's hand in his face is a terrible shot with minimal chances of going in. He wasn't on fire--he needs to recognize that tonight isn't the night to take a terrible shot. Making smart decisions is important even for the best player on the team, not just the plebs.

Maybe I was too enthralled by how well Matthews was guarding him to fuss over the bad, desperation heave? Watching that sequence was like giving a man dying of thirst a cup of water in a dry, dusty desert.

 

[Jon]

Their morale is down right now. It happens. Werent we worse last year at this time? Stotts should try different things in the rotation. It couldnt hurt.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Yeah, but smart players smart. Outside of when he's at his hottest, a 30 foot heave with a taller player's hand in his face is a terrible shot with minimal chances of going in. He wasn't on fire--he needs to recognize that tonight isn't the night to take a terrible shot. Making smart decisions is important even for the best player on the team, not just the plebs.

Let him shoot. Good things happen.

Damian Lillard scored 20 points of his eventual 29 points in the third quarter on 6-of-9 shooting (2-3 3-PT).

 

[Minstrel]

Maybe I was too enthralled by how well Matthews was guarding him to fuss over the bad, desperation heave? Watching that sequence was like giving a man dying of thirst a cup of water in a dry, dusty desert.

Matthews' defense was really impressive. But the Blazers had time to run an action or two--but it was clear that Lillard had no interest in anything other than winning a one-on-one battle and draining the shot. I get the competitive mentality and desire to make the big shot, but the NBA has progressed beyond the "isolate and let your best player hero ball it." Kobe Bryant really isn't the best role model, these days.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The entire team plays like shit in the first half. Lillard came out after half and willed the team back into the game.

But sure, he shoots too much, it's his fault we lost.

Uh huh.

 

[Minstrel]

Let him shoot. Good things happen.

Damian Lillard scored 20 points of his eventual 29 points in the third quarter on 6-of-9 shooting (2-3 3-PT).

Let him use a ton of possessions per game? Absolutely--that's what best players are for. Encourage him to take awful shots? Not as exciting.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Matthews' defense was really impressive. But the Blazers had time to run an action or two--but it was clear that Lillard had no interest in anything other than winning a one-on-one battle and draining the shot. I get the competitive mentality and desire to make the big shot, but the NBA has progressed beyond the "isolate and let your best player hero ball it." Kobe Bryant really isn't the best role model, these days.

I think you missed my point. When I watched that sequence (and the replay several times after) I could only watch Mattews. I barely even registered Damian in the frame.

 

[Minstrel]

The entire team plays like shit in the first half. Lillard came out after half and willed the team back into the game.

But sure, he shoots too much, it's his fault we lost.

If you're passive aggressively responding to me, I didn't blame him for the loss. I blamed him for a bad decision and shot.

There's a difference.

 

[Minstrel]

I think you missed my point. When I watched that sequence (and the replay several times after) I could only watch Mattews. I barely even registered Damian in the frame.

No, I understood what you were saying. I wasn't contradicting you, the "but" was just a continuing observation that Matthews' defense was impressive but shouldn't have simply snuffed the Blazers final possession. There should have been more to the possession than a one-on-one battle.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

If you're passive aggressively responding to me, I didn't blame him for the loss. I blamed him for a bad decision and shot.

There's a difference.

LOL! No, I was responding to many, including some who have yet to post in this thread. Lillard and his shooting has been and will be discussed many times.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Dame was horrible at the end of the game - not just the final shot. He had two turnovers with the Blazers down 1 in the last 2:30.

 

[Nikolokolus]

No, I understood what you were saying. I wasn't contradicting you, the "but" was just a continuing observation that Matthews' defense was impressive but shouldn't have simply snuffed the Blazers final possession. There should have been more to the possession than a one-on-one battle.

No doubt it was a rotten sequence of hero-ball by Damian (and whomever failed to set a ball screen). As a fan of good basketball, the defensive connoisseur in me was happy to see good defense beat bad offense -- it was the principle of the thing.

 

[Minstrel]

LOL! No, I was responding to many, including some who have yet to post in this thread. Lillard and his shooting has been and will be discussed many times.

If you're LOLing at me, I...

Ah, I can't stay mad at you, dog.

And yeah, I know his shooting and decision-making is and will be much discussed. He'll probably carve out a bit of an Allen Iverson career--folk hero at times, puzzle at others. Live by the competitive fire, die by the competitive fire.

 

[PCmor7]

Matthews' defense was really impressive. But the Blazers had time to run an action or two--but it was clear that Lillard had no interest in anything other than winning a one-on-one battle and draining the shot. I get the competitive mentality and desire to make the big shot, but the NBA has progressed beyond the "isolate and let your best player hero ball it." Kobe Bryant really isn't the best role model, these days.

This.

I think Wes got into Dame's head. Dame became more concerned with beating Matthews one-on-one than making any other play that could have won the game.