Damian Lillards career year

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While I do not believe you can completely discount Lillards defensive numbers given the poor team defense (good defenders are never rated that low on any team), it should be noted that the Blazers as a team this year rank 319/330 in defensive rating for all teams in the last 10.5 years. The good news is that this years' Nets, Nuggets and L@kers are even worse.
 
I knew we should have drafted Lionel Hollins instead of Lillard but none of you would listen to me.
 
Russ W doesn't have a player as good as CJ with him in OKC. Dame is no shoe in especially since some coaches may be picking CJ instead of Dame as their Portland pick. That could kill Dame's chances. I think Dame will make it though.

Or they dont have a "portland pick" at all... Wouldnt blame them either.
 
Yeah except Thomas is shooting 48% both from the field and from 3, while Damian is shooting 38% from the field and 23% from 3.

You're just looking at total points LOL.
You're just looking at individual efficiency without factoring in who's around them.

Lets compare:

Crowder > Harkless
-Crowder is a 42% shooter, and can put the ball on the floor. Harkless isn't a great shooter and can't create for himself

Johnson > Aminu
-Johnson shoots 36% from 3 and can score down low, Aminu can't hit shit.

Horford > Plumlee
Horford can shoot from 3pt and mid range, Plumlee can't make a shot outside of 2 feet.

Therefore, Lillard is relied on to do everything, and take every shot. In clutch time, most of these players get open and pass the ball immediately back to Lillard, causing Lillard to have to get a shot off against a defense cheating off of our 3, 4, and 5 man because they can't do anything.

Meanwhile, Thomas can pass the ball and his teammates will actually look to shoot and hit shots. This keeps the defense from cheating off Thomas, allowing him to get easier shots (especially because there's almost always 4 shooters around him while Lillard only has 1 or 2.)

I know you love hating on Lillard, (Hi Tunchi), but be objective and look at the full picture. Remember Lillard when he had Matthews, Batum, and Aldridge around him? He hit a high percentage of shots he took in the clutch (and they weren't even as good as the shooters Thomas has around him).

It's annoying when Lillard will give the ball to Plumlee 5 feet from the rim, he'll kick to an open Aminu, who passes back to Lillard because he can't shoot. What's Lillard supposed to do then? He's gotta force something himself with no spacing and teammates that can't/don't shoot.
 
While I do not believe you can completely discount Lillards defensive numbers given the poor team defense (good defenders are never rated that low on any team), it should be noted that the Blazers as a team this year rank 319/330 in defensive rating for all teams in the last 10.5 years. The good news is that this years' Nets, Nuggets and L@kers are even worse.
Those teams being worse is reflective of scoring being up league-wide, which also plays a factor in Lillard's and McCollum's low DRtg compared to years past.
 
You're just looking at individual efficiency without factoring in who's around them.

Lets compare:

Crowder > Harkless
-Crowder is a 42% shooter, and can put the ball on the floor. Harkless isn't a great shooter and can't create for himself

Johnson > Aminu
-Johnson shoots 36% from 3 and can score down low, Aminu can't hit shit.

Horford > Plumlee
Horford can shoot from 3pt and mid range, Plumlee can't make a shot outside of 2 feet.

Therefore, Lillard is relied on to do everything, and take every shot. In clutch time, most of these players get open and pass the ball immediately back to Lillard, causing Lillard to have to get a shot off against a defense cheating off of our 3, 4, and 5 man because they can't do anything.

Meanwhile, Thomas can pass the ball and his teammates will actually look to shoot and hit shots. This keeps the defense from cheating off Thomas, allowing him to get easier shots (especially because there's almost always 4 shooters around him while Lillard only has 1 or 2.)

I know you love hating on Lillard, (Hi Tunchi), but be objective and look at the full picture. Remember Lillard when he had Matthews, Batum, and Aldridge around him? He hit a high percentage of shots he took in the clutch (and they weren't even as good as the shooters Thomas has around him).

It's annoying when Lillard will give the ball to Plumlee 5 feet from the rim, he'll kick to an open Aminu, who passes back to Lillard because he can't shoot. What's Lillard supposed to do then? He's gotta force something himself with no spacing and teammates that can't/don't shoot.

The definition of giving stats perspective. Well done.
 

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