Does Dame fit any more?

[Rastapopoulos]

I see a discussion has started in the "Take pity on Dame" thread about whose team it is now and what style we should play going forward. So now the discussion is more like "let's keep this style and maximize Ant, which requires trading Dame". Let's continue this discussion in this thread.
Pro Trading Dame:

• Ant has blown up as full-time PG with the ball in his hands. He's suddenly running the offense great, feeding Nurk (who is also playing out of his mind) and running and gunning
• A Dame-Ant backcourt has pretty much all of the downsides of the Dame-CJ pairing we've just moved on from
• If we trade Dame we can get pieces that COMPLEMENT what we have instead of duplicating it. Even if Simmons is no longer available (don't you think Brooklyn might be curious about pairing Durant and Dame?) I bet Chicago would give us a nice package (including Lonzo, who would complement Ant much better than Dame) or maybe even Golden State
• Do we really, honestly think we can compete for a title in the time Dame has left?
• Let's offload that contract before it becomes a millstone, which will be sooner rather than later (heartless but pragmatic)

Anti Trading Dame:

• YOU DON'T TRADE A FRANCHISE LEGEND WHO HAS REMAINED LOYAL!!!
• This current streak of wins has us giddy, but we're going to fall back to Earth eventually, and then we'll miss Dame's steady hand
• Who knows what his value is anyway, what with the abdominal issues?
• Maybe he can change a lifetime style of walk it up the court and dribble and play uptempo? Maybe?

 

[TBpup]

I'm just afraid it's the smallish, ball dominant, not great defense we've had before.

Love each player individually, but as a fit together, there is very little balance with the rest of the line up.

We would be right back to our backcourt taking ~50% of the shots, while the rest of the team has to play defense. Sound familiar?

They are just too similar... which sucks, because they are both very good and could be better than Dame/CJ.

But I can see the same issues being a problem.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

As has been stated by several posters in multiple threads, we owe it to all stakeholders to see what happens to what we've been seeing when Dame is thrown into the mix. Will he adjust to the new style, or will it adjust to him? We can't move forward until we know.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

As has been stated by several posters in multiple threads, we owe it to all stakeholders to see what happens to what we've been seeing when Dame is thrown into the mix. Will he adjust to the new style, or will it adjust to him? We can't move forward until we know.

I think we know.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I say we owe Dame what we gave Drexler: the team works with him to get him to the place he wants to go.

Of course, that place might be here, which would be awkward.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think we know.

I think you think you know, but I know we don't know as much as you think you know.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think you think you know, but I know we don't know as much as you think you know.

I know you think that.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I think we know.

We think we know.

 

[sheed30]

I think we know.

lol, Ant is completely different to CJ. The ball and offense stopped when CJ had the ball in his hands, it doesn't with Ant. Ant is also bigger and already a better defender than CJ. He will continue to grow into his body and put on more muscle.

Did people forget Dame did very well off the ball when we had Mo Williams, a actual PG?

It would be ridiculously dumb to trade Dame now without seeing what they can do together.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I think you think you know, but I know we don't know as much as you think you know.

I know. We all think differently.

We can’t trade Dame til the off-season at soonest. He will likely come back before season-end and we’ll have a chance to see how things work.

Any discussion about what will happen before that point is all as valuable as Skip Bayless coaching.

 

[Bingo Bango]

Poor Lillard. He gets the first major injury of his career, and has to watch his replacement become such a star that he is now expendable.

 

[TBpup]

Any discussion?

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I guess we will find out.

 

[blazerkor]

Dame's recovery timeline without setbacks will bring him back to competition with plenty of time to see how he fits in with this group given how quickly this group has fallen into line. So I think by the end of the season/post season, we should know if Dame/Ant works and if it doesn't then we find a nice place for Dame that gives us pieces that make sense for us. We find the best deal for us in a situation that is as competitive as this one or more competitive. I don't give a fuck what city it's in.

Hopefully though, Dame can enhance what's going on with the team right now and not take away from it, then we just upgrade where we can and get better.

 

[Mr. Robot]

its a really good question

chauncey billups wants this team to play the certain way and it looks like its the right way and dame lillard should adjust his game, but im not confident it will happen, its hard to change your game after 10 seasons, being 31 yo, which will result in other players not perfrorming as theyre performing right now... but hey, if dame lillard wants to win, he needs to do whats necessary and whats necessary is to adjust his game and play within a system

 

[TBpup]

Dame's recovery timeline without setbacks will bring him back to competition with plenty of time to see how he fits in with this group given how quickly this group has fallen into line. So I think by the end of the season/post season, we should know if Dame/Ant works and if it doesn't then we find a nice place for Dame that gives us pieces that make sense for us. We find the best deal for us in a situation that is as competitive as this one or more competitive. I don't give a fuck what city it's in.

Hopefully though, Dame can enhance what's going on with the team right now and not take away from it, then we just upgrade where we can and get better.

Hopefully that is the case. However, it seems at least reasonable to ask if, will what Dame adds, with what it will likely decrease either Ant's or Nurk's or others production, be more valuable than the massive pieces you could possibly add in a trade that would create a more balanced roster with additional future pieces? Will Dame actually play at the same pace and style as what we are seeing now? If so, great. But it would be the first time in his career. He is great at what he does....but that is very different than what is going on now in terms of style.

I don't want to trade Dame, but I'm a Blazer fan first more than any one player.

 

[e_blazer]

I’m in the “have to see it before I know it” camp. I think Dame is a great enough player that he can mesh with Ant without any problems. I think Ant is better and more interested in playing D than CJ ever was. I think having a 3 guard rotation of Dame, Ant and Hart is crazy good and super flexible. Still, I’m going to have to see it on the court before I offer any opinion, for whatever that may be worth, on what the Blazers should do moving forward. I also think that either one has massive trade value. I know having an established superstar in his prime and a super-talented young guard like Ant to sort out is a really good problem for a team to have.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I’m in the “have to see it before I know it” camp. I think Dame is a great enough player that he can mesh with Ant without any problems. I think Ant is better and more interested in playing D than CJ ever was. I think having a 3 guard rotation of Dame, Ant and Hart is crazy good and super flexible. Still, I’m going to have to see it on the court before I offer any opinion, for whatever that may be worth, on what the Blazers should do moving forward. I also think that either one has massive trade value. I know having an established superstar in his prime and a super-talented young guard like Ant to sort out is a really good problem for a team to have.

Really Like how you made a point of pointing out that this is your opinion. There is no way to argue about it. I also happen to think you are correct.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

I'm just afraid it's the smallish, ball dominant, not great defense we've had before.

Love each player individually, but as a fit together, there is very little balance with the rest of the line up.

We would be right back to our backcourt taking ~50% of the shots, while the rest of the team has to play defense. Sound familiar?

They are just too similar... which sucks, because they are both very good and could be better than Dame/CJ.

But I can see the same issues being a problem.

i think in right system they can win with these two as starters. The key is having good help defenders around them

 

[TBpup]

i think in right system they can win with these two as starters. The key is having good help defenders around them

All around them....in droves.

 

[Predator]

its a really good question

chauncey billups wants this team to play the certain way and it looks like its the right way and dame lillard should adjust his game, but im not confident it will happen, its hard to change your game after 10 seasons, being 31 yo, which will result in other players not perfrorming as theyre performing right now... but hey, if dame lillard wants to win, he needs to do whats necessary and whats necessary is to adjust his game and play within a system

Players change their game all the time due to age/injury.

 

[Scalma]

It would be ridiculously dumb to trade Dame now without seeing what they can do together.

yeah but what was this board be without ridiculously dumb threads?

 

[B-Roy]

 

[Mr. Robot]

Players change their game all the time due to age/injury.

im pretty sure chauncey wanted to play like this from the pre-season going forward

but with dame, cj mccollum & powell it was impossible

 

[Pinwheel1]

im pretty sure chauncey wanted to play like this from the pre-season going forward

but with dame, cj mccollum & powell it was impossible

And RoCo.

I love that our PFs now have the ability to push the pace after each rebound. Actually, when Watford and Winslow are in the game together we often have 5 guys on the floor that can do it. That is huge.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Unfortunately nothing in there seemed to throw any light on this discussion. Interviewer never asks if he thinks he can change his style of play or even about his relationship with Billups.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

From what we have heard, Lillard is buying in 100% with Billups. And I think Billups is a great coach. So I think it's possible Lillard can change. At this point I am agreeing with somebody above and think it would be good if Lillard could come back this season and that we could get into the playoffs and see how it works. If we don't see enough evidence that it does, then can trade in the off-season.

 

[donkiez]

This is embarrassing. Our team wins a few games against mediocre competition and decent teams without their stars or on a back to back just before the allstar break, and people want to trade Dame? Last week we had our pitch forks out for giving away our best players on lopsided trades. Get it together people!

Dame is still out best chance at taking it the next level. Dame is still our best chance of attracting premier talent.

 

[Hoopguru]

This is embarrassing. Our team wins a few games against mediocre competition and decent teams without their stars or on a back to back just before the allstar break, and people want to trade Dame? Last week we had our pitch forks out for giving away our best players on lopsided trades. Get it together people!

Dame is still out best chance at taking it the next level. Dame is still our best chance of attracting premier talent.

Well said!

 

[Pinwheel1]

If his teammates like Hart, Winslow, and Watford are all pushing the ball up the court after a rebound, Dame has no choice but to run too. I am pretty sure he is smart enough to see how many open shots he will get with better ball movement and in transition. He is watching the success just like the rest of us.