It'll be a three way race between Harden, Westbrook and Lillard for the scoring title

[mook]

It's a tale of three guards who are going to get all the shots they want.

Oddly enough, Westbrook and Harden are expected to see their scoring rise because they will handle the ball more (Westbrook because he's the only option, Harden because he's going to a D'Antoni offense).

Lillard, in contrast, will see his scoring rise because he'll be playing far more away from the ball. He's a much, much better shooter in catch-and-shoot situations than he is shooting off his dribble. With CJ, TE, Plumlee and Napier (yes, I really do think he'll see minutes) he's no longer got nearly the responsibility he used to have for organizing the offense. Whenever he gets the ball his first priority is going to be to get his.

He's also better prepared to take that next leap. In these first few preseason games Dame just looks physically stronger to me. He's moving off the ball more, he's driving more, and of course he continues to have absolutely no conscience about taking shots from anywhere on the court. He's 26 now, which is when guys typically enter the scoring prime. Every year he scores more than the previous, and coming off a 25ppg season I don't see that changing.

All three guys have immense chips on their shoulders, especially heading into this season. I think Harden is the odds-on favorite to with the scoring title, but it's going to be close.

 

[illmatic99]

It's been a while since we've seen his shot this automatic. The level of focus in just preseason is scary. Maybe in year 2, or maybe year 3 before CP crunched his fingers have we seen his 3pt jumper look this good. Just so smooth. Once CJ gets his shot back, it's gonna make Dame that much better.

That said, I expect Dame to land between 23-25 ppg with better efficiency-- still feel like we have too much depth for him to shoot 20+ times a game.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It's been a while since we've seen his shot this automatic. The level of focus in just preseason is scary. Maybe in year 2, or maybe year 3 before CP crunched his fingers have we seen his 3pt jumper look this good. Just so smooth. Once CJ gets his shot back, it's gonna make Dame that much better.

That said, I expect Dame to land between 23-25 ppg with better efficiency-- still feel like we have too much depth for him to shoot 20+ times a game.

I agree. As much as I would like to see the OP's prediction play out, we have many more weapons to choose from than Houston or OKC. I think Dame is too much of a leader not to defer to these weapons.

 

[illmatic99]

BTW, in three games, Dame has shooting splits of 51/44/100

But we've seen him go on streaks like this. Just hoping he sustains it for longer periods and the playoffs this season.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Harden will win the scoring title, probably by a lot. He now has a "7-second"-type coach, so I see a lot of Rockets possessions, and not a lot of Harden discretion.

Lillard's team is better, so I also see more efficiency, not more scoring.

Westbrick will find scoring opportunities a little harder to come by. His style of play makes it likely that he will suffer a stress or other injury sometime. A year like this one where he tries to do too much is a reasonable candidate.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Harden will win the scoring title, probably by a lot. He now has a "7-second"-type coach, so I see a lot of Rockets possessions, and not a lot of Harden discretion.

Lillard's team is better, so I also see more efficiency, not more scoring.

Westbrick will find scoring opportunities a little harder to come by. His style of play makes it likely that he will suffer a stress or other injury sometime. A year like this one where he tries to do too much is a reasonable candidate.

I would agree. Looking at Houston's depth chart, there is no one close who will take a lot of shots. Harden will get a lot of attempts for sure.

 

[handiman]

Harden will win the scoring title, probably by a lot. He now has a "7-second"-type coach, so I see a lot of Rockets possessions, and not a lot of Harden discretion.

That does seem to be conventional wisdom, but I'm not sure I agree. Harden doesn't really play at a fast pace in the half court game. He's an ISO guy like Roy and LeBron. He'll get countless touches and never be expected to give up the rock, but he already controlled the ball most possessions previously. I don't see his style of play changing significantly, and his efficiency might go down with more defensive attention. Overall, I expect his scoring to not change a whole lot.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I think Harden will score more than he ever has in his career. I also think Westbrook will run away with the title.

 

[THE HCP]

Dame might, cause it looks like CJ might average 9ppg!

 

[Natebishop3]

Dame might, cause it looks like CJ might average 9ppg!

I'm just gonna go ahead and forward this to CJ.

 

[Natebishop3]

BTW, in three games, Dame has shooting splits of 51/44/100

But we've seen him go on streaks like this. Just hoping he sustains it for longer periods and the playoffs this season.

Didn't Dame take this summer off? At least more than he had in the past? Last summer he was doing Team USA, right? I'm just wondering if he finally let his fingers get some rest.

 

[Tunchi]

That does seem to be conventional wisdom, but I'm not sure I agree. Harden doesn't really play at a fast pace in the half court game. He's an ISO guy like Roy and LeBron. He'll get countless touches and never be expected to give up the rock, but he already controlled the ball most possessions previously. I don't see his style of play changing significantly, and his efficiency might go down with more defensive attention. Overall, I expect his scoring to not change a whole lot.

He does average almost 8 asts a game

 

[Wizard Mentor]

That does seem to be conventional wisdom, but I'm not sure I agree. Harden doesn't really play at a fast pace in the half court game. He's an ISO guy like Roy and LeBron. He'll get countless touches and never be expected to give up the rock, but he already controlled the ball most possessions previously. I don't see his style of play changing significantly, and his efficiency might go down with more defensive attention. Overall, I expect his scoring to not change a whole lot.

D'Antoni and "half court game" don't belong in the same discussion!

 

[Binx]

Lillard will not win the scoring title. This team is too deep and he is too unselfish.

 

[THE HCP]

Lillard will not win the scoring title. This team is too deep and he is too unselfish.

My only argument to this would be that, as you saw last night, there is only about 3 maybe 4 guys on this squad that can create their own shot. So he will have the ball in his hands a ton as you've seen in the past. I think he will be in the top 5 scoring list for this reason.......FAMS!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Lillard will win the scoring title after he's left off the All Star team again.

 

[riverman]

As much as I dislike Harden...in the couple of preseason games I've watched D'Antoni has him playing better than I've ever seen him play...if he keeps it up he'll average double digit assists...he passed really, really well and deferred to his teammates...the Rockets look much improved but still not a contender...I think Harden's scoring takes a big dip this season from previous chucking numbers

 

[THE HCP]

Lillard will win the scoring title after he's left off the All Star team again.

Westbrook/CP3/Curry/Klay/Harden.........

 

[riverman]

Dame has a legit shot at the scoring title with Durant and Curry deferring to each other more...Harden shooting less. Westbrook will probably get the triple double title

 

[riverman]

Westbrook/CP3/Curry/Klay/Harden.........

Curry will drop off with Durant on the team

 

[Chris Craig]

Harden will take a lot of shots anyways because he's Harden, and has an ego the size of the grand canyon. Westbrook will take more shots, but not as many as you guys might think...both him and Harden are going to see a lot of double teams...Dame will shoot around the same amount of shots, but more will go in...I think it's going to be close. I think its Westbrook's if he stays healthy.

 

[Five Second Violation]

I'll say Lillard gets 24 PPG on 44/40/89 splits. More efficient and ups his assists to 7+.

 

[Boob-No-More]

It will be a two way race between Westbrook and Harden.

Dame is too much of a team player, and as others have mentioned, has a much stronger supporting cast than Westbrook and Harden. Dame has a legit second option that averaged almost 21 ppg last season.

No one else on that OKC roster has ever even averaged 18 ppg. The second (Oladipo) and third (Kanter) best scorers on that roster averaged 16.0 and 12.7 ppg last season. Two seasons ago, when Durant missed 59 games, Westbrook had the second highest USG% in the history of the league. Now with Durant gone for good, look for Westbrook to be the first player in the history of the NBA to top USG% = 40.

Harden has a similarly weak supporting cast. Ryan Anderson did average 17 ppg coming off the bench in 3o MPG in a very slow paced system last year. With a larger role, perhaps as a starter, playing more minutes, and a much faster pace, he could top 20 ppg for the first time in his career. At one time, Eric Gordon could be counted on to score 20 ppg. That time was 2010-11.

BNM

 

[BonesJones]

I think Lillard gets 27ppg on 45/40/88.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think Lillard gets 27ppg on 45/40/88.

I'm thinking 25 - 28 ppg on similar percentages. With more time playing off the ball, and a deep roster, I'd like to see Dame become a more efficient scorer while playing fewer regular season minutes.

I don't quite expect Steph Curry level improvement, but headed in that general direction. In the two years since Curry has been playing off the ball, his PER has jumped by 7.4, his TS% had risen from .610 to .669 and his PTS/36 has jumped by 8. Again I don't expect Dame (or anyone) to duplicate those numbers, but I'd like to see Dame improve in each of those areas, along with defense, of course.

BNM

 

[handiman]

D'Antoni and "half court game" don't belong in the same discussion!

Precisely why I don't think Harden's numbers will shoot up like many are predicting.

 

[Strenuus]

It's been a while since we've seen his shot this automatic. The level of focus in just preseason is scary. Maybe in year 2, or maybe year 3 before CP crunched his fingers have we seen his 3pt jumper look this good. Just so smooth. Once CJ gets his shot back, it's gonna make Dame that much better.

That said, I expect Dame to land between 23-25 ppg with better efficiency-- still feel like we have too much depth for him to shoot 20+ times a game.

What will Tunchi have to talk about, then?!?! :MARIS61:

 

[PDXFonz]

BTW, in three games, Dame has shooting splits of 51/44/100

But we've seen him go on streaks like this. Just hoping he sustains it for longer periods and the playoffs this season.

Feast or Famine!

 

[RipCityDSCPL]

I'm thinking 25 - 28 ppg on similar percentages. With more time playing off the ball, and a deep roster, I'd like to see Dame become a more efficient scorer while playing fewer regular season minutes.

I don't quite expect Steph Curry level improvement, but headed in that general direction. In the two years since Curry has been playing off the ball, his PER has jumped by 7.4, his TS% had risen from .610 to .669 and his PTS/36 has jumped by 8. Again I don't expect Dame (or anyone) to duplicate those numbers, but I'd like to see Dame improve in each of those areas, along with defense, of course.

BNM

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