It's Lillard's defense that's holding us back

[Tince]

I believe we are 17-18 without Lillard in the lineup. Thought that was an interesting stat.

I think Lillard has a strong case for best Blazer of all-time, but if the narrative is that he's covering up for the flaws of others, that record doesn't make much sense.

 

[e_blazer]

Dame is not a good defender, but he's not nearly as bad as the OP made out. Ridiculous assertions

Dame is a 6'2 guard. He's tasked with being the number one scoring option, and the team runs almost no offense for him other than Dame creating his own. He's also the primary playmaker and facilitator. Not only must he be the 1st option creating his own offense, he has to run the offense and create opportunities for everybody else. Oh, he's also the leader of the team

Very few players have to carry that that level burden. Dame does, and without him Portland is a crappy lottery team. Dame isn't holding Portland back, he's doing the opposite. But yeah, let's trash Dame because he isn't Gary Payton.

this is a stupid fucking thread

Good points and I agree entirely. The only thing I would add is that in today’s NBA, Gary Payton wouldn’t be Gary Payton. That minor hand checking BS that Dame got called for a couple of games ago? GP played so handsie on guys that you’d think they were engaged.

 

[Strenuus]

I believe we are 17-18 without Lillard in the lineup. Thought that was an interesting stat.

I think Lillard has a strong case for best Blazer of all-time, but if the narrative is that he's covering up for the flaws of others, that record doesn't make much sense.

Bad way to guage it. different supporting casts at different times. Some were good some were bad.

 

[HailBlazers]

Nurk needs to pick it the F up.

 

[wizenheimer]

Good points and I agree entirely. The only thing I would add is that in today’s NBA, Gary Payton wouldn’t be Gary Payton. That minor hand checking BS that Dame got called for a couple of games ago? GP played so handsie on guys that you’d think they were engaged.

Payton did spend a lot of time in the NBA playing with dislocated fingers...I wonder why

Maurice Lucas was real handsy and he had lots of finger and wrist injuries

 

[wizenheimer]

Bad way to guage it. different supporting casts at different times. Some were good some were bad.

a 35 game sample size is pretty significant though

 

[Strenuus]

a 35 game sample size is pretty significant though

Not my point. I am looking at more the cast we had at the time of those games. Better baromoter.

 

[wizenheimer]

Not my point. I am looking at more the cast we had at the time of those games. Better baromoter.

Lillard didn't miss a game till his 4th season. That's the first season of the Dame/CJ era. Seems like 34 games over 4 season should cover a lot of bases

 

[Portland2014]

"He never asked me to do something that he didn't fuck... do"