Lillard Article

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I know this is Bleacher, so it's not OMG a legit beat writer wrote this; but it's a great read, IMO.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ewsletter&utm_campaign=portland-trail-blazers

Looking at it, Lillard's 18.3 points put him a distance behind Iverson, who leads all of these fellows with 23.5 points per game. His 6.5 assists trail Mark Jackson's 10.6 average, but playing in the late '80s and throwing alley-oops to Patrick Ewing is going to do that to you.

While Lillard has been fine when you look at him stat-wise, but where he really excels extends beyond just scoring and passing the ball.

Hi-res-158863993_crop_exact Elsa/Getty Images

Only two rookie guards have led teams to a .500 record or better, and that was Derrick Rose with the 2009 Chicago Bulls, who finished 41-41, and Mitch Richmond with the Golden State Warriors, who finished 43-38.

When you take a look at each of these players, both landed in similar situations as Lillard, playing alongside a team with a handful of good players already established.

While Lillard has LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wes Matthews, Rose hopped onto a team with Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, while Richmond had Chris Mullin, Terry Teagle and Winston Garland.

The thing that makes Lillard's rookie season pop out above others is the revolutionary style of play that he's exhibited over the course of the season.

Whereas Paul and Irving are similar players, and Rose is a part of the new, uber-athletic point guards that light the world on fire, Lillard is something different.

On the surface, Lillard is playing the style of the early-2000s guard, shooting often, scoring and picking up assists on the run.

However, he's got a dash of that flashy athleticism that, while a lot more prominent in the Big Sky Conference, is still extremely noticeable in the NBA.

On top of it all, he's got the leadership and all the intangibles that most teams look for in a point guard. He's a cocktail of players that continues to befuddle defenses.

 

[HailBlazers]

Word.

[video=youtube;p2RuGt1-SJY]

 

[Mediocre Man]

Damian could really benefit by learning how to create contact. He gets to the ground a lot, but on replays you can see they aren't fouls.

 

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Damian could really benefit by learning how to create contact. He gets to the ground a lot, but on replays you can see they aren't fouls.

Yeah he needs to watch film on players like Rose. Guys that go into the trees and looks for contact, then fires. Sometimes you can get some amazing plays that goes in for an "And One"