Lillard could possibly be better than Kyrie

[HailBlazers]

At Defense.

“Damian is a great player. I love his poise, the way he's so calm and under control on the court. He doesn't get rattled. We'll have plenty of battles in this league together.” -Kyrie Irving

Lillard's still got a long ways to go defensively though, hopefully GP will teach him some good tricks this summer.

Irving silenced two “better young point guard” debates in a deafening way last night, at least for now. Opposite Irving on the floor? Lillard and John Wall. Lillard got the start over Wall, and Irving LIT HIM UP, as you can see in the highlights above. Lillard has no positioning when Kyrie attempts to drive on him, and most of Kyrie’s points came from running Lillard off high screens and getting to the rim. Lillard was practically useless when it came to defending Irving last night.

http://rightdowneuclid.com/2013/07/26/kyrie-irving-dominates-team-usa-scrimmage/

Kyrie is the most exciting player I've seen play live in years. Can't wait to watch Lillard take the next step in his development. It could be like Clyde vs. Jordan all over again!

 

[HailBlazers]

#22

#23

Coincidence?

 

[jlprk]

Numbers below 20 are given to the actual U.S. team. Above 20 go to the junior team. Maybe the low numbers go to PGs, on up to C.

Stotts is having his assistants teach Lillard the game in the reverse order that McMillan would have.

 

[Blazer4ever]

He doesn't keep his eyes on the ball in this pic, has to guard the ball not just the player

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It could be like Clyde vs. Jordan all over again!

You mean Lillard will get a ring, but only for another team after Kyrie retires?

 

[Sinobas]

Make a post whose subject is about how Lillard could be better than Kyrie at defense, and support it with a quote on how Irving "lit him up".

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Make a post whose subject is about how Lillard could be better than Kyrie at defense, and support it with a quote on how Irving "lit him up".

I found that odd, too.

 

[BBert]

No one can stop an elite point guard or wing, and Kyrie is unstoppable -- better than Lillard on offense, at least driving and passing. I don't think it's a stretch to think Lillard will become a better defensive player than Irving, and I expect it to happen. Probably this year.

 

[Blazer4ever]

There was one player post-Jordan that was unstoppable - Shaq. The others like Kobe, Dirk, even Lebron may not be stoppable but could be slowed by good defense.

 

[magnifier661]

The difference between drexler vs Jordan was that drexler didn't have the work ethic and drive to be Jordan. Lillard has the drive to be the best. That's the big difference.

Having a clearly better player in the game with motivate him to be stronger, faster, and be a better defender.

We can have this convo in two years and see where he is.

 

[KingSpeed]

I saw Kyrie Irving drop 41 points on the Knicks from a courtside seat. The Cavs lost because Varejao missed free throws. That said, Irving is garbage.

 

[KingSpeed]

The difference between drexler vs Jordan was that drexler didn't have the work ethic and drive to be Jordan.

link?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Are you talking about in NBA2K14?

 

[HailBlazers]

Are you talking about in NBA2K14?

No, I'm talking about next season, in real life.

Make a post whose subject is about how Lillard could be better than Kyrie at defense, and support it with a quote on how Irving "lit him up".

Irving is the best scoring guard I've seen in a long time, I don't expect anybody, especially not Lillard to be able to stop him.

 

[KingSpeed]

No, I'm talking about next season, in real life.



Irving is the best scoring guard I've seen in a long time, I don't expect anybody, especially not Lillard to be able to stop him.

Have you seen Kobe play lately?

 

[HailBlazers]

Have you seen Kobe play lately?

Kobe Bean? Yea I don't count his bitch a$$

 

[Sinobas]

I saw Kyrie Irving drop 41 points on the Knicks from a courtside seat. The Cavs lost because Varejao missed free throws. That said, Irving is garbage.

Oh I see, this is "make a statement and back it up with contradictory evidence" thread....

 

[Sinobas]

John Stockton sucked at passing, he was the leading assist man of all time!

 

[PapaG]

No one can stop an elite point guard or wing, and Kyrie is unstoppable -- better than Lillard on offense, at least driving and passing. I don't think it's a stretch to think Lillard will become a better defensive player than Irving, and I expect it to happen. Probably this year.

Irving was getting to play pick and roll on every possession, with Derrick Favors making the call and being the primary defender. Favors is terrible, by the way, and is along ways off from being anything more than a hustle player. Lillard didn't get to pick and roll once while defended by Irving. What it again. In a scrimmage, it's ridiculous. Thibs flat-out sucked as a coach in that scrimmage, and as I've posted before, Thibs coaches Rose, who wants to be on Team USA, and Coach K coached Irving, so there is an agenda there. That leaves one PG spot, which Westbrook will take next summer. Lillard has zero chance, and the way that scrimmage was set up, now there is a reason to make that move.

Barring injury, the three PGs next year will be Westbrook/Rose/Irving.

 

[Draco]

Irving was getting to play pick and roll on every possession, with Derrick Favors making the call and being the primary defender. Favors is terrible, by the way, and is along ways off from being anything more than a hustle player. Lillard didn't get to pick and roll once while defended by Irving. What it again. In a scrimmage, it's ridiculous. Thibs flat-out sucked as a coach in that scrimmage, and as I've posted before, Thibs coaches Rose, who wants to be on Team USA, and Coach K coached Irving, so there is an agenda there. That leaves one PG spot, which Westbrook will take next summer. Lillard has zero chance, and the way that scrimmage was set up, now there is a reason to make that move.

Barring injury, the three PGs next year will be Westbrook/Rose/Irving.

I agree if healthy those three make it over Lillard but first off its very likely one or two is injured as players sit with even minor injuries. Secondly I expect the team to possibly carry 4 PGs since they often play two of them on the court at the same time.

 

[PapaG]

I agree if healthy those three make it over Lillard but first off its very likely one or two is injured as players sit with even minor injuries. Secondly I expect the team to possibly carry 4 PGs since they often play two of them on the court at the same time.

I still don't understand why Irving got pick and rolls almost every time down the court, while Lillard had to dribble up and either go 1 on 1 or pass the ball. I can't be the only one who noticed this.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I still don't understand why Irving got pick and rolls almost every time down the court, while Lillard had to dribble up and either go 1 on 1 or pass the ball. I can't be the only one who noticed this.

I saw it too. Multiple times I found myself saying, "what the hell offense are we running??!?!" when Lillard was playing the point. Whereas Irvings team actually looked like the team ran something even if it was just a pick and roll.

 

[HailBlazers]

I saw it too. Multiple times I found myself saying, "what the hell offense are we running??!?!" when Lillard was playing the point.

The Derrick Rose/Brandon Roy ISO? Lillard is a tremendous young player, but he's no Rose when attacking the basket.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Smartest fans in basketball?

My ass.

 

[dviss1]

Lillard didn't get to pick and roll once while defended by Irving.

I count twice (against Irving) in this:

[video=youtube;EHfn7DPL-IM]

 

[PapaG]

I count twice (against Irving) in this:

[video=youtube;EHfn7DPL-IM]

I stand corrected, but there was no 'roll' after those picks. They were screens.

 

[dviss1]

Irving was getting to play pick and roll on every possession, with Derrick Favors making the call and being the primary defender. Favors is terrible, by the way, and is along ways off from being anything more than a hustle player. Lillard didn't get to pick and roll once while defended by Irving. What it again. In a scrimmage, it's ridiculous. Thibs flat-out sucked as a coach in that scrimmage, and as I've posted before, Thibs coaches Rose, who wants to be on Team USA, and Coach K coached Irving, so there is an agenda there. That leaves one PG spot, which Westbrook will take next summer. Lillard has zero chance, and the way that scrimmage was set up, now there is a reason to make that move.

Barring injury, the three PGs next year will be Westbrook/Rose/Irving.

Say what you want Papa but Lillard (my favorite NBA player) is getting used in this. Pick and roll or not, he needs to do a WAY better job fighting over those screens. He doesn't close out on Kyrie and gets a 3 in his mouth. The and 1 Kyrie gets off of the crossover is an excellent call by the Center Official.

Lillard's D (of course he's going against Irving so he gets that much of a pass) looks bad in this clip....

[video=youtube;FOAWo-Qj39Q]

 

[BBert]

I'm glad Lillard got schooled by Irving. Stay thirsty, my friend.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm glad Lillard got schooled by Irving. Stay thirsty, my friend.

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