Lillard is wayyyyyyyy better than "Billups in his third year"

[KingSpeed]

Billups averaged 9 ppg and 3 apg

Bad comparison, Kenny

 

[KingSpeed]

More like Billups in his 8th year

 

[Nikolokolus]

Whoopdee fucking doo

 

[illmatic99]

Agreed. Kenny is clueless. And I think Dame will end up being better than prime Chauncey in the next few years. He's got so much more to offer than being a steadying presence who can shoot.

 

[Denny Crane]

Billups doesn't get the respect he deserves. People say the Pistons won that championship without a real superstar. Yet I always viewed Billups (and Sheed and Ben Wallace, too) as superstars.

Billups was finals MVP that year. He didn't drop off the map like it was a career year for him. He was perennially 1st or 2nd team all-nba, all-defense, and an all-star. He's still playing at age 36 and has a career PER of 19.0.

Billups also played just 13 games his 3rd season. FWIW.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Billups doesn't get the respect he deserves. People say the Pistons won that championship without a real superstar. Yet I always viewed Billups (and Sheed and Ben Wallace, too) as superstars.

Billups was finals MVP that year. He didn't drop off the map like it was a career year for him. He was perennially 1st or 2nd team all-nba, all-defense, and an all-star. He's still playing at age 36 and has a career PER of 19.0.

Billups also played just 13 games his 3rd season. FWIW.

I like the Billups comparison too but this is where I hope Damian makes the most improvement. Great PG defense changes whole game plan of what the other team is trying to do.

 

[Run BJM]

Agree with you Denny, Billups was excellent. I don't really see the comparison with Lillard that much though.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I had not thought of Billups before, but I can see it. Wasn't he "Mr. Big Shot" ?

Yeah it took Billups a few years to find the right situation, but he was one of the best in the League. I would be thrilled if Lillard played at that level for Portland.

 

[mook]

He's got Detroit Billups' swag and three point range. But it seemed like Billups relied more on strength than speed with his offensive game.

I agree that the pre-Detroit Billups is a very bad comparison.

 

[BBert]

I don't think he was saying third-year Billups and first-year Lillard had the same production. I think he was comparing their poise and pace. I think it was quite a compliment.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Billups is the best comparison out there, and one we should be very happy with. Billups was considered very athletic in college, but came into the league with limited PG skills. He is one of the very VERY few players who grew into a great PG from someone who started with below-average PG skills. But his best feature was/is his demeanor: he is a calm leader. The Pistons lost their soul when they lost him. Rip Hamilton literally cried on his shoulder when it happened. Meanwhile, the Nuggets instantly became a contender, despite trading Iverson for him, who wasn't that far off his MVP year.

Yes, Lillard's numbers are better than Billups in his early years. But if Lillard ever gets to where Billups got, we should be ecstatic.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't think he was saying third-year Billups and first-year Lillard had the same production. I think he was comparing their poise and pace. I think it was quite a compliment.

Haven't you learned yet that even if one of the players was compared to Christ himself you would have people saying it was unfair to our player?

 

[handiman]

I see a lot of similarities between Billups and Lillard. Physical attributes, composure, skill set. But, that doesn't quite capture it. I see just as much Tony Parker in Lillard. Very similar impact on the flow of the game, if not style of play exactly. That'll just have to do, a Billups/Parker combo!

 

[THE HCP]

Billups didn't really find a place in the league til like his 4th or 5th season right?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Billups didn't really find a place in the league til like his 4th or 5th season right?

At least. I think he was in his 6th season before he was putting up the numbers he's known for

 

[magnifier661]

I actually see him like a Billups in his prime. I think they are both deadly from the perimeter and cool and collective; even under the worst pressure. I just think Damien is a stronger finisher and much quicker. Billups seems a bit smarter and more consistent from the perimeter.

KINGSPEED. I don't think Kenny Smith was comparing Lillard to Billups the rookie. I think he was comparing Lillard to Billups as a whole.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I see a lot of similarities between Billups and Lillard. Physical attributes, composure, skill set. But, that doesn't quite capture it. I see just as much Tony Parker in Lillard. Very similar impact on the flow of the game, if not style of play exactly. That'll just have to do, a Billups/Parker combo!

I hope Damian can master the tear drop like Parker has. That makes him so deadly and creates 3 things to be worried about for the defense (shooting, driving and the tear drop)

 

[handiman]

I hope Damian can master the tear drop like Parker has. That makes him so deadly and creates 3 things to be worried about for the defense (shooting, driving and the tear drop)

Definitely. But with Lillard's advanced outside game, he doesn't have to be quite as good as Parker at the mid-range stuff to be just as effective. Likewise, their pacing is quite a bit different, but their numbers and how they get them are pretty similar. And let's not forget, Parker was damn good right from the get go. One of the most underrated players in the game, IMO.

 

[KingSpeed]

I actually see him like a Billups in his prime. I think they are both deadly from the perimeter and cool and collective; even under the worst pressure. I just think Damien is a stronger finisher and much quicker. Billups seems a bit smarter and more consistent from the perimeter.

KINGSPEED. I don't think Kenny Smith was comparing Lillard to Billups the rookie. I think he was comparing Lillard to Billups as a whole.

He SAID Billups in his third year. Billups sucked in his third year. Billups wasn't good til like his 7th year.

 

[magnifier661]

He SAID Billups in his third year. Billups sucked in his third year. Billups wasn't good til like his 7th year.

Well the comparison isn't that accurate then. My mistake

 

[Nikolokolus]

He SAID Billups in his third year. Billups sucked in his third year. Billups wasn't good til like his 7th year.

It's all semantics to me. Chances are they kind of forgot that Chauncey didn't really bloom until even a couple of years after that. If you look at the spirit of the compliment (and yes it is in fact a compliment), what they were saying is that Lillard as a rookie has the poise and control of Billups after a few years in the league.

Christ some of you people kill me.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

It's all semantics to me. Chances are they kind of forgot that Chauncey didn't really bloom until even a couple of years after that. If you look at the spirit of the compliment (and yes it is in fact a compliment), what they were saying is that Lillard as a rookie has the poise and control of Billups after a few years in the league.

Christ some of you people kill me.

plus 1

 

[BrianFromWA]

Haven't you learned yet that even if one of the players was compared to Christ himself you would have people saying it was unfair to our player?

You ever hear anyone talk about Jesus' handle or step-back J?

 

[gatorpops]

Lillard, reminds me a little of Gary Payton, all be it Lil has a much better shot than Gary when he came into the NBA.

Lillard also reminds me somewhat of Rondo. Lillard is not as strong or big as Rondo but similar in manner.

If he continues to grow his game, he will be one of the great ones!

 

[HailBlazers]

It's all semantics to me. Chances are they kind of forgot that Chauncey didn't really bloom until even a couple of years after that. If you look at the spirit of the compliment (and yes it is in fact a compliment), what they were saying is that Lillard as a rookie has the poise and control of Billups after a few years in the league.

Word.

 

[blue9]

Billups was a great defender. Also, I seem to recall Billups playing in the post a bit - I haven't seen that from Lillard (yet). I think it'd be great if Lillard develops into a Billups-like PG. I much prefer strong, steady PGs to fast PGs who rely on athleticism - athleticism can be taken away in the blink of an eye.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Billups was a great defender. Also, I seem to recall Billups playing in the post a bit - I haven't seen that from Lillard (yet). I think it'd be great if Lillard develops into a Billups-like PG. I much prefer strong, steady PGs to fast PGs who rely on athleticism - athleticism can be taken away in the blink of an eye.

Good post. I couldn't agree more. it will be interested to see how Rose bounces back from his injury. Regardless he will still be good, but he did rely a lot on his quickness. He may have to adapt if he lost any.

 

[blue9]

Yup - I'll be interested to see how he does too. I was never a fan of his - mainly because I saw him getting by on athleticism instead of skill. He'll probably still be a top 10 PG, but depending on how much athleticism he lost and how much he's able to adapt to that, he could really fall in the ranks. If he can't blow by a defender what's he going to do?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Frankly I think we're all trying too hard trying to come up with his nearest comp. He's not Payton, he's not necessarily Billups 2.0, he's nothing at all like Rondo, what he is however is a very smooth and savvy player, an honest to god, good NBA lead guard who still has a long ways to go before you can say he's a complete player or a fully finished product.

Enjoy the ride.

 

[Denny Crane]

A slower version of Randy Smith.