Lillard on opening day of USA Basketball training camp: 'I'm here for a reason'

[SlyPokerDog]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

[BigGameDamian]

[video=youtube;27qp189oiFo]

 

[HailBlazers]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Seemed like you were matched up with Kyrie Irving quite a bit?

"Me and Kyrie, we're buddies. We're cool. Last night, we worked out together in here. We did some one-on-one stuff and a lot of drill work and ended with some more one-on-one. But the greatest thing is just being able to come here and meet that challenge. Every other point guard here was an All-Star. So being able to play against them for five days straight; that's a huge part of your summer when you can do that. You don't get that a lot."

I'll never forget attending the Cavs game Dame's rookie year. Irving lit him (and the Blazers) up off the dribble. Irving is clearly a better player inside the arc, nice to hear Lillard is working with him one-on-one.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'll never forget attending the Cavs game Dame's rookie year. Irving lit him (and the Blazers) up off the dribble. Irving is clearly a better player inside the arc, nice to hear Lillard is working with him one-on-one.

Yeah, Kyrie is definitely gifted at getting to the rim. He has insane handles.

 

[Boise Blazer]

http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/barnes-calls-lillard-and-tells-him-dominate-usa-camp-his-defense

LAS VEGAS – After getting the jitters out of the way on Day 1 of Team USA training camp on Monday, today we saw a much more aggressive and comfortable Damian Lillard.

The Portland Trail Blazers’ all-star point guard picked his spots on offense, capitalizing off of open looks while also setting up teammates. He had a far better shooting performance compared to yesterday’s session.

But the spike in his play wasn’t so much on the offensive end. It was his full-court defense that stood out. All afternoon he was picking up opposing point guards from one end of the court to the other. Poor Utah’s Trey Burke didn’t stand a chance with Lillard hounding him like that. It was a sight to see.

“He just called and told me that everybody knows that I can shoot the ball and make plays, but he said he knows that I can defend too,” Lillard recalled with CSNNW.com of their conversation. “He said just go out there and be a dog and pick up full-court.

“And he was right. I need to come out here and show that I can lock up full-court, which I can do with my responsibilities being less than what it would be with the Trail Blazers. That’s my mindset.”

And it showed. Lillard could have been arrested and charged for harassment today. He was that dominant defensively.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

That is beautiful.

 

[illmatic99]

http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/barnes-calls-lillard-and-tells-him-dominate-usa-camp-his-defense

Can't click the link atm. Who is the "he" that Dame is referring to?

 

[Boise Blazer]

Can't click the link atm. Who is the "he" that Dame is referring to?

Matt Barnes

That style of play is reminiscent of another well-respected no-nonsense player being longtime defensive specialist Matt Barnes of the Los Angeles Clippers. Lillard’s defensive approach had to have come from somewhere.

Turns out, Barnes had something to do with it, calling Lillard last night and issuing some words of advice on ways to stand out from the rest of the 20-or-so prospects challenging for a spot. He spoke; Lillard listened and put it into action.

“He just called and told me that everybody knows that I can shoot the ball and make plays, but he said he knows that I can defend too,” Lillard recalled with CSNNW.com of their conversation. “He said just go out there and be a dog and pick up full-court.

 

[illmatic99]

Thanks.

Good advice, I suppose. But it would have been better if it came from someone who truly is a defensive specialist.

BRoy dropped perhaps the most effortless 50 ever on Barnes a few years ago.

 

[HailBlazers]

BRoy dropped perhaps the most effortless 50 ever on Barnes a few years ago.

Well to be fair, when Roy caught fire 'effortless' was his middle name.

 

[Strenuus]

I'll never forget attending the Cavs game Dame's rookie year. Irving lit him (and the Blazers) up off the dribble. Irving is clearly a better player inside the arc, nice to hear Lillard is working with him one-on-one.

I went to that game too, when Kyrie went by him for the game winner.

The 2nd year? Dame stuck it in his eye in Cleveland. Beautiful.

 

[dviss1]

Thanks.

Good advice, I suppose. But it would have been better if it came from someone who truly is a defensive specialist.

BRoy dropped perhaps the most effortless 50 ever on Barnes a few years ago.

That is what Barnes is. He's a 3&D guy. Roy could drop 50 on anyone. There wasn't a player in the league that could guard him one on one.

 

[dviss1]

Damian Lillard > Kyrie Irving