Lillard Tracker

[BlazerCaravan]

http://bkref.com/tiny/aTBEP

Just leaving this here to track Damian's progression during his rookie year, with some context around who else has done this well as a rookie.

Cheers!

 

[crowTrobot]

the .551 TS% is very nice if he can keep that up. Roy's career is .548

 

[BlazerCaravan]

the .551 TS% is very nice if he can keep that up. Roy's career is .548

To be fair, it's small sample size after a HUGE game from 3 last night, so it's probably artificially high right now.

 

[crowTrobot]

To be fair, it's small sample size after a HUGE game from 3 last night, so it's probably artificially high right now.

time will tell, but exclude last night's huge game and his 2/13 game and his TS% probably doesn't drop much.

 

[Natebishop3]

Seeing Francis and Damon on that list makes it not quite so special lol

 

[THE HCP]

Seeing Francis and Damon on that list makes it not quite so special lol

Steve Francis had a sick couple of seasons son!

 

[magnifier661]

That is great company! And btw franchise and Damon were pimps their first 5 years in the league.

 

[Natebishop3]

Steve Francis had a sick couple of seasons son!

Yeah, and then he crashed and burned. His flame out was gloriously awful.

 

[RoyToy]

Yeah, and then he crashed and burned. His flame out was gloriously awful.

Francis had a ton of talent

He, like Marbury, just didn't "get it" and played themselves out of the league by being stupid

 

[Natebishop3]

Francis had a ton of talent

He, like Marbury, just didn't "get it" and played themselves out of the league by being stupid

Eh, I would agree that Marbury played himself out by being stupid, but Francis just stopped being good. I think it had more to do with him losing his athleticism.

 

[MickZagger]

Francis was the simple case of a SG in a PG's body. He had his run.

 

[Natebishop3]

Francis was the simple case of a SG in a PG's body. He had his run.

He was incredible his first few years with the rockets, but after losing his athleticism he just faded away into obscurity.

 

[mook]

As long as Lillard keeps appearing on this page (18+ ppg, 6+ apg) I'm a happy camper.

He's got a little of Francis' athleticism and size at PG, and he's got Damon's perimeter shot.

You kind of hope Dame has a better career, but if all three were rookies this year you might easily pick Francis to be the best of the three, or even Damon (if he was on your team).

Every flash-in-the-pan has his moment of flash. Otherwise he's just pan.

Lillard is more diversified than either of these guys. He's got size, speed, athleticism, decent passing and a quality perimeter shot. So hopefully we're about 12 years away from seeing his pan. But you never really know.

 

[Natebishop3]

Francis was probably the most athletic guard point/combo guard I've ever seen.

[video=youtube;QUw_sTs1xz0]

 

[tlongII]

I think Damian has the intelligence needed for a long career. He just needs to stay healthy.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Damian has the intelligence needed for a long career. He just needs to stay healthy.

Well he doesn't throw his body at the hoop like some athletic guards do, so that should prolong his career.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Well he doesn't throw his body at the hoop like some athletic guards do, so that should prolong his career.

He plays like a 12-year vet physically (a little like Andre Miller but less burly), and once he has the experience, the little rookie mistakes will disappear. He will have a long career playing like a 29-year old from the ages of 25-35 (imho).

 

[illmatic99]

Check this out.

Jennings totally dominated to start the season, but soon began to fizzle out once the league began to scout him. Hope it's different with Dame (who's a far better shooter).

 

[mook]

He plays like a 12-year vet physically (a little like Andre Miller but less burly), and once he has the experience, the little rookie mistakes will disappear. He will have a long career playing like a 29-year old from the ages of 25-35 (imho).

Your description reminds me a lot of an in-his-prime Chauncy Billups. Billups was a little better in his prime than Lillard is now, but it's a pretty flattering comparison at this stage of his career.

 

[Natebishop3]

Check this out.

Jennings totally dominated to start the season, but soon began to fizzle out once the league began to scout him. Hope it's different with Dame (who's a far better shooter).

Jennings was different though. He was a volume shooter and not really a passer. Lillard is perfectly happy finding his teammates when he is doubled.

 

[illmatic99]

I didn't watch him, so I don't really know his game, but his assist numbers look identical to Dame's. I think the biggest difference between the two is probably their size. Dame SHOULD be a better finisher at the rim.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Lillard needs to learn to be more crafty going to the rim because he's getting blocked a lot when he does.

 

[magnifier661]

Lillard needs to learn to be more crafty going to the rim because he's getting blocked a lot when he does.

I think that has more to do with adapting to the pace of the NBA. Obviously defenses are much quicker than any collegic level. Once he gets the pace down; I expect him to get to the line more.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think that has more to do with adapting to the pace of the NBA. Obviously defenses are much quicker than any collegic level. Once he gets the pace down; I expect him to get to the line more.

No, it has more to do with the refs. He's getting into the lane and drawing contact, but he's not getting the calls. If he wins ROY, or makes an All-Star team, that will change. Until then, he's a rookie and he won't be getting calls consistently.

 

[magnifier661]

No, it has more to do with the refs. He's getting into the lane and drawing contact, but he's not getting the calls. If he wins ROY, or makes an All-Star team, that will change. Until then, he's a rookie and he won't be getting calls consistently.

Fuck man you make a damn good point. Well hopefully he gets ROY and we have another B-ROY.

 

[Natebishop3]

Fuck man you make a damn good point. Well hopefully he gets ROY and we have another B-ROY.

I just know I've seen him draw contact virtually every time he goes into the lane, but it's almost never called. I'd stop driving too if I was getting raped without a trip to the charity stripe.

 

[THE HCP]

@nbastats: Lillard has been key for POR: In 3 W's, he's responsible for 26.5% of team's pts & 50.9% of POR asts. In L's, those #'s are 22.2 & 34.8%

 

[BlazerCaravan]

@nbastats: Lillard has been key for POR: In 3 W's, he's responsible for 26.5% of team's pts & 50.9% of POR asts. In L's, those #'s are 22.2 & 34.8%

Seems obvious: Lillard is the first pass to a player in a position to score. If that player scores, we're doing good. If they don't, we're doing bad.

 

[Natebishop3]

Seems obvious: Lillard is the first pass to a player in a position to score. If that player scores, we're doing good. If they don't, we're doing bad.

Yeah, his low assist nights usually go hand-in-hand with games that have Batum, Aldridge, and Matthews shooting badly.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

27/5/5 for Damian last night; the assists number is a bit low because Batum was taking a couple dribbles and creating when he went apeshit redhot. TS% now up (!) to .565 after Damian does his "Kid Clutch" package of moves in the 4th and OT.