Lillard's quickness is being wasted

[Shooter]

Lillard is great at beating his man off the dribble, but he almost never does it. He seems content to dribble around and pass the ball to somebody else who can't shoot. We're wasting one of our best weapons.

 

[B-Roy]

I dunno. He seems pretty content hoisting jumpers.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I dunno. He seems pretty content hoisting jumpers.

I knew this would come at some point.

 

[Blazinaway]

Lillard is great at beating his man off the dribble, but he almost never does it. He seems content to dribble around and pass the ball to somebody else who can't shoot. We're wasting one of our best weapons.

7 NBA games, he's a rook, it takes time to figure the balance out for those that do, he will IMO

 

[Natebishop3]

I think as he gets more experience, he'll learn when to shoot, when to drive, and how to draw contact and get to the line. Just comes with the game.

 

[KingSpeed]

I see him do it a lot and he's been blocked quite a bit.

 

[magnifier661]

7 NBA games, he's a rook, it takes time to figure the balance out for those that do, he will IMO

THIS... Life as a Blazer fan man. We exhault ourselves to championship caliber with a 5 game win streak; then announce how the sky is falling from a 3 game skid. What happens when you have too many emotionally invested fans.

 

[Shooter]

Who said the sky was falling?

 

[magnifier661]

Who said the sky was falling?

My bad, I was talking about the fanbase in general. But making assumptions based from only 5 games is stretching it right? I mean, new coach, new players and only 5 games. Let's see what happens by mid season. If this shit is still happening, then we can bitch like crazy.

 

[Elton]

I'm just going to enjoy watching the rooks develop. At least this is a 22 win team I can feel optimistic about, strange as that is to say.

 

[magnifier661]

I'm just going to enjoy watching the rooks develop. At least this is a 22 win team I can feel optimistic about, strange as that is to say.

I agree. I think we need a good season for Scotts to get a feel for this team, plus the youth needs some time to develop as well.

Another plus is we will be able to keep our pick too.

 

[Elton]

I agree. I think we need a good season for Scotts to get a feel for this team, plus the youth needs some time to develop as well.

Another plus is we will be able to keep our pick too.

One more high lotto pick (hopefully an instant contributor) and the real possibility of a lopsided trade in the off-season and the team will have an excellent foundation for the future. Just one more year of collecting assets and watch it bake pretty fast!

The risk is that the losing mentality could really infect the franchise beyond this season. If our leader truly is Aldridge...I'd be very concerned. Now that we have Lillard, I'm just not sweatin' it.

 

[Natebishop3]

He definitely seems to be living and dying by the three right now. When he's on, man oh man is he on. The good thing is, though, that when he's off he isn't just a shooter. He does other things as well.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

7 NBA games, he's a rook, it takes time to figure the balance out for those that do, he will IMO

I don't think that's it.

I think as he gets more experience, he'll learn when to shoot, when to drive, and how to draw contact and get to the line. Just comes with the game.

I don't think that's it, either.

My guess is that Lillard is really the best player on the team, and that until everyone acknowledges that he's not going to start acting like it. At some point everyone but LMA will realize it. Finally, LMA will realize it too, and then Lillard will change. It will probably happen 20 or 30 games into next year.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think that's it.



I don't think that's it, either.

My guess is that Lillard is really the best player on the team, and that until everyone acknowledges that he's not going to start acting like it. At some point everyone but LMA will realize it. Finally, LMA will realize it too, and then Lillard will change. It will probably happen 20 or 30 games into next year.

Eh, I think it's a confidence thing. I think he's confident in his three point shooting, but he's still being tentative about driving to the hoop. I would be scared too if I was rookie going against some of the best big men in the world.

 

[BBert]

The way he got stuffed in each of his first few games, I can imagine why he'd be tentative too. Learning curve.

 

[Carlito]

Biggest concern about Lillard, he doesn't drive enough

Lillard has been great but he seems to be more a shooting PG then getting to the rim. I guess he's following the rest of the team but don't want him to become the LA of pgs. Has anyone noticed he doesn't drive the lane often?? His defense will come in time but he struggles when larger guards like Evans get physiçal with him. Just my two cents...

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Re: Biggest concern about Lillard, he doesn't drive enough

http://sportstwo.com/threads/224406...being-wasted?p=2891128&viewfull=1#post2891128

 

[Mediocre Man]

Re: Biggest concern about Lillard, he doesn't drive enough

Lillard hasn't quite figured out how to finish at the rim yet. 7 games

 

[mook]

Normally I hate chucking PG's. Especially ones who launch from ridiculous distances behind the three point line when there's 16 seconds on the clock.

But Jesus, the guy actually makes a hell of a lot of them. He's shooting at 41% from three! Can you imagine how terrifying his reputation is going to be if everybody knows he can drill threes at that clip 5 feet behind the three point line? That's taking "spreading the floor" to a whole new level. If this rookie has the balls to take those kind of shots and make them, I'm not going to criticize.

 

[mook]

Eh, I think it's a confidence thing. I think he's confident in his three point shooting, but he's still being tentative about driving to the hoop. I would be scared too if I was rookie going against some of the best big men in the world.

Yeah, and really I'm fine with that. He does one thing right now at a super-elite level--shooting three pointers. I keep remembering Steve Kerr in an earlier game compare his shot to Ray Allen and Steve Nash. It was a pretty jaw-dropping statement for me.

He may also be pretty good at dribble penetration, passing, and a number of other things, but I'm fine with him focusing more of his offense on that one thing for now while he learns the pace of the game and gets over being a rookie.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, and really I'm fine with that. He does one thing right now at a super-elite level--shooting three pointers. I keep remembering Steve Kerr in an earlier game compare his shot to Ray Allen and Steve Nash. It was a pretty jaw-dropping statement for me.

He may also be pretty good at dribble penetration, passing, and a number of other things, but I'm fine with him focusing more of his offense on that one thing for now while he learns the pace of the game and gets over being a rookie.

I definitely see some Ray Allen in his release and form. Allen has the quickest release in the game, by far. Lillard isn't as quick, but he's still fast.

 

[HailBlazers]

Re: Biggest concern about Lillard, he doesn't drive enough

He's got the skills no doubt, not to mention fearlessness.

 

[THE HCP]

SEE NB3!!!! Damon Part 2!

 

[magnifier661]

Lillard needs to establish that he is deadly from the perimeter. It will only help with his use of quickness. It's really important for the defense to respect his outside shooting. That would mean they have to play close to him; which will allow him to burn past his man and set something up for himself or others on the court.

 

[BBert]

SEE NB3!!!! Damon Part 2!

This comparison makes my skin crawl.

I'm good with Lillard working on one bona fide skill at a time. When they know they have to play him tight, it will make it easier to drive. Once they know he'll drive and dish, it will make it easier to work on his short game. Patience. It's going to be a long season.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I refuse to engage in any sort of critique of his game until we're past the All-Star break ... hell, even then I'm not sure there's much you can learn about what Lillard can and cannot do at this level (in the long term).

 

[magnifier661]

I refuse to engage in any sort of critique of his game until we're past the All-Star break ... hell, even then I'm not sure there's much you can learn about what Lillard can and cannot do at this level (in the long term).

Yeah and looking at other great point guards in the NBA; they needed 2 years before they were considered "GREAT". Guess the jury is out much quicker in PDX.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Lillard can't penetrate dribbling to his right. It's the biggest hole in his game. If you let him go left he can get to the hoop easily, but if you leave only his right side open he will pass or shoot.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Next it's going to be Lillard dribbles to much and I'm just waiting thread.