Quick's article on Dame (and I believe why we will win)

[handiman]

With Memphis' defensive prowess, I'm scared to think how badly our offense will break down when they trap Lillard every time down the floor. If Stotts hasn't figured out an adjustment for that, we're getting swept. Lillard's defense is pretty much my last concern.

 

[BBert]

It would really help Dame's defense in the playoffs if the refs would give him a little star deference and CALL A FUCKING MOVING PICK ONCE IN A FUCKING WHILE YOU FUCKING DOUCHE BAGS!!!

 

[blue9]

Why dont people think he cant get any better? What has he done to prove otherwise?

I definitely expect Dame to get better every year, for the next 5+ years. However, play-making seems to be something you either have or you don't. I don't think Dame will ever be one of the best play-makers in the NBA because if he hasn't developed the ability by now he never will. I think it's a natural skill that manifests in high school and is honed in college. If you don't enter college with natural play-making abilities chances are slim that you'll ever be great at it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Some of you who don't like Dame, be honest, this is a race thing right?

 

[Roger Templeton]

There's driven, and then there's Lillard.

Amian Lillar's problem is not effort. It's awful technique and defensive IQ. He works hard enough, but to no avail. He needs to spend an off season learning how to play defense and pick up the technique and skill behind it. Right now he's just tiring himself out with poor defensive stance, being out of position, lunging and not being able to recover, not understanding when to play up against a guy and when to give him space and keep him in front, and an inability to play screens.

The difference between how Wes plays defense and how Amian plays defense is based on technique and defensive IQ.

 

[Roger Templeton]

I just posted it a few days ago, go compare Curry's 1st 3 yrs in the league to Lillard's. Quit bitching about the guy and take an objective look at what he's done.

I'm a huge fan of Lillar, and I think he has a lot of room to grow. But Curry's numbers are far, far better than Lillar's. Steph is a much better shooter, it's not even close.

Steph year 3 - 49% FG, 45.5% 3pt shooting. I'll take 18.6 pts off of those percentages than Lillar's 21 ppg off 43.4% FG and a very poor 34% from 3 anyday. Lillar's three pt shooting has regressed to a career low. He's not even close to being as good a shooter as Steph, and on the defensive end the gap is even worse.

 

[WillG]

Honestly. I'm more disappointed in Nic and how he has conducted the year and more specifically how these behaviors are impacting his teammates. I don't like his energy and I think for some of his teammates it's been contagious. . .

Totally agree. It's part of the 'I'll do the least to get by - but still look cool' attitude the Blazers seem to have played with at times this year.
I think a lot of it comes from the King - Nic 'Resting/coasting on your laurels' Batum.

I don't want to see next years squad infected with this indifference. He needs to be traded.

 

[Blazinaway]

Honestly. I'm more disappointed in Nic and how he has conducted the year and more specifically how these behaviors are impacting his teammates. I don't like his energy and I think for some of his teammates it's been contagious. I've just about had enough and it wouldn't hurt my feelings to see him moved even if it means taking a hit of talent at that position. Il take someone that fits in and plays with energy and fire with less talent over what I've seen from him this year. And His absolute must of having to play with team France I feel is effecting he and the Blazers.

Just wouldn't put up with it any longer.

agree with you

 

[S550]

I'm a huge fan of Lillar, and I think he has a lot of room to grow. But Curry's numbers are far, far better than Lillar's. Steph is a much better shooter, it's not even close.

Steph year 3 - 49% FG, 45.5% 3pt shooting. I'll take 18.6 pts off of those percentages than Lillar's 21 ppg off 43.4% FG and a very poor 34% from 3 anyday. Lillar's three pt shooting has regressed to a career low. He's not even close to being as good a shooter as Steph, and on the defensive end the gap is even worse.

I know that's what I been trying to say. Every time he shoots 3s now I cring. Then people use the excuse about his fingers injured but he was shooting perfectly fine for a month or so after that.

Lillard fell off around mid Janaury and never really recovered to that "top 5 pg" category. Is he a below average point guard? Hell no! Should we trade him? Absolutely not! But is he up there like we thought he was and this superstar who we can argue and compare to the the Curry's and Westbrooks of the world? I think not. I still believe he's a solid above average point guard (Jeff Tegue type level) but nothing like this "amazing" pg we thought he was.

He had a great 2 month to start the season which really saved his stats from shooting all the way to hell but the inconsistency that followed from Janaury on is not a good sign to the level Adidas banked for.

 

[Blazinaway]

Some of you who don't like Dame, be honest, this is a race thing right?

Sly, I like Dame a lot and want him to stay, but talking about his shortcomings IMO help us to think about bettering the team in the future as in who would it best to pair Dame with? As has already been pointed out pairing him with a 6'5" or taller PG (or SG with solid enough PG skills - Wes does not have that) that could defend SG's would IMO be the best outcome. So with a huge offseason coming up when 4 of our starters are up for new deals, and our starting SG was badly injured with a torn Achilles, this is the time to start talking about making this team better as this offseason could be wild and huge. And perhaps we also consider trading a guy like Nic who many of us are tired of. This offseason is going to be huge with so many free agents, and injuries and play this past season have IMO made it much more likely that mgmt could seriously re-evaluate things and we just might be a much different team next yr that most of us thought just 3-4 months ago. We will see

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I'm a huge fan of Lillar, and I think he has a lot of room to grow. But Curry's numbers are far, far better than Lillar's. Steph is a much better shooter, it's not even close.

Steph year 3 - 49% FG, 45.5% 3pt shooting. I'll take 18.6 pts off of those percentages than Lillar's 21 ppg off 43.4% FG and a very poor 34% from 3 anyday. Lillar's three pt shooting has regressed to a career low. He's not even close to being as good a shooter as Steph, and on the defensive end the gap is even worse.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Steph in year 3 only played 23 games. I'll take Lillard's 21 ppg for 82 games over what point you just failed to make.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I know that's what I been trying to say. Every time he shoots 3s now I cring. Then people use the excuse about his fingers injured but he was shooting perfectly fine for a month or so after that.

Lillard fell off around mid Janaury and never really recovered to that "top 5 pg" category. Is he a below average point guard? Hell no! Should we trade him? Absolutely not! But is he up there like we thought he was and this superstar who we can argue and compare to the the Curry's and Westbrooks of the world? I think not. I still believe he's a solid above average point guard (Jeff Tegue type level) but nothing like this "amazing" pg we thought he was.

He had a great 2 month to start the season which really saved his stats from shooting all the way to hell but the inconsistency that followed from Janaury on is not a good sign to the level Adidas banked for.

Really? That's the point you're trying make? Curry shot at a higher percentage for 23 games than Lillard did for 82 games?

 

[WillG]

I think Dame is a keeper. He'll work it out. He's a workhorse and once he fixes up his forced 3pt shooting - he'll be halfway there.

Not being realistic: I would contact the Pelicans and offer all, and everything they want, outside of Dame ,for Anthony Davis; Including re-signed Aldridge.

Pairing Lillard and Davis going forward.
Not going to happen I know, but a man can dream . . . right?

 

[OneLifeToLive]

agree with you

So it's a lil less about Damian and a lot about Batum. He has a chance to redeem himself here in the playoo er you know I think that would just piss me off even more actually. And it may give some credence to my intuitions that he has no respect for the game, the fans or the Blazer Org. It feels like he has spent the last 6 months sabotaging all the organizations efforts in everything they are trying to accomplish.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I'm just curious for the people that would be willing to move Lillard who is a realistic replacement?

 

[blazedanugz]

so now everyone thinks dame has hit his cieling and people would not mind dealing him.
honestly guys...ill take 2 1/2 years of him playing at a very high level over this second half of the season. give the guy a break.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Some of you who don't like Dame, be honest, this is a race thing right?

Be honest, this is a joke, right?

 

[kjironman1]

Some of you who don't like Dame, be honest, this is a race thing right?

It's the only possible explanation that i can come up with? Maybe their girlfriends are kind up caught up on the guy?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Be honest, this is a joke, right?

Yes.

 

[kjironman1]

Need to use the sarcasm font....

 

[S550]

I'll pump my brakes now but let's see what he does this series. I don't even care if we loose this series since the grizz are better than us anyways but I hope dame can redeem himself a little bit this series.

That's all I ask for. Just make us happy going into the summer with encouraged performance for the shitty second half of the year he provided.

Atleast give us that. Most importantly encourage soon to be free agent, mr top alpha LaMarcus Aldridge with some good efficient basketball. Just give us that. At the very least.

 

[magnifier661]

I'm just curious for the people that would be willing to move Lillard who is a realistic replacement?

Trading Lillard is unrealistic, therefor any trade would be equally unrealistic

 

[MarAzul]

you who don't like Dame, be honest, this is a race thing right

Quit bitching about the guy and take an objective look at what he's done.

Wow! I can't tell whether Sly wants basketball fans to become Blazer fanatics or just shut the fuck up?

 

[MarAzul]

Trading Lillard is unrealistic, therefor any trade would be equally unrealistic

Maybe after this playoff series we can have a Basketball discussion about the subject.

 

[dviss1]

Some of you guys are so fucking weird.

I just posted it a few days ago, go compare Curry's 1st 3 yrs in the league to Lillard's. Quit bitching about the guy and take an objective look at what he's done. It's pretty damn special.

And they say Portland fans are some of the most intelligent.... :facepalm emoticon:

 

[MarAzul]

And they say Portland fans are some of the most intelligent.... :facepalm emoticon:

I agree.

 

[dviss1]

Wow! I can't tell whether Sly wants basketball fans to become Blazer fanatics or just shut the fuck up?

You don't need to tell. He's simply telling forum members like you that you have no reason for all of this Dame hate you all are throwing. Yes Marzy you are one of the Dame haters.

Newsflash, he isn't and never will be Steve Nash....

 

[dviss1]

It would really help Dame's defense in the playoffs if the refs would give him a little star deference and CALL A FUCKING MOVING PICK ONCE IN A FUCKING WHILE YOU FUCKING DOUCHE BAGS!!!

Learn the rule on moving picks and you will not be so angry...

 

[dviss1]

I definitely expect Dame to get better every year, for the next 5+ years. However, play-making seems to be something you either have or you don't. I don't think Dame will ever be one of the best play-makers in the NBA because if he hasn't developed the ability by now he never will. I think it's a natural skill that manifests in high school and is honed in college. If you don't enter college with natural play-making abilities chances are slim that you'll ever be great at it.

Jesus....

 

[MarAzul]

haters

Aw come on! You can do better than that! Flop that race card down, you have done it before.