Skip Bayless says Dame isn't a star

[PCmor7]

Who was Skip Bayless?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Definitely NOT a star....

This series is important to the LILLARD 2016/17 model year offering; his reputation going forward will be based on what he does over the next week or so. This is where players jump from Tier 3 to Tier 2. Take this series to seven and you have to consider the question "is he a legit second tier star?" Beat them? Maybe Dame DOLLA skips Tier 2 on his way up.

 

[Natebishop3]

This series is important to the LILLARD 2016/17 model year offering; his reputation going forward will be based on what he does over the next week or so. This is where players jump from Tier 3 to Tier 2. Take this series to seven and you have to consider the question "is he a legit second tier star?" Beat them? Maybe Dame DOLLA skips Tier 2 on his way up.

If we can make it a series by winning the next game, I think that's also a great selling point for Neil to any free agents.

"We went toe to toe with the eventual champs. You are the missing piece. We can win a championship."

 

[KingSpeed]

If we can make it a series by winning the next game, I think that's also a great selling point for Neil to any free agents.

"We went toe to toe with the eventual champs. You are the missing piece. We can win a championship."

I don't think there's a "missing piece" out there except for maybe Durant.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think there's a "missing piece" out there except for maybe Durant.

Al Horford would be HUGE.

Durant and LeBron are obviously pipe dreams, but if we could add one more scorer, and maybe a rim protector, this team could be one of the top three in the west next year. I think Durant is leaving OKC. I just have a feeling. I think he's tired of playing with Westbrook. It actually might not be an advantage that we have Dame. I think he might be tired of playing with shoot-first point guards.

 

[Strenuus]

Al Horford would be HUGE.

Durant and LeBron are obviously pipe dreams, but if we could add one more scorer, and maybe a rim protector, this team could be one of the top three in the west next year. I think Durant is leaving OKC. I just have a feeling. I think he's tired of playing with Westbrook. It actually might not be an advantage that we have Dame. I think he might be tired of playing with shoot-first point guards.

Dame has shown that he isn't a strictly shoot-first pg though.

He scored 25 points in the second half today, and still doled out 7 asssists.

He can do both.

 

[KingSpeed]

I personally think we're a top 3 team next year with absolutely no changes. We played like a 55 win team for most of the season and are 3 wins from WCF. All the players are young and will grow from this. Keep the roster as it is and we win 55-57 games next season.

 

[KingSpeed]

Dame has shown that he isn't a strictly shoot-first pg though.

He scored 25 points in the second half today, and still doled out 7 asssists.

He can do both.

He scored 15 points in the second half today.

 

[Strenuus]

I personally think we're a top 3 team next year with absolutely no changes. We played like a 55 win team for most of the season and are 3 wins from WCF. All the players are young and will grow from this. Keep the roster as it is and we win 55-57 games next season.

We get a rim protector and move Plumlee to the bench, then yes.

 

[Strenuus]

He scored 15 points in the second half today.

My point stands even further. Typo.

 

[Natebishop3]

Dame has shown that he isn't a strictly shoot-first pg though.

He scored 25 points in the second half today, and still doled out 7 asssists.

He can do both.

Yeah, I'm just worried that the perception would be that he's shoot first.

I think Durant is tired of seeing Westbrook MISS more shots than he even attempts.

 

[Strenuus]

Yeah, I'm just worried that the perception would be that he's shoot first.

I think Durant is tired of seeing Westbrook MISS more shots than he even attempts.

There's also the leadership aspect.

Dame has it. Westbrook doesn't.

 

[Natebishop3]

If we somehow sign Durant, can we get him to wear #5?

I really want a poster that says something to the effect of

#5 Durant
#0 Lillard
#3 McCollum

 

[KingSpeed]

Yeah, I'm just worried that the perception would be that he's shoot first.

I think Durant is tired of seeing Westbrook MISS more shots than he even attempts.

The thing is when has Durant ever expressed that? He is always standing up for Westbrook. Just last week, he defended Westbrook by calling Cuban an idiot. It seems obvious that Durant likes playing with Westbrook. Also, in the 2013 (?) playoffs when he played without Westbrook in the second round vs Memphis, Durant was awful.

 

[Natebishop3]

There's also the leadership aspect.

Dame has it. Westbrook doesn't.

I hope Dame takes an active role in recruiting this summer.

 

[Strenuus]

The thing is when has Durant ever expressed that? He is always standing up for Westbrook. Just last week, he defended Westbrook by calling Cuban an idiot. It seems obvious that Durant likes playing with Westbrook. Also, in the 2013 (?) playoffs when he played without Westbrook in the second round vs Memphis, Durant was awful.

one instance. lol. There's been so many times they've had a rift.

Plus, Durants been kind of a dick the last couple of years.

 

[KingSpeed]

I hope Dame takes an active role in recruiting this summer.

We'll see. Dame has made it very clear he likes the team we have.

 

[KingSpeed]

one instance. lol. There's been so many times they've had a rift.

Plus, Durants been kind of a dick the last couple of years.

What other times? Also- he was rapturous about Westbrook during his 2014 MVP speech saying that Westbrook was also an MVP level player. I've never heard Durant say anything bad about Westbrook.

 

[Natebishop3]

We'll see. Dame has made it very clear he likes the team we have.

He made it clear that he didn't want any changes mid-season. He hasn't said anything about the offseason. He knows we have a lot of free agents. Change is inevitable.

 

[Strenuus]

What other times? Also- he was rapturous about Westbrook during his 2014 MVP speech saying that Westbrook was also an MVP level player. I've never heard Durant say anything bad about Westbrook.

Okay.

 

[KingSpeed]

Durant on Westbrook:

"I could speak all night about Russell," Durant began. "An emotional guy who would run through a wall for me. I love you man. A lot of people put unfair criticism on you as a player, and I'm the first to have your back through it all. Just stay the person you are. Everybody loves you here. I love you."

 

[Strenuus]

Durant on Westbrook:

"I could speak all night about Russell," Durant began. "An emotional guy who would run through a wall for me. I love you man. A lot of people put unfair criticism on you as a player, and I'm the first to have your back through it all. Just stay the person you are. Everybody loves you here. I love you."

Cool. I don't believe a word he says.

 

[Natebishop3]

Durant on Westbrook:

"I could speak all night about Russell," Durant began. "An emotional guy who would run through a wall for me. I love you man. A lot of people put unfair criticism on you as a player, and I'm the first to have your back through it all. Just stay the person you are. Everybody loves you here. I love you."

And LaMarcus said he wanted to be the best Blazer ever. I never believe a word that these guys say publicly.

 

[KingSpeed]

He made it clear that he didn't want any changes mid-season. He hasn't said anything about the offseason. He knows we have a lot of free agents. Change is inevitable.

We'll see. He was saying tonight how he loves the guys we have and that from September, he saw them as a group of young hungry players just like him and he likes what they've built.

 

[KingSpeed]

Cool. I don't believe a word he says.

That's not the only time he's said stuff like that. Where are the rifts you speak of?

 

[KingSpeed]

And LaMarcus said he wanted to be the best Blazer ever. I never believe a word that these guys say publicly.

Durant was near tears. Very sincere. Aldridge is a jerk. Doesn't mean everyone is. And it was all about him. I want to be the best Blazer ever. Me me me. Nothing about his teammates or title aspirations.

 

[Natebishop3]

Do these guys look like there's beef? And listen to Aldridge's words at the end.

 

[KingSpeed]

Do these guys look like there's beef? And listen to Aldridge's words at the end.

They were winning at a high level and it was just small talk. Nothing like what Durant said about Westbrook.

 

[KingSpeed]

And Aldridge's last words are measured. He's not committed at first. Just says "I'm here." Then says I don't want to leave to kind of get himself out of a jam. Compare that to what Dame very forthright says about how much he loves Portland and wants to do here what Kobe in did in LA. Play his whole career here. With Dame, I believe every word. I was never sure with Aldridge and you weren't either. You wanted Harden for him.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

If we somehow sign Durant, can we get him to wear #5?

I really want a poster that says something to the effect of

#5 Durant
#0 Lillard
#3 McCollum

That would be so fucking epic...