Sobering statistical comparisons for Lillard

[Rastapopoulos]

The guys who've been doing massive comparisons for various Blazers on BlazersEdge have turned to Lillard. Most damning quote:

A number of people have made the comparison between Lillard and Derrick Rose. Lillard’s physical attributes are similar to Rose, but athletically the similarity falls off. Just to put that into perspective the following players are more athletically similar to Lillard than Derrick Rose is;
Luke Babbitt, Eduardo Najera, Maarty Luenen, Luke Jackson, Mark Madsen, Joakim Noah, and DeJuan Blair.

Damning because obviously that "is" should not be there.

I'm not so worried by the measurement stuff. Look at how anemic Russell Westbrook's vertical and Derek Rose's agility measurements were.

BUT: the assist stuff was worrying. I'm reminded of why I didn't want Lillard before the draft (and before he melted my heart in Summer League): he's not really a PG. I made the Rodney Stuckey comparison before the draft (it was pretty obvious because of the small school background and tweener nature) and it looks like it holds up. So I really wish we had an actual PG on the roster...

 

[Mediocre Man]

Lillard shot in college because he had to. He was a very good passer in summer league, and ran the offense really well. Tom Penn pointed out his great ability in the pick and roll as well.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think predicting stardom for him is way premature the way some have around here, but I do believe he'll at least be a "good" point guard at this level, maybe somewhere around a Jrue Holliday in terms of his ability to affect a game.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

 

[Denny Crane]

If he turns out to be like Ben Gordon, but with a better handle, you have a kick ass player. Gordon is on the small side to play SG, but performs quite well at the offensive end. They should have made a PG out of him from the start.

 

[dviss1]

The guys who've been doing massive comparisons for various Blazers on BlazersEdge have turned to Lillard. Most damning quote:

Damning because obviously that "is" should not be there.

I'm not so worried by the measurement stuff. Look at how anemic Russell Westbrook's vertical and Derek Rose's agility measurements were.

BUT: the assist stuff was worrying. I'm reminded of why I didn't want Lillard before the draft (and before he melted my heart in Summer League): he's not really a PG. I made the Rodney Stuckey comparison before the draft (it was pretty obvious because of the small school background and tweener nature) and it looks like it holds up. So I really wish we had an actual PG on the roster...

Andre Miller was never the most athletic player either. But he was a pretty damn good PG (just no Jumper). Lillard has a 39.5 inch Vert and has shown that he can throw it down on guys that are 6'10'+. Combine numbers don't tell the whole story.

 

[HailBlazers]

It's really too bad we don't have Andre Miller around to mentor Lillard and back-up PG.

As far as the "sobering stats," not enough weight there to sober me up. Lillard's it factor can't be measured by physical statistics.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://www.nba.com/2012/news/featur...-as-nba-camps-open/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

1) Can't Wait ... to see Damian Lillard play for the Blazers. Just have a feeling that the Blazers' first first-round pick is going to be a pretty dynamic player. He is a rarity in our 500-channel universe: a lottery pick that wasn't on TV five times a week at Weber State. He's going to be as exciting a first-year player as there is.

"Damian was the player we coveted and targeted early in the Draft process," general manager Neil Olshey texted Sunday night, "and from day 1 he has exhibited every trait we were looking for in a franchise PG. We are anticipating long term continuity and leadership at the position. If he plays at a level commensurate with his character, dedication and work ethic he will exceed expectations."

 

[BBert]

http://www.nba.com/2012/news/featur...-as-nba-camps-open/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

Ha, ha. Pretty hard to "exceed" those expectations. How about, if he does those things, he will meet the "franchise player" expectations being heaped on him. I'd gladly "settle" for that.

 

[RoyToy]

Watching Lillard play in SL it was obvious that he is very much a PG. Saying otherwise is silly at this point.

 

[Haakzilla]

Lillard's it factor can't be measured by physical statistics.

...precisely! Lillard also proved that he knows how and, more importantly, when to make the right play...whether that be pass, drive, or shoot.

 

[dviss1]

...precisely! Lillard also proved that he knows how and, more importantly, when to make the right play...whether that be pass, drive, or shoot.

Even then there are times when he may not make the right play. In that instance I would say that we need to cut the rookie some slack and let him learn from his mistakes.

 

[XXPrimusXX]

Lillard shot in college because he had to. He was a very good passer in summer league, and ran the offense really well. Tom Penn pointed out his great ability in the pick and roll as well.

Is this real life?

 

[RR7]

I didn't read through the whole article, so excuse me if it is explained in better detail.
Lillard: 34.5 no step, 39.5 max, 11.15 agility, 3.34 3/4 court
Rose: 34.5 no step, 40.0 max, 11.69 agility, 3.05 3/4 court
Najera: 28.0 no step, 35.0 max,11.38 agility, 3.45 3/4 court
Madsen: 30.5 no step, 33.5 max, 12.12 agility, 3.46 3/4 court
Noah: 32.5 no step, 37.5 max, 11.79 agility, 3.47 3/4 court

I'm not going to bother to go on with Leunen, babitt, and Blair, but what it seems to me is, they ignored vertical and agility, and ONLY looked at the 3/4 court sprint to say that he is more athletically similar to those guys than Rose. Makes me not want to read any further. Could be bad of me to do, someone correct me if they added something to that to justify the otherwise in my eyes poor comparison.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

A number of people have made the comparison between Lillard and Derrick Rose. Lillard’s physical attributes are similar to Rose, but athletically the similarity falls off. Just to put that into perspective the following players are more athletically similar to Lillard than Derrick Rose is;
Luke Babbitt, Eduardo Najera, Maarty Luenen, Luke Jackson, Mark Madsen, Joakim Noah, and DeJuan Blair.

This quote is damning only to those naive enough to believe it. The article writers should stick to comparing PGs to PGs.

 

[THE HCP]

He is going up against some of the best PGs in the game in the first 2 weeks of the season. How long until some of you guys start cracking at him for being a bust?

 

[julius]

He is going up against some of the best PGs in the game in the first 2 weeks of the season. How long until some of you guys start cracking at him for being a bust?

Well, some declared him that pretty much draft night, but I think 1st quarter of the 1st pre-season game will be the starting point for some.

 

[THE HCP]

^No doubt!

 

[jlprk]

"Damian was the player we coveted and targeted early in the Draft process," general manager Neil Olshey texted Sunday night,

adding from the side of his mouth, "We use the Best Player Available method."

 

[mgb]

One thing I think lilard will give us that we've been missing is a killers instinct. He'll put teams away at the end of games.

 

[Denny Crane]

Rereading the thread...

Noah is one of the elite centers and is extremely athletic for the position. I don't get how this is a bad thing to compare the two, though they don't play the same position.

I wouldn't worry about the guy's measurements. I don't remember Brandon Roy being a superior athlete in terms of being the biggest/fastest/strongest, etc. He was just extremely good at maximizing what he had along with sound fundamental basketball skills that can be learned and practiced. He turned out OK, aside from the injuries.

 

[THE HCP]

Noah has played waaaaaay better then I thought he ever would! And if he can be a starting center in the NBA, LA can as well.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

One of my friends made this comparison the other day: Pre-injury Gilbert Arenas.

 

[THE HCP]

I like that comparison. I loved Agent Zero in Golden State!

 

[MickZagger]

One of my friends made this comparison the other day: Pre-injury Gilbert Arenas.

http://sportstwo.com/threads/218398-Lilliard-reminds-you-of...

His name's Mick and he's been saying it since June/July.

 

[GoBlazersGo]

One of my friends made this comparison the other day: Pre-injury Gilbert Arenas.

Not a bad comparison... but, hopefully he's the pre-assclown Agent 0, too!

 

[HailBlazers]

http://sportstwo.com/threads/218398-Lilliard-reminds-you-of...

His name's Mick and he's been saying it since June/July.

Think you could be right on Mick. He's even got the Zero to go along with it. Just needs to put on some weight.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Lillian has the makings of a true all around guard. He doesn't seem to have any glaring weaknesses, and as he learns and adjusts to the NBA game he'll just get better. I think he'll be a top tier PG by his 4th year.

 

[ABM]

Lillian has the makings of a true all around guard. He doesn't seem to have any glaring weaknesses, and as he learns and adjusts to the NBA game he'll just get better. I think he'll be a top tier PG by his 4th year.

The same could also be said about Lillard.