The New Face Of Our National Team........

[THE HCP]

Gotta' love all the pub Dame is getting!

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I have no doubt. Damian will be the best blazer ever

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I have doubts. But dreams are good. And this is certainly helping:

LAS VEGAS – On Tuesday the media was allowed access to watch about 85 percent of Team USA's mini camp session, which was Day 2.
In that time, it was pretty clear who were the two best point guards of the day – Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
Irving is simply on another planet right now and that isn't anything new to report. His ability to turn it on and off was a pleasure to watch.
Lillard is doing an excellent job of making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Yes, he was consistently knocking down the outside shot and coming off the pick-and-rolls only to let it fly and watch it go through the net.
We knew he could do those things, but his defense is what stood out.
For the second consecutive day, Lillard was featured as his team's off-guard, meaning he had to guard players two to three inches taller than him. He did more than held his own today.
“That's what I'm focusing on, my defense,” Lillard told CSNNW.com. “I want to show them that I can do it all. Not just score the basketball, but play on both sides. Whatever my team needs from me, I want to be able to provide that.”
There was a possession during one of the scrimmages where Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes felt like he had a “mouse in the house” in Lillard guarding him.
His teammates found him in the post. He tried to back Lillard back but was unable to gain ground towards the basket. Lillard ended up forcing Barnes into a tough turnaround jump-shot that clanked off the rim.
Fighting through multiple picks and and pressuring the ball were other improvements you could visibly see in Lillard's game. Lillard hasn't even begun working out with NBA Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton.
So far these improvements have all come from within.
“I'm Just paying attention to details and learning how to use certain angles,” Lillard said. “Last season was a learning experience for me. Now I know what I need to work on and I'm just trying to improve at it everyday.”
Lillard says he's expecting to get with Payton for defensive workouts sometime early next month in Oakland, Calif.
Legendary coach John Thompson spoke with the team post-practice and applauded them for making the sacrifice to be here. The summers are vacation time for most NBA players, but these 28 players have volunteered to cut their off-time short for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country by playing the sport that they love.
“It is a sacrifice,” Thompson said. “Players have families and lives outside of basketball. We have to be aware of that. I just commended them for taking this first step to be here. It says a lot about these guys.”
Defense is a sacrifice. It's not the most popular job to do. It's often overlooked. There's really not a stat that can truly reveal its tremendous value, yet it is so important.
Lillard realizes the window that he has. There's a huge crop of talented point guards at this camp. All of them are “The Guy” on their prospective teams. But somebody is going to have to put their egos to the side and get down and dirty.
In the last two days, Lillard has been down...down in a defensive stance, that is, and he doesn't plan on getting out of it unless it's time to put the ball in the basket. He's got the right mindset.
A defensive mindset.
“Everybody can score, but everybody can't defend,” he said. “I'm making a concerted effort to get better defensively and I can see it paying off. I want to make it impossible for them to leave me off this team. I'm going to do everything possible to give myself the best opportunity to make this team. And playing defense will help me here and help me during the regular season. I'm happy with my progress, but not content.”

Pessimist that I am, in all that excellent news it bugs me that he's being played at off-guard. The best (only) PG on our roster isn't a PG on another team. (Yes, yes - he's playing with Irving. But Irving is more of a scoring PG too, and they just got Jarrett Jack so they can play him off the ball.)

 

[Pinwheel1]

Pessimist that I am, in all that excellent news it bugs me that he's being played at off-guard. The best (only) PG on our roster isn't a PG on another team. (Yes, yes - he's playing with Irving. But Irving is more of a scoring PG too, and they just got Jarrett Jack so they can play him off the ball.)

Where does it say he's being played at off-guard? The part of the scrimmage they showed (In between all the fucking talking) he was at the point. Some of the players comments about him were also about him at the point.

But regardless of where he plays on the National Team, Lillard is a scoring PG, not an off guard.
I really don't understand why you can't see that from his play last year. Just because he can also score doesn't mean he can't run a team. Some say he is part of a new breed of PG's, but I see them more as a throw back in the mold of Walt Frazier and Jerry West. Guy's who can run an offense but can score too. With the newer rules prohibiting hand checks, a scoring PG is ideal.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Where does it say he's being played at off-guard? The part of the scrimmage they showed (In between all the fucking talking) he was at the point. Some of the players comments about him were also about him at the point.

From the quoted article: For the second consecutive day, Lillard was featured as his team's off-guard, meaning he had to guard players two to three inches taller than him. He did more than held his own today.

But regardless of where he plays on the National Team, Lillard is a scoring PG, not an off guard.
I really don't understand why you can't see that from his play last year. Just because he can also score doesn't mean he can't run a team. Some say he is part of a new breed of PG's, but I see them more as a throw back in the mold of Walt Frazier and Jerry West. Guy's who can run an offense but can score too. With the newer rules prohibiting hand checks, a scoring PG is ideal.

 

[Pinwheel1]

From the quoted article: For the second consecutive day, Lillard was featured as his team's off-guard, meaning he had to guard players two to three inches taller than him. He did more than held his own today.

On the defense end he may have been. On the offensive end it looked liked they shared the PG responsibilities. It shows that Lillard is stronger than Kyrie at this point and has the better chance of guarding a bigger players.

"In that time, it was pretty clear who were the two best point guards of the day – Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard."

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I see what you're getting at. It's all definitely good news to hear!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Also when listening to the interview with either Colangelo or coach K (I can't remember which one) they were clear that the national team likes to have 2 PG's on the floor at the same time. Who wouldn't if they can get away with it on the defensive end?

 

[Reep]

Wow, I can't think of much better news to hear about Lillard than that. Still love his attitude.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Can I help it if I've got anhedonia?

 

[Draco]

On a superstar team you don't want a PG to dominate the ball since there are so many excellent shot creators. On the Blazers and most NBA teams; its better for players like Lillard to dominate the ball since normally he is far and away the best option to create offense. I think its very valuable he has the flexibility to play either role.

 

[maxiep]

Lillard is working on his defense? <<drooling sound>> Damn, but if that doesn't show some maturity and self-awareness of the shortcomings in his game.

How about we have Dame talk to Meyers?

 

[dviss1]

Lillard is doing an excellent job of making his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Yes, he was consistently knocking down the outside shot and coming off the pick-and-rolls only to let it fly and watch it go through the net.

In the last two days, Lillard has been down...down in a defensive stance, that is, and he doesn't plan on getting out of it unless it's time to put the ball in the basket. He's got the right mindset.
A defensive mindset.

These are the parts I love to hear! STEP UP THAT D DAME!!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm getting pretty stoked about Defensive Damian. Can pre-season hurry up and get here already?!

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Is it bad that I would prefer no Blazer ever be involved with National teams? Additional threat of injury, socialization with players from more lucrative markets putting thoughts in their heads about playing elsewhere, and added miles on bodies that have finite lifetimes limits on the pounding basketball can do to them?

 

[dviss1]

Is it bad that I would prefer no Blazer ever be involved with National teams? Additional threat of injury, socialization with players from more lucrative markets putting thoughts in their heads about playing elsewhere, and added miles on bodies that have finite lifetimes limits on the pounding basketball can do to them?

I can see both sides of the coin. There is nothing more honorable than representing your country though.

 

[maxiep]

Is it bad that I would prefer no Blazer ever be involved with National teams? Additional threat of injury, socialization with players from more lucrative markets putting thoughts in their heads about playing elsewhere, and added miles on bodies that have finite lifetimes limits on the pounding basketball can do to them?

I respectfully disagree. Is there a better vehicle to practice during the summer? Coach K is a great instructor regardless of level of hoops. And having to execute against an entire team of elite players? I remember the vibe around the 1992 Olympic team about how the players said they had never played such competitive hoops as they did during practice.

I think an experience like this can only help Lillard. We're all sensitive to injury, but I think it's worth the risk (how many players have been grievously injured playing USA basketball?).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Is it bad that I would prefer no Blazer ever be involved with National teams? Additional threat of injury, socialization with players from more lucrative markets putting thoughts in their heads about playing elsewhere, and added miles on bodies that have finite lifetimes limits on the pounding basketball can do to them?

Maybe not "bad", but perhaps myopic. The benefit they gain by playing with other top-flight players and under other top-notch coaches is valuable and helps to make them better. Many players have commented on how much they learn and benefit from the national team experience. I'm more interested in that than I am fearful of "wear-and-tear"

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I can see both sides of the coin. There is nothing more honorable than representing your country though.

Except maybe altruistic actions toward a stranger.

 

[illmatic99]

Maybe not "bad", but perhaps myopic. The benefit they gain by playing with other top-flight players and under other top-notch coaches is valuable and helps to make them better. Many players have commented on how much they learn and benefit from the national team experience. I'm more interested in that than I am fearful of "wear-and-tear"

Hell just in recent history, look at the guys who participated on Team USA.

Melo- came back as a far more efficient scorer and had some of his best seasons
LBJ- climbed to GOAT status after working on his killer instinct
Curry- career year after stint
Love- went from a chubby rebounder to top tier PF
Westbrook- went from a reckless combo guard to a top 5 PG

The system works for young guys who take full advantage of it, and Dame certainly looks like he wants to work. I'm fully expecting a DWade esque second year leap from him. Beast mode.

 

[magnifier661]

Hell just in recent history, look at the guys who participated on Team USA.

Melo- came back as a far more efficient scorer and had some of his best seasons
LBJ- climbed to GOAT status after working on his killer instinct
Curry- career year after stint
Love- went from a chubby rebounder to top tier PF
Westbrook- went from a reckless combo guard to a top 5 PG

The system works for young guys who take full advantage of it, and Dame certainly looks like he wants to work. I'm fully expecting a DWade esque second year leap from him. Beast mode.

If he has a wade type leap; we are on really good shape.

 

[illmatic99]

If he has a wade type leap; we are on really good shape.

Predicting 23/8/3 on 45%+ FG, ~40% 3pt in about 36mpg. All star, 2nd team all NBA.

Is that too lofty?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Predicting 23/8/3 on 45%+ FG, ~40% 3pt in about 36mpg. All star, 2nd team all NBA.

Is that too lofty?

I agree that he'll play fewer minutes, but my thinking is he'll average similar to last year, even as his PER goes up. 19p/7a/3r playing only 37 minutes. But he could very well exceed that and blow away the expectations.

 

[magnifier661]

Predicting 23/8/3 on 45%+ FG, ~40% 3pt in about 36mpg. All star, 2nd team all NBA.

Is that too lofty?

Well he's definitely capable. If he does that; then we are a top three team in the west.

 

[Draco]

Yeah I’m not concerned about injury, sure it is always a risk but I think its better to stay in good shape and get practice. On team USA the players don’t have to play big minutes so they shouldn’t wear out like Pau did on Spain or Yao with China.

I think its far more important for players to be cautious when they do have an injury. I’m much more concerned about Matthews hiding injuries during the season and fighting through pain. Coming back from knee injuries like Brandon did after 7 days. Those are the things that destroy careers. Playing basketball when you are strong and healthy is good for all NBA players.

 

[illmatic99]

Ya. More so than defense, I expect his efficiency to climb as he takes better shots and gets to the line more. Hell even two more fouls drawn from the ref-respect factor can up his PPG more easily than anything else.

 

[Draco]

Well he's definitely capable. If he does that; then we are a top three team in the west.

Yeah that is pretty unlikely but not out of the realm of possibility. That’s one big reason I want us to hold off with any Aldridge trade until we get well into the season, if the team surprises us and is in the race for HCA we can try to take a win now approach and keep Aldridge as the sidekick for Lillard. If the team has a losing record then it would make sense to dump veterans.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Lillard is working on his defense? <<drooling sound>> Damn, but if that doesn't show some maturity and self-awareness of the shortcomings in his game.

How about we have Dame talk to Meyers?

Lillard with a defensive game is a helluva proposition. It's the one area of his game that I am afraid will hold him back from making he leap from good to great, but if he's committed to it and he's having success with it then, wow ... he could be one hell of a player.

 

[Reep]

I loved this quote (on O-live):

Talk with Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau:

I want to find out as many ways as I can to lead a team. He's been talking to me a lot about that since I've been there. I've asked him how [Derrick] Rose has gotten better about it, what type of things has he done. He shared a few of those things with me.