Thorpe: Lillard Ranks Third, Robinson 20th Among Sophomores

[PapaG]

I have trouble putting Lillard behind either of these guys, simply because Lillard plays every game and his team is in the playoffs after winning 50+ games in the West this year.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10767692/sophomores-proving-special-class

Lillard’s play this season gives this class three men who will be rated as elite players for the foreseeable future. That puts the draft class of 2012 on a special level.

Lillard’s combination of quickness and craft with the ball makes him a difficult man to stay in front of, and then when you factor in his shooting, he joins Stephen Curry as the top shooters/drivers in the league among point guards.

His quick trigger and incredible range (his name is mentioned often when discussing a 4-point line) helps Portland’s offense by pulling one defender far from the basket almost all the time. That spacing enables the Blazers to have bigger gaps to attack, among other things — one big reason why they are third in the NBA in turnover rate. Lillard’s steady hand with the ball helps there, too.

He’s not going to compete for MVP and all-league honors like Drummond and Davis will, but he is good enough to be the MVP of a playoff series, including an NBA Finals.

 

[Strenuus]

Much like the NBA does, they cater to individual players, regardless of team record. That's why there are so many selfish players in the game it seems.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

In a knife fight Lillard would take out both of those fools. Lillard is a warrior. Drummond and Davis are incredibly talented players but they don't have the same drive and determination as Dame.

 

[santeesioux]

You could maybe argue Davis, but Drummond? I think Drummond has kind of become overrated because people expected him to be as bad as Leonar is.

 

[PDXFonz]

Robinsons rating is a product of his pt. if he was some where like Cleveland where he plays 30 minutes he would easily be top 8.

Not just saying this because he is my favorite blazer. Trob is a beast and I hope he is given enough time to make the rockets regret trading him.

 

[PapaG]

Robinsons rating is a product of his pt. if he was some where like Cleveland where he plays 30 minutes he would easily be top 8.

Not just saying this because he is my favorite blazer. Trob is a beast and I hope he is given enough time to make the rockets regret trading him.

Since Detroit has a worse record than Cleveland, doesn't that mean Drummond should be lower?

 

[PDXFonz]

Since Detroit has a worse record than Cleveland, doesn't that mean Drummond should be lower?

I didn't see the rankings but I'd hope Drummond is 3 which is where he should be. If Drummond was coming off the bench getting trobs minutes he wouldn't be that high.

 

[PapaG]

I didn't see the rankings but I'd hope Drummond is 3 which is where he should be. If Drummond was coming off the bench getting trobs minutes he wouldn't be that high.

Lillard is 3rd in these rankings, and Thorpe makes it seem like Dame barely made the cut to a Top 3. Idiotic, if you ask me. Drummond can't shoot FTs, and has never had to play on a team that depends on him to win games. I'll give Davis a pass on that, since he proved that in college.

 

[Natebishop3]

People keep hating, and Dame keeps on adding accolades.

Rookie of the Year.
All-Star.

That's just his first two years. What's next?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

People keep hating, and Dame keeps on adding accolades.

Rookie of the Year.
All-Star.

That's just his first two years. What's next?

Commissioner on RipCityTwo.com?

 

[Natebishop3]

Commissioner on RipCityTwo.com?

Well, that's your job, so you'll have to Thunderdome that bitch.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Well, that's your job, so you'll have to Thunderdome that bitch.

It's not a job, it's an internet adventure.

 

[PDXFonz]

Lillard is 3rd in these rankings, and Thorpe makes it seem like Dame barely made the cut to a Top 3. Idiotic, if you ask me. Drummond can't shoot FTs, and has never had to play on a team that depends on him to win games. I'll give Davis a pass on that, since he proved that in college.

So Davis, Drummond, Lillard? That is moronic...I'm already glad that I didn't renew my insider.

 

[PapaG]

So Davis, Drummond, Lillard? That is moronic...I'm already glad that I didn't renew my insider.

From Thorpe...

He’s (Lillard) not going to compete for MVP and all-league honors like Drummond and Davis will,

I guess Rookie of the Year and then an All-Star game selection (and not replacement, like Davis) makes Dame an overachiever.

 

[PDXFonz]

From Thorpe...



I guess Rookie of the Year and then an All-Star game selection (and not replacement, like Davis) makes Dame an overachiever.

If his rankings are based on who will have a better career then he may have a leg to stand on. Centers stand out since there are a lot fewer greats than there are guards. And Anthony Davis is definitely the best young player to build a core around right now.

But until Lillard has shown that his game is done developing there is no reason he should be anything but #2 behind Davis. Keep in mind Lillard would have had trouble getting into the asg if it weren't for injuries.

 

[Rhal]

Thorpe has never been that high on Lillard. Of course Davis is the cream of that draft class but lillard is right behind him.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[riverman]

Lillard was rookie of the year and how many NBA records has he broken in 2 seasons or Blazer records? And he's stayed healthy! Davis deserves to be in the conversation but Lillard has been special from that class.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Awesome, just keep on prodding him people. Yep, poke a stick at him and keep driving him to get better. Love it, hope he hears all of this stuff. Davis and Drummond have obvious height and skills, Dame has IT.

 

[PDXFonz]

Awesome, just keep on prodding him people. Yep, poke a stick at him and keep driving him to get better. Love it, hope he hears all of this stuff. Davis and Drummond have obvious height and skills, Dame has IT.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

lol!

Rep'd

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

My neighborhood has drains like that, always wanted to put a fake clown head in one and freak people out.

 

[Fun in the Sun]

I really like Drummond. That said, the guy has almost no offensive game outside alley-oops and putbacks. He is really young but future MVP talk is just stupid.

 

[stevelol]

i'm going to have to disagree with placing lillard behind drummond on that list. no shame in being behind anthony davis, though. i like where trob is at. don't think he's ever going to be a starting 4 in the league but he is certainly an amazing energy guy off the bench that can manhandle the vast majority of stretch 4's in the league.

 

[Natebishop3]

i'm going to have to disagree with placing lillard behind drummond on that list. no shame in being behind anthony davis, though. i like where trob is at. don't think he's ever going to be a starting 4 in the league but he is certainly an amazing energy guy off the bench that can manhandle the vast majority of stretch 4's in the league.

I think he could start for a shitty team. I actually think the guy can produce, he just needs confidence. It's going to take him longer than people expected, and he might never reach the lofty expectations, but I still think he's going to be good.

 

[illmatic99]

This didn't deserve its own thread:

Yet another snub, from Bill Simmons this time for Aldridge: http://grantland.com/features/nba-mailbag-this-is-the-end/

First-Team All-NBA: Durant, LeBron, Noah, Chris Paul, Harden.

Second-Team All-NBA: George, Griffin, Dwight Howard, Curry, Dragic.

Third-Team All-NBA: Kevin Love, Nowitzki, Al Jefferson, Kyle Lowry, Tony Parker.

And another Dame D shot in the following paragraph.

I like Bill, but he's too much of a reactionary fan to have a ballot.

 

[Natebishop3]

This didn't deserve its own thread:

Yet another snub, from Bill Simmons this time for Aldridge: http://grantland.com/features/nba-mailbag-this-is-the-end/



And another Dame D shot in the following paragraph.

I like Bill, but he's too much of a reactionary fan to have a ballot.

There's absolutely no way Dirk makes it over LA. No fucking way. That's ridiculous. In fact, the whole third team is just a slap in the face.

 

[illmatic99]

Agreed. I'd put LA in place of George on the second team.

 

[santeesioux]

It's the year 2014, people still care about BS crapping on the Blazers?

 

[illmatic99]

He doesn't crap on the Blazers. He actually likes them a lot and I enjoy his takes. He just shouldn't be given a ballot to make rational decisions.

Should I not have posted that link?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

He doesn't crap on the Blazers. He actually likes them a lot and I enjoy his takes. He just shouldn't be given a ballot to make rational decisions.

Should I not have posted that link?

No, thank you for posting that.