What if this is Lillard's ceiling?

[Boise Blazer]

Or change the question this way, "If we didnt have a PG and we had plenty of free agent money to spend and Lillard was an unrestricted free agent, how much would you be willing to offer him?"

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Oden was on the cover of ESPN mag, too.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Or change the question this way, "If we didnt have a PG and we had plenty of free agent money to spend and Lillard was an unrestricted free agent, how much would you be willing to offer him?"

Probably not max as a rookie with no All-Star game birth (yet) but a heck of a lot. 10 to 11 MIL a year.

 

[Shooter]

He was a 4 year college player. He's near his ceiling, according to your rules.

I'm old enough to remember when EVERY player drafted was a 4-year college player, and almost all of them got better during their careers.

Sidney Wicks was one notable exception.

 

[jlprk]

John Wooden players slowly deteriorated in the NBA, as they unlearned his coaching.

 

[handiman]

I'm old enough to remember when EVERY player drafted was a 4-year college player, and almost all of them got better during their careers.

That was my basic point in the Ed O debate. It's a fairly recent expectation that good players leave early. The fact that someone doesn't leave early tells us absolutely nothing of certainty about their career trajectory. It's only in hindsight that you can determine whether they fit the norm.

 

[Ed O]

That's some serious revisionist history.

It is, huh? So you've been paying attention to what I've been typing for 20 years and are here to tell me what I think?

Thank you.

Ed O.

 

[drexlersdad]

all things being equal, younger is better

that said, older can be pretty damn good as well

 

[handiman]

It is, huh? So you've been paying attention to what I've been typing for 20 years and are here to tell me what I think?

Thank you.

Ed O.

You said, "TEND to be. I use words for a reason." In the "Lillard Wars" thread, you absolutely refused to accept that Lillard had star potential, purely on the basis that he played 4 years of college and had little room to improve. So, no, I have no idea what you've been typing for the past 20 years, but I do know that your "tend to be" and carefully chosen words are complete bullshit in light of what you typed just a few months ago. Nice try.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Given Rasta's thread, this seems a legit question again...


...if this is Lillard's ceiling, and he maintains exactly this level of play, what is your opinion of him?

 

[donkiez]

I think top 10 player in the league and a possible MVP candidate........... after the league figures out some way to put him on the Lakers.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Its just kinda silly, players peak from 27-29 generally

 

[Natebishop3]

Given Rasta's thread, this seems a legit question again...


...if this is Lillard's ceiling, and he maintains exactly this level of play, what is your opinion of him?

Considering he has gotten better as the season wears on, I don't think we really know what "this" is?

Makes me think:

October - "Is THIS Dame's ceiling?"

November - "Okay..... is THIS Dame's ceiling?"

December - "Maybe not that..... but how about THIS?"

January - "Well THIS has to be his ceiling, right?"

February - "THIS is definitely his ceiling, no?"

March - "THIS can't be his ceiling.... he dribbles too much."

April - "TBD"

 

[maxiep]

If this is Lillard's ceiling, then we have a terrific point guard for the next 10-15 years. We haven't had a point guard this good below the neck since Strickland and above the neck since Porter.

 

[PapaG]

What if this is Lillard's floor?

 

[donkiez]

What if this is Lillard's floor?

mostly tile, some pergo.

 

[PapaG]

mostly tile, some pergo.

Dark oak...

 

[Natebishop3]

I heard Lillard prefers a nice shag carpeting.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

BUMP! This is a fun thread to resurrect, the closest to a "What's Dame's ceiling?" discussion from his rookie year:

Considering he has gotten better as the season wears on, I don't think we really know what "this" is?

Makes me think:

October - "Is THIS Dame's ceiling?"

November - "Okay..... is THIS Dame's ceiling?"

December - "Maybe not that..... but how about THIS?"

January - "Well THIS has to be his ceiling, right?"

February - "THIS is definitely his ceiling, no?"

March - "THIS can't be his ceiling.... he dribbles too much."

April - "TBD"

It seems like every year we've had the same reaction as above... but this year really feels intense.

Ive said it before but as good as Dame is there are some very learnable and fixable things in his game. Without even factoring in how much better he will get with more time and experience there are a few things that will make him better next year.

1) As he get more and more comfortable taking the ball to the hole in the NBA he will get not only better at but will start to get more calls which gets more free throws and free throws always help a shooter get going. I can see that adding 2-4 ppg onto his average.

2) He would become deadly if he can be consistent with the tear drop in the lane a la Tony Parker. That would easily bring another 2-4 ppgs.

3) As number one and two improve that will help open up his outside game and he will get better shots and better shot selection as a result. Another 2 ppg

4) As his defense improves I could see him become a better steals guy which is another bucket a game.

5) If we can get or develop another solid starter and add a stronger bench this would easily help his assists numbers. His teammates miss so many wide open shots that he creates that he could easily average 8-9 asp.

6) And all of these things could be impacted even more so if he develops into "the" go to guy on this team.

So if you look at all of these things I could see in his prime Lillard averaging something like 24 ppg 8.5 asp

And if he hasnt proven already just by where he came from to where he is that he has the drive and work ethic to get better then I dont know it would take to prove it.

Finally keep in mind this it what I think he could do on this team. Nevermind what he could do on a bad team where he was the only option. Like Damon.

What's the phrase? SPEAKING FLAMES!

 

[Natebishop3]

BUMP! This is a fun thread to resurrect, the closest to a "What's Dame's ceiling?" discussion from his rookie year:




It seems like every year we've had the same reaction as above... but this year really feels intense.



What's the phrase? SPEAKING FLAMES!

The guy just continues to exceed all my expectations. I was just hoping for an All-Star game or two. I never would have imagined averaging 25+ ppg.

 

[KingSpeed]

The guy just continues to exceed all my expectations. I was just hoping for an All-Star game or two. I never would have imagined averaging 25+ ppg.

I always saw it and I wouldn't trade him for Curry. Let's see who has the best career when all is said and done.

 

[SIeepwalker]

I always saw it and I wouldn't trade him for Curry. Let's see who has the best career when all is said and done.

Well if Curry keeps playing like that for some years, I don't see a lot of people having a better career than him...

 

[rasheedfan2005]

He'll be 23 starting next season, so a more realistic expectation is that he can probably sustain what he's done so far for probably 7 o 8 more years, asking for 18/7 past thirty usually gets pretty dodgy.

Regardless, if this is as good as it gets (in terms of percentages and efficiency) then that's "OK," but probably not enough to elevate this team to championship contention unless he can turn himself into an elite defender to go with his current level of offensive production.

Good news though, I think he's got it in him to be a multiple appearance all-star.

hey now, ill be thirty this year and I still preform the same since 20...



Which is not at all.

 

[Reep]

I too thought he might have hit his ceiling last year. But he clearly worked on finishing at the rim and his tear drop shots are much better. He also seems to have worked on his passing. Certainly above where I thought he would be and there appears to be a bit more room up there. Good bump.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Dame has been very impressive. Keeps getting better in little ways. Efficiency!!

 

[Natebishop3]

Dame is an extremely hard worker. He's never going to stop trying to improve himself.

 

[BBert]

I always saw it and I wouldn't trade him for Curry. Let's see who has the best career when all is said and done.

The masses will judge that based on who has more championships. Curry is in a pretty good position to get his second.

 

[Boise Blazer]

BUMP! This is a fun thread to resurrect, the closest to a "What's Dame's ceiling?" discussion from his rookie year:

What's the phrase? SPEAKING FLAMES!

Thank you! Thank you! But in all seriousness the writing was on the wall. You could see the potential to break out was there and his drive made me know it was going to happen. Good for you Dame!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Dame is an extremely hard worker. He's never going to stop trying to improve himself.

I'm looking forward to all the Old Man tricks he brings to bear against our opponents in ten years.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm looking forward to all the Old Man tricks he brings to bear against our opponents in ten years.

I think he'll win a championship for us and then retire so he can lead the armies of earth against the invading alien overlords. At that point his nicname will be General Lillard.