Damian Lillard has become one of the most respected shooters in the league. And it’s time for people to stop saying that he is not a top 10 player.
There’s no question that Lillard is the best Blazer to ever exist. Sorry Drexler, but he will pass you in total points.
Lillard multiple times has joined Elite company.
Over his first 300 games in the NBA, he averaged 21.2 points and 6.2 assists. Becoming the fifth player in NBA history to do so. The other five? Oscar Robertson (30.2 and 6.4), Nate Archibald (24.5 and 8.4), LeBron James (26.7 and 6.4) and Dwayne Wade.
In his first five seasons, Lillard amassed more than 8,000 points and 2,000 assists. Joining only Michael Jordan and LeBron James to do so. Two seasons later, he became the eighth player in NBA History to hit 10,000 points and 2,500 in his first six seasons. The players he joined: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, Dave Bing, Pete Maravich, and Nate Archibald.
During the 2019-20 NBA season, Lillard had three 60 point games. Joining only Wilt Chamberlain to do that in one season.
This season, Lillard’s numbers were down at the beginning of the season because he couldn’t play isolation. Earlier in the year, every time Lillard would bring the ball up, teams would double team him at half-court.
If Lillard had somebody to keep him accountable on defense, he could have a good defensive rating. But, he doesnt. His coach is horrible on defense.
I recently got into a Twitter battle with a Damion Lee fan page, who claimed Lee is better than Lillard. Every time, I’d point out a reason why he was wrong. He’d revert to something to do with a final score.
Join reality there bud. You’re a fan page of a guy averaging 6.6 points and 1.3 assists per game. And Lee does not guard the best players on a team like Lillard does.
I will say this about his points though. Lillard’s defensive rating is horrible. And he’s right Lee does have a better rating. But the latter only has a better shooting percentage because he takes far fewer shots.
Damian Lillard has been carrying the Blazers on his back for years. And he finally just called out his own team for how badly they’ve been playing on defense.
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