Raptors NBA Draft Thread: Damian Lillard (POR)

Post #61 » by **DG88** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:44 pm

Sounds like a pretty humble guy. This kid looks like he wants to work hard.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9krYCdputlU[/youtube]

cdel00 · Post #62 » by **cdel00** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 3:45 am

Lillard closes games in the paint and on the line 
http://www.wsusignpost.com/2012/03/06/w ... to-finals/

Two quick buckets from Tresnak and Wheelwright cut the lead to four and kept WSU in the game.
With six minutes to go, Lillard pulled the Wildcats within one with a drive inside and a layup, but the Vikings answered back with a 3-pointer from Chehales Tapscott.
Wheelwright kept the score close when he exploded to the hoop to make it 60-58.
Wheelwright said he thought of the game as any other and didn’t get caught up in the hype of playing a semifinal game.
“I didn’t look at it (as a tournament game),” Wheelwright said. “I was just being aggressive.”
With three minutes left, Lillard tied the game at 62. After getting a loose ball, he drove down the court and hit the layup.
Wheelwright gave the Wildcats their second lead of the game with a layup at the two-minute mark.
With 39 seconds remaining, Charles Odum went to the line for PSU with a chance to tie the game at 64, Odum hit one of the two shots, giving WSU a one point lead.
On the ensuing possession, Lillard got to the line after being fouled. Lillard converted both shots from the line, giving WSU a three-point lead with 29 seconds remaining. PSU was unable to come back and fell to the Wildcats.

Lillard showed very promising development in college getting much better every year. He was dominant since sophomore and this past year he was recognized for it:
http://www.weberstatesports.com/ViewArt ... EM_ID=8600

LILLARD NAMED BIG SKY CONFERENCE MVP
WSU junior Damian Lillard was named the Big Sky MVP last week after one of the best seasons in Weber State history. Lillard becomes just the fourth athlete in Big Sky history to win conference MVP honors twice in his career. He earned the honor as a sophomore in the 2009-10 season. He joins Harold Arceneaux (1999 and 2000) as the only other Wildcat to win the award twice and he is one of seven Wildcats to ever earn MVP honors since the league began the award in 1978-79. This is Lillard’s third season as a first team All-Big Sky selection, becoming just the 19th player in conference history and the fifth Wildcat to earn All-Conference honors three times.
Lillard has led the nation in scoring for most of the season and currently is second in the country with an average of 24.5 points per game, the best single-season average in WSU history. He has scored in double figures in all 28 games this season and has scored 20 or more points 18 times, 30 or more eight times, and has scored 40 or more points twice this season.
Lillard has led the Wildcats in scoring in 22 of 28 games during the regular season. He currently ranks second in WSU history in single-season scoring with 685 points in 28 games and needs just 29 more points to become the single-season leader. He is also currently 12th in Big Sky history in single-season scoring. Lillard has also made the most three-pointers in single-season history with 88 and has the fourth best single-season free throw percentage at 88.3 percent. He is also fourth in the Big Sky in assists and sixth in steals.
Lillard has appeared in 99 career games for the Wildcats and has started 94 games. He is second in WSU history in career scoring with 1,835 career points, which also ranks 10th in Big Sky history. He needs just two more three-pointers to become Weber State’s career leader in three-pointers. Last week he became the school’s career leader in free throws made with 489. He is also second in WSU history in career assists with 344. This season he has been named a finalist for the John Wooden and Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Awards. He is also a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, recognizing the nation’s top point guard, and for the Lou Henson Award, the Mid-major Player of the Year.

http://www.bigskybball.com/2012/02/dami ... erica.html

Looking at the numbers, this is what I see about Damian Lillard's game:
- He is the best scoring PG in America - He leads the country in scoring, so obviously he is the leader among all PGs. In fact, nobody is really close. Isaiah Canaan of Murray State scores 18.9 PPG, but that is still more than six points per game off of Lillard's mark. Lillard has two forty point games this year, and has scored 30+ points seven different times this year. He lights up the scoreboard.
- He is the best rebounding PG among the top PGs - This is less important because a point guard's main function is not to rebound, but it goes to show that he has an excellent all-around game.
- He shoots free throws better than everyone else, and he gets to the line more than the rest - His FT percentage is great, and there are not many guys in the country that get to the line as much as he does (nearly eight times per game). If you are reading a blog about basketball, obviously I don't need to explain the importance of this.
- He is the most efficient offensive scorer among the group - This goes hand in hand with him being the best scoring PG, but I think the distinction is important to make that he puts up his numbers efficiently. I just talked about the FT shooting, but he shoots over 50% inside the arc and over 46% beyond the arc. Aaron Craft has a higher percentage of 2's made (on more limited attempts), and Pierre Jackson shoots a little better from downtown, but nobody combines those things with the propensity to get to the stripe and knock them down quite like he does.
- He takes great care of the ball - Jordan Taylor is a guy that has basically made a living on not turning the ball over, but Lillard's TO Rate is a little bit lower even than his so far this season. Lillard's TO Rate combined with his usage rate is quite simply exceptional.

Honestly just honestly watch this vid of his freshman year and feel lucky he might be around when we pick:)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkS-GDxZ3FE&feature=related[/youtube]

Fenris-77 · Post #63 » by **Fenris-77** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 3:54 am

Guys who think that Lillard is just Bayless 2.0 need to take a more careful look at his production.

Rapsfan07 · Post #64 » by **Rapsfan07** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 3:57 am

Strategist1 wrote:I'd rather start Bayless.

Fenris-77 · Post #65 » by **Fenris-77** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:01 am

Rapsfan07 wrote:
Strategist1 wrote:I'd rather start Bayless.

I think you have a strong argument there. That said, your first point might be a little weak, and should probably be elaborated on if you expect to be taken seriously.

Post #66 » by **DG88** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:20 am

Rapsfan07 wrote:
Strategist1 wrote:I'd rather start Bayless.

Oh please the one thing Lillard improved on was making his teammates better. When he got that foot injury that red shirted him for his sophomore year he put in the work in the weight room and watched film and dissected his game. Now he plays with a balance of finding teammates and scoring the ball. His PG instincts rose and it's a reason why he's being considered a mid to late lottery pick. Bayless still hasn't figured out how to play the PG position well enough to be a guy we can count on. There are times when he does get it then he'll ignore his teammates and try to get his.

cdel00 · Post #67 » by **cdel00** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:31 am

Inside outside in the middle off the pass off the dribble swooping layup emphatic dunk drawing contact and so friggen decisive. No second guessing no hesitation he makes the play. That freshmen video was 13 minutes of pwn plain and simple. Pure awesomeness.

Stick me sideways and call me for a BBQ that kid is cookin.

Bayless never has played like that. TJ used too but Lillard is bigger and better than TJ. much better.

JamesNaismith · Post #68 » by **JamesNaismith** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:30 am

**disclaimer that I don't think it's 100% accurate (at all lol)

I couldn't put my finger on who he reminds me of before but it's kind of like Tony Parker. I'm still not high on him at all but if forced to make a comparison of "style" I see then that's the closest similarity that I see. I still favor PJ3 over him but this kid would be my plan B over even Sullinger and definitely over Rivers.

Post #69 » by **TheDoctor** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:45 am

I'm really intrigued by this kid and would love to see what our brass thinks of him. If they like him, I'm fine with taking him. He's apparently good on the PnR and drive and kick, as well as his own scoring and creating off the dribble. That's pretty much exactly what we need as long as he focuses on D as well.

JamesNaismith · Post #70 » by **JamesNaismith** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:52 am

The thing that's growing on me is watching more and more of his interviews he seems to have a strong self confidence (not arrogance like Rivers) and that usually translates extremely well on the court and in the locker room. His skill looks phenominal BUT I just can't get over that he's played against such a low level of competition I hope he gets a chance to go head to head with Rivers and even Beal (highly doubt BB accepts working out against him) but if hear he's tearing them up than my tone would probably change....

Also thought some of you would appreciate watching some dribbling drills he was doing in his freshman season:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJX5SI24ACg&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

Landomar · Post #71 » by **Landomar** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:07 am

Lillard is good. He looks like a solid NBA point guard to me, and I could see him developing into a scoring guard that resembles Lou Williams. Maybe Lillard will be a bit better than that (Steph Curry), or maybe a bit worse (J.J. Barea). We'll see. I like him, though, and think that whoever drafts him will be happy with him.

JamesNaismith · Post #72 » by **JamesNaismith** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:16 am

Landomar wrote:Lillard is good. He looks like a solid NBA point guard to me, and I could see him developing into a scoring guard that resembles Lou Williams. Maybe Lillard will be a bit better than that (Steph Curry), or maybe a bit worse (J.J. Barea). We'll see. I like him, though, and think that whoever drafts him will be happy with him.

The only "Steph" he reminds me of is Marbury but with a brain.

SkywalkerAC · Post #73 » by **SkywalkerAC** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:17 am

Lillard really does seem like a "can't miss" point guard prospect. The only question seems to be how far above average can he be in a league full of speedy, sharp-shooting point guards. He seems like a hard worker and he talks like Chris Bosh, so who knows, he could be special.

We need a point guard, there's going to be a pretty good one dangled right in front of BC. It's going to be pretty interesting to see if Colangelo goes for need takes the guy he knows can produce and compete at a pretty high level right now. Do remember that Lillard can quite easily be considered the best player available at 8, with his competition coming from Lamb, if he's still on the board.

Can Lillard be a "franchise point guard"? Well, yeah, I think he can, solid starter if perhaps never an allstar (hey, it's a stacked position). Starter from year two. Big time scoring, clutch play, can get the lane and make the pass, can be a leader. I think he's "all in" as far as training and team goes and that's huge and he really seems like he could come in and be a pro from day 1. for a team striving for the playoffs next season, that's massive.

Komodo · Post #74 » by **Komodo** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:26 am

I like everything I'm hearing. Seems like a good choice at 8.

nelabai · Post #75 » by **nelabai** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:06 pm

He reminds me of D-Rose with his interviews, very calm, confident ant smart. He is ready for the next level mentally and skill wise.

Young, fast, skilled pg, who loves to score at the rim, at #8 i would love to have him.

peja drobnjak · Post #76 » by **peja drobnjak** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:32 pm

lol toronto should get tony wroten for **** and giggles

have a mini john wall

Post #77 » by **DG88** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:38 pm

JamesNaismith wrote:**disclaimer that I don't think it's 100% accurate (at all lol)

I couldn't put my finger on who he reminds me of before but it's kind of like Tony Parker. I'm still not high on him at all but if forced to make a comparison of "style" I see then that's the closest similarity that I see. I still favor PJ3 over him but this kid would be my plan B over even Sullinger and definitely over Rivers.

I was thinking that as well last night, when I was watching the Spurs playoffs preview. His attacking style is eerily similar to that of Tony Parker. I don't want to hype the kid up too much and put high expectations on him but I like the skills that he brings to the table.

GP2 · Post #78 » by **GP2** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:27 pm

I don't see the Bayless comparison. This guy is a better scorer and doesn't have tweener size. He can play PG. I'd be happy with him or Lamb at our slot.

OakleyDokely · Post #79 » by **OakleyDokely** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:37 pm

I can see Lillard being one of the biggest movers in the draft.

The biggest thing holding back in some peoples eyes is the school he went to. If does well in workouts against the other top smalls, his value will shoot up. Has Russell Westbrook like potentail imo.

SHFT · Post #80 » by **SHFT** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:05 pm

JamesNaismith wrote:
S.W.A.N wrote:
JamesNaismith wrote:Lillard or PJ3....what a fail of a season this has been.

Pretty much a perfect rebuild season in my mind.

Total revamp of team defense, some player development and a lotto pick in a deep draft.

If we fluke into the top 3.....absolutely.

If not......you can't be serious.

Why are people saying top 3? We were never going to get a top 3 pick.

If still on the Board by our pick what are the chanches we draft him?