Greatest Trailblazer: Lillard or Drexler?

[colts18]

Who do you have as the best Portland Trailblazer ever?

[prolific passer]

Walton

[SHAQ32]

LMA

[No-more-rings]

Walton

Peak wise, easily but he didn’t play there long enough.

Between Lillard and Drexler, Drexler is the better player.

[Doctor MJ]

Who do you have as the best Portland Trailblazer ever?

I voted Lillard but I think Lillard vs Walton is a serious debate.

Drexler has an issue because the Greatest Trailblazer Coach has such harsh criticism for him while praising the hell out of Walton.

[Owly]

Longlist
Lilard
Drexler
Walton
Porter
Aldridge
Roy

Roy has a nice peak and few years but isn't winning peak versus Walton and is getting crushed for career by most others.
Aldridge ... I underrated at the time, I think. When he went to a great team though, he seemed more a sustaining than a driving force. Very good raw on-off stuff though how one parses out credit for that on the better teams may affect your view of how much his game helps on real contender level teams. Struggle to see him over Lillard otoh.
Porter ... an outsider but low key efficient, good production and then some of the deep playoff runs sustained or bettered ototh. Solid defensive rep.

Walton ... depends on methodology. Only has a shot if talking either (or both of) peak or titles (flags fly forever, glory, significance etc). A lot of people are very high on that peak though.
Lillard vs Drexler: Both stayed in Portland a long time. Both very productive but maybe not quite top tier centerpiece superstars (dependent on metrics, but reference primes often in, around top 10, but rarely top 5 - BPM more bullish on Drexler, [so less true for that where Drexler has a handful of 4ths and 5ths]). We don't have like for like on impact so tougher to compare fairly (and not going to dive into that now).

Personally I would (otoh) be inclined to think one of OPs choices (with Porter as a dark horse, outsider to look at). But understand franchise versions of this - where longevity is less controllable (players just get moved and do so differently in different eras) and the pride in glory is greater, I absolutely get picking Walton.

[KobesScarf]

Drexler. Lillard is a better shooter, Drexler is better at everything else

[Heej]

Given that Portland fans near unanimously say Lillard I'm just gonna go with that tbh. Walton is a good one tho. But man this randomly reminds me of Brandon Roy and what really could've been haha. Such a shame what happened to his knees.

[Jaivl]

Given that Portland fans near unanimously say Lillard I'm just gonna go with that tbh.

The horror in my mind when thinking about what Philly fans or Denver fans would say.

[Blackmill]

Between just Lillard and Drexler, I have to go with Lillard. I think it could be more of a debate if Drexler actually knew how to use his athletic tools on defense. He got his legs crossed far too often, rather than sliding his feet, and he played with too much weight on his heels. These two things can undermine any player's athleticism, and it's almost jarring to watch how less athletic he was on defense than on offense. Drexler had other issues on defense too, but those are the main points. Lillard is way ahead on offense, and since I don't think Drexler is a very good defender, even though he possibly could have been, it's clearly Lillard for me.

[No-more-rings]

Between just Lillard and Drexler, I have to go with Lillard. I think it could be more of a debate if Drexler actually knew how to use his athletic tools on defense. He got his legs crossed far too often, rather than sliding his feet, and he played with too much weight on his heels. These two things can undermine any player's athleticism, and it's almost jarring to watch how less athletic he was on defense than on offense. Drexler had other issues on defense too, but those are the main points. Lillard is way ahead on offense, and since I don't think Drexler is a very good defender, even though he possibly could have been, it's clearly Lillard for me.

Criticizing Drexler’s defense is kind of strange given Lillard is total crap on defense himself.

[Blackmill]

Between just Lillard and Drexler, I have to go with Lillard. I think it could be more of a debate if Drexler actually knew how to use his athletic tools on defense. He got his legs crossed far too often, rather than sliding his feet, and he played with too much weight on his heels. These two things can undermine any player's athleticism, and it's almost jarring to watch how less athletic he was on defense than on offense. Drexler had other issues on defense too, but those are the main points. Lillard is way ahead on offense, and since I don't think Drexler is a very good defender, even though he possibly could have been, it's clearly Lillard for me.

Criticizing Drexler’s defense is kind of strange given Lillard is total crap on defense himself.

How so? I'm criticizing Drexler's defense because that's where he can make up ground in this comparison. Since I think Lillard is better on offense, I need to ask myself if Drexler is comparably better on defense. And to that end, for the reasons stated in my previous post, I don't think so.

[Heej]

Given that Portland fans near unanimously say Lillard I'm just gonna go with that tbh.

The horror in my mind when thinking about what Philly fans or Denver fans would say.

Dr J isn't a bad choice at all lmao dunno what you're on about

[MiamiBulls]

Drexler.

Lillard is an underwhelming playoff performer to say the least. From 2015-2019 Playoffs had a PIPM of -2.4 and has played poorly in 7 out of the 12 playoffs series he's played in. Had TS% above 52% in only 6 of his 12 playoffs series.

Lillard scoring is way too dependent on 3P shooting accuracy and substantial foul drawing. Metrics such as Defensive LEBRON always have him at the bottom of the league amongst qualifying Guards with the Trae Youngs and Collin Sextons of the world yearly.

Drexler's play is more stable than Lillard.

[DNice68]

Drexler.

Lillard is an underwhelming playoff performer to say the least. From 2015-2019 Playoffs had a PIPM of -2.4 and has played poorly in 7 out of the 12 playoffs series he's played in. Had TS% above 52% in only 6 of his 12 playoffs series.

Lillard scoring is way too dependent 3P shooting accuracy and substantial foul drawing. Metrics such as Defensive LEBRON always have him at the bottom of the league amongst qualifying Guards with the Trae Youngs and Collin Sextons of the world yearly.

Drexler's play is more stable than Lillard.

Word!

[No-more-rings]

Between just Lillard and Drexler, I have to go with Lillard. I think it could be more of a debate if Drexler actually knew how to use his athletic tools on defense. He got his legs crossed far too often, rather than sliding his feet, and he played with too much weight on his heels. These two things can undermine any player's athleticism, and it's almost jarring to watch how less athletic he was on defense than on offense. Drexler had other issues on defense too, but those are the main points. Lillard is way ahead on offense, and since I don't think Drexler is a very good defender, even though he possibly could have been, it's clearly Lillard for me.

Criticizing Drexler’s defense is kind of strange given Lillard is total crap on defense himself.

How so? I'm criticizing Drexler's defense because that's where he can make up ground in this comparison. Since I think Lillard is better on offense, I need to ask myself if Drexler is comparably better on defense. And to that end, for the reasons stated in my previous post, I don't think so.

There’s still a difference though between “not that good” or underachieving based on potential vs straight up crap on defense. Doesn’t seem like something to just be waived away, just like we shouldn’t wave away Lillard’s bundle of underperformances offensively in the playoffs.

Drexler isn’t that great offensively in the playoffs either, but he definitely still adds some defensive value that Lillard clearly doesn’t. I don’t think the Blazers could pull off a bunch of top 5 defenses with no true defensive anchor if Drexler was merely an average guy out there.

[Blackmill]

Criticizing Drexler’s defense is kind of strange given Lillard is total crap on defense himself.

How so? I'm criticizing Drexler's defense because that's where he can make up ground in this comparison. Since I think Lillard is better on offense, I need to ask myself if Drexler is comparably better on defense. And to that end, for the reasons stated in my previous post, I don't think so.

There’s still a difference though between “not that good” or underachieving based on potential vs straight up crap on defense. Doesn’t seem like something to just be waived away, just like we shouldn’t wave away Lillard’s bundle of underperformances offensively in the playoffs.

Drexler isn’t that great offensively in the playoffs either, but he definitely still adds some defensive value that Lillard clearly doesn’t. I don’t think the Blazers could pull off a bunch of top 5 defenses with no true defensive anchor if Drexler was merely an average guy out there.

I'm not beyond being convinced that Drexler is better. I've had my opinion changed by others, or on my own volition, too many times to think I have all the answers. And I totally agree that Drexler adds defensive value. Although if Drexler is better in this comparison, I think it's more likely because I'm overvaluing Lillard, than because I'm undervaluing Drexler. I unfortunately don't have the time to reevaluate at the moment, but I'll keep a mental note that you think Drexler is the better choice, and maybe I'll come back to this comparison in the future.

[NW BBALL]

As a decades long Blazer fan going back to the Drexler era, I have to say it is still Clyde for now but Lillard will take by the time he retires.

Clyde held so many all-time team records until just this season and led the team to higher levels of success (2 Finals appearances and regular season record in a 3 year span). But I think if Dame sticks with the Blazers for the rest of his career and retires with something like 20k+ pts and 6K+ assists in a Portland uniform, he will be remembered as Mr Blazer.

[Djoker]

Drexler was a more impactful player relative to his era although not a crazy comparison or anything.

[Jaivl]

Given that Portland fans near unanimously say Lillard I'm just gonna go with that tbh.

The horror in my mind when thinking about what Philly fans or Denver fans would say.

Dr J isn't a bad choice at all lmao dunno what you're on about

Was thinking more about ALLEN IVERSON