Wade vs Lillard: Peak for today’s game

[No-more-rings]

Who would you take for one year in today’s game?

Lillard is scoring at higher volume and significantly higher efficiency compared to what Wade did.

32.2 ppg to 30.2 ppg

64.5 ts% to 57.4 ts%

10th ranked offense to 20th

Wade’s team(2009) will have won more games.

Lillard had a 66 ts% 2 playoffs ago which typically crushed what Wade did.

Wade’s defense may not be as much of a factor, given offensive players have gotten much better

Lillard bombs 3s pretty good, and Wade may struggle to score at the rim today with the complex defensive schemes on the perimeter. His lack of 3 point shooting may also hurt spacing for his teammates.

[Jaivl]

Hell, I might take 2005 Wade over peak Lillard.

[rk2023]

If you could cite Lillard playoff stats in comparison with Wade, that would be cool

[IdolW0rm]

Lillard had a 66 ts% 2 playoffs ago which typically crushed what Wade did.

Oh yeah, that one series two seasons ago in the first round against the 12th ranked defense. Almost as relevant as that one series in the first round where Wade put up 65 ts% against the 5th ranked defense in 2010.

[IdolW0rm]

If you could cite Lillard playoff stats in comparison with Wade, that would be cool

Lillard: 66%ts vs Denver in 2019.
Wade: Typically crushed.

[1993Playoffs]

I thought OP was a Wade fan?

Wade and it’s not close. Healthy wade would have Portland in the playoffs

[rk2023]

If you could cite Lillard playoff stats in comparison with Wade, that would be cool

Lillard: 66%ts vs Denver in 2019.
Wade: Typically crushed.

Prime Wade was the one typically crushing opponents.

2005 vs. NJN: 26.3 on 58.4% RS
2006 vs. DET: 27 on 68.4% TS
2006 vs. NJN: 27.6 on 59.8% TS
2006 vs. DAL: 35 PPG Finals and 2-0 Comeback
2010 vs. BOS: 33.2 on 65% TS
2011 vs. BOS: 30.2 on 61.6% TS
2011 vs. DAL: 26.5 on 61.4% TS

EDIT: Just going to leave these stats as is for some Wade appreciation / people to see for themselves. Apologies for (at first) not reading the room regarding sarcasm / tongue in cheek rhetoric.

[AEnigma]

Sarcasm is not allowed on the internet.

[RCM88x]

Wade for me, Lillard's defense pretty much decides this one for me. Offensively this is definitely a tough call though, I think they're pretty comparable, both have good and bad aspects. Lillard's shooting is definitely a plus but inside the arc I feel Wade would be drastically better.

[70sFan]

Another vote for Wade.

[tsherkin]

Another pop-in to vote for Wade.

[Matt15]

I have Peak Wade as a tier above. Lillard is more of a Drexler/Miller level player.

[cpower]

this is not close.

[OhayoKD]

unsure lillard's ever been top 5 offensively, never mind negative defense

[capfan33]

this is not close.

I was gonna say this as well, different tiers of players, honestly maybe 2 tiers.

[rk2023]

unsure lillard's ever been top 5 offensively, never mind negative defense

2023: In my opinion, he is so far. But the situation Lillard is in is so flawed and he won't be making the PS (which is where he struggles in comparison to RS production), so I can't judge and firmly say that. It's really disappointing he's getting the empty stats label, as he has been just phenomenal.

2022: scratch / injury

2021: I would take Jokic Curry James Durant Harden Leonard Doncic

2020: I think he was, though this could further be a result of Durant & Steph not playing. Would take James, Harden, Doncic, Leonard over him (unsure about Jokic - some further opinions would help) but hard to even say RS Giannis or PS Davis in terms of aggregate value provided to MIL/LAL respectively.

2019: Tentative yes (with a more pragmatic / what actually went down approach) due to Leonard injury management and James missing significant time / not being in a PS setting - though ideally I would take either as a 1-O in a playoff setting as we saw with Raptors Leonard and that teams' run. Would take Curry Harden Durant overall - same logic regarding Jokic with 2020.

2018: Lean no, but I see why some may say yes. I prefer Chris Paul, and of course the usual suspects in James Curry Durant Harden.

Don't seriously see an argument for being T-5 on offense before this.

[iggymcfrack]

Dame might be at least somewhat close if you were looking at offense only, but when you factor in Wade being a good defender and Lillard being a bad defender, it gets..... less close. Also, you're saying "today's game" like it would be a disadvantage for Wade, but actually he'd flourish with all the spacing nowadays. He was pretty impossible to stop in the paint even when the lanes were clogged.

[SpreeS]

SGA good example how would look Wade stats and impact in today game

[HeartBreakKid]

Is this real curiosity or a satire of another thread ? Wade was arguably the best player in the NBA.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Voted for lillard as a joke lol