"Blazers Lillard" will become the new "Rockets James Harden"

[Godymas]

James Harden requested a trade after the WB + Harden experiment blew up and the team swapped WB for a clearly washed John Wall while signing DeMarcus "metal in my legs" Cousins.

Harden protested, but I still remember that first game Harden comes back, he drops 44 points and 17 assists. 78 points out of 126 courtesy of some action initiated by James Harden. He was clearly still on another level, even in protest. He started to mail it in and finally a deal happens and Harden is in Brooklyn and getting MVP talks despite scoring the ball less.

However, he goes down with injury, and as time goes on people start to notice. He's missing that first step, he's missing that scoring punch, he isn't scoring like how he used to, he's deflecting to his teammates, forcing plays, he almost seems..scared to score?

Then Brooklyn blew up, and Harden was shipped off the Philly, but things did not seem right. Harden was not scoring, he was not being this dominant player, MVP caliber guy that we knew. Even his first year in Brooklyn was at that level, but he seemed winded, human, out of shape.

Today James Harden is just a "good" basketball player. He's still putting up numbers, but no one looks at him the same way they did when he was in Houston and was essentially untouchable on offense.

Lillard has finally forced his way out, and yet this could also become the beginning of a new era. We all know that Lillard missed significant time recently due to injury, injury that he believed was not a true injury but turned out to be a major hinderance and chronic pain type condition.

Well he had surgery, he had an amazing season in Portland playing for nothing. Dropped 70 on the worst team in the league, but now he's finally in a new situation, no longer is he the best player, "the man" on his team.

Does anyone else see a chance that Lillard comes to Milwaukee and just lacks that pop off he had? He's a bit slower, a bit less sure himself, lacks that hunger and clutch factor?

It's one thing to be traded to a team and define their glory, it's more pressure to be traded to a team that won and take them back to those same heights. The entire world is going to be watching Milwaukee closer than ever. Dame has never succumbed to this kind of pressure, but he's also never been on a team that was obviously the favorite to win or make the finals like he is today.

Idk, it just gives a feeling, a feeling that a 33 year old superstar guard might have more difficulty later in his career than people are expecting.

[payton2kemp]

Yea no. Dame and Harden are nothing alike in terms of personalities.

[picc]

That was a lot of words to say “I’m salty.”

[theforumblue]

every year older can make a difference at that age so yes there's a chance. there's also chance that him simply learning to fit in, play with new teammates who already been a team, and learning when to defer to Giannis and when to take over will be written up by media as lillard simply having lost it and is no longer the same.

[Pattycakes]

If you could ever compare anything about Damian Lillard to James Harden I think you lack some history about Dame op. I’ll save you the trouble, they are much different people.

[Dick Tate]

I’m sure it’s going to be as hard for Dame in Milwaukee as it was for KD in Golden State.

[kds92]

One of these teams had a much higher ceiling than the other.

[Exp0sed]

J
Idk, it just gives a feeling, a feeling that a 33 year old superstar guard might have more difficulty later in his career than people are expecting.

nah, Dame's skill level is off the charts
Harden was never the same after the hamstring injury, Dame is supposed to be 100% healthy
sure, he's no spring chicken and no1 execpts an MVP caliber season especially with Giannis around but there isn't a real reason to expect a major decline.

obviously with age, he is naturally already in the slow and gradual process of decline but no reason for him not to play 2 more years at about the same level

[Godymas]

That was a lot of words to say “I’m salty.”

That was an ignorant assumption to make, I like Milwaukee

[picc]

That was a lot of words to say “I’m salty.”

That was an ignorant assumption to make, I like Milwaukee

That makes this even weirder tbh.

[Soulyss]

Dame is the ultimate pro. Stays in shape, Great teammate, in early, works late. It's why he and Giannis "click"... Dame just had his most efficient season, I see no reason why he shouldn't be elite the next 3-4 years.

Dame is maybe the perfect person to put alongside Giannis frankly. Dame has never, ever had anyone like Giannis.. the two of them will be an ABSOLUTE MENACE.

Bucks fan should be doing backflips.

[pr0wler]

While I don't really love how Harden has acted over the past couple seasons, I don't blame him for the HOU debacle. He politely requested a trade months in advance, exactly how many other stars have done in the past. HOU tried to play hardball and didn't deal him. As a result, sure Harden wasn't as motivated as if it were 2018, trying to compete against the GSW Superteam.

Yet cause he came into camp not in the greatest shape. Obviously he didn't want to be on a tanking/rebuilding team at the end of his prime, and everyone focuses on that instead of the numbers and his actual play on the court. He was still clearly trying his best on a team where the #2-4 best players were supposed to be Cousins, Wall, and Wood LOL. 2/3 are out of the league, the other was a last minute signing at the end of summer. He still put up 25/10 and led a horrendous supporting cast to at least a few wins before he was traded. What more do people want from him exactly...?

[MrGoat]

So they're going to put the KD Warriors on the ropes and only lose because CP3 got hurt late in game 5, got it.

[NO-KG-AI]

every year older can make a difference at that age so yes there's a chance. there's also chance that him simply learning to fit in, play with new teammates who already been a team, and learning when to defer to Giannis and when to take over will be written up by media as lillard simply having lost it and is no longer the same.

This. When you trade for older stars, you run the risk of them not totally figuring it out before the wheels start to come off. It doesn’t take many games of trying to figure things out or break down a particular defense to derail a season, and when you have two guys with a lot of mileage, it’s a dice roll to get them both fully healthy late in the year.

They might only be youbg and healthy enough to get it done in the first two years, and health and synergy are never a given.

Dame and Giannis on paper to me is the best combination of talent, fit, current productivity and health in the league right now though, they have as good a chance as any. There isn’t some super duo or trio that is out there right now with a better talent level and also age/health on their side.

[basketballRob]

This season will help write Lillard's legacy. If the Bucks get bumped early in the playoffs, people will consider his stats as a bunch of fluff.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[DC_Melo]

Does anyone else see a chance that Lillard comes to Milwaukee and just lacks that pop off he had? He's a bit slower, a bit less sure himself, lacks that hunger and clutch factor?

A bit slower? Possibly, although shortly after dropping 71 he was shut down early for the season so the Blazers could tank. He’s coming into next season extremely well rested. I doubt it.

Less sure of himself? Clearly you don’t know Dame. Dude has made a HOF career thriving off his haters and doubters. He has always had supreme confidence in himself.

Lacks Hunger? For real? He asked out of PDX cuz he wants a chance to compete and he finally gets it with Milwaukee. He’ll be hungrier than ever before.

Lacks Clutch Factor? Lol… ok, now we’re just trolling.

[Godymas]

Does anyone else see a chance that Lillard comes to Milwaukee and just lacks that pop off he had? He's a bit slower, a bit less sure himself, lacks that hunger and clutch factor?

A bit slower? Possibly, although shortly after dropping 71 he was shut down early for the season so the Blazers could tank. He’s coming into next season extremely well rested. I doubt it.

Less sure of himself? Clearly you don’t know Dame. Dude has made a HOF career thriving off his haters and doubters. He has always had supreme confidence in himself.

Lacks Hunger? For real? He asked out of PDX cuz he wants a chance to compete and he finally gets it with Milwaukee. He’ll be hungrier than ever before.

Lacks Clutch Factor? Lol… ok, now we’re just trolling.

James Harden? A bit slower? Possibly, although after averaging 34 for the season he exited the playoffs early so Houston could rest. He's coming into next season extremely well rested having taken time off to spend with Lil Baby and enjoy Houston's food scene. I doubt it.

Less sure of himself? Clearly you don't know Harden. Dude has made a HOF career thriving off his haters and doubters. He has always had supreme confidence in himself.

Lacks Hunger? For real? He asked out of Houston cuz he wants a chance to compete and he finally gets it with Brooklyn. He'll be hungrier than ever before.

Lacks Clutch Factor? Lol... ok, now we're just trolling.

Watch on YouTube

[DC_Melo]

Does anyone else see a chance that Lillard comes to Milwaukee and just lacks that pop off he had? He's a bit slower, a bit less sure himself, lacks that hunger and clutch factor?

A bit slower? Possibly, although shortly after dropping 71 he was shut down early for the season so the Blazers could tank. He’s coming into next season extremely well rested. I doubt it.

Less sure of himself? Clearly you don’t know Dame. Dude has made a HOF career thriving off his haters and doubters. He has always had supreme confidence in himself.

Lacks Hunger? For real? He asked out of PDX cuz he wants a chance to compete and he finally gets it with Milwaukee. He’ll be hungrier than ever before.

Lacks Clutch Factor? Lol… ok, now we’re just trolling.

James Harden? A bit slower? Possibly, although after averaging 34 for the season he exited the playoffs early so Houston could rest. He's coming into next season extremely well rested having taken time off to spend with Lil Baby and enjoy Houston's food scene. I doubt it.

Less sure of himself? Clearly you don't know Harden. Dude has made a HOF career thriving off his haters and doubters. He has always had supreme confidence in himself.

Lacks Hunger? For real? He asked out of Houston cuz he wants a chance to compete and he finally gets it with Brooklyn. He'll be hungrier than ever before.

Lacks Clutch Factor? Lol... ok, now we're just trolling.

Watch on YouTube

Regarding being slower: James Harden eats (enjoying Houston’s food scene, right?) during the off-season, Dame spends tens of thousands on his personal trainer, diet, and boxing regiment.

Regarding self confidence: James was a highly touted prospect out of USC, Dame was an unknown player from Weber state. There isn’t a superstar in the league that took the path Dame did. Also, Harden stopped thriving off haters once he stopped taking care of himself in the off-season, something Dame has never done.

Regarding Hunger: Harden came off a WCF team that was an epic cold streak away from making the finals. Dame hasn’t had a chance at the playoffs in two seasons. Dame is far more starved for success than Harden ever was. Harden is too stuffed from the buffet table to be starved for anything else.

Regarding Clutch: Dame is the only player in league history to hit a walk off shots to win a series… twice. Dame Time is Dame Time for a reason. He built his brand on being clutch. Nobody has ever put Harden on the same level of clutch as Dame. If anything, Harden had a reputation of choking in the playoffs that followed him for large portions of his career.

Bottom Line: Harden is probably the worst comp u can make for a guy like Dame. He simply stopped taking care of himself, and his drop in production followed. There is no reason to think a guy like Dame, who seriously invests in his physical maintenance during the off season, will have the decline Harden did at his age.

[Godymas]

A bit slower? Possibly, although shortly after dropping 71 he was shut down early for the season so the Blazers could tank. He’s coming into next season extremely well rested. I doubt it.

Less sure of himself? Clearly you don’t know Dame. Dude has made a HOF career thriving off his haters and doubters. He has always had supreme confidence in himself.

Lacks Hunger? For real? He asked out of PDX cuz he wants a chance to compete and he finally gets it with Milwaukee. He’ll be hungrier than ever before.

Lacks Clutch Factor? Lol… ok, now we’re just trolling.

James Harden? A bit slower? Possibly, although after averaging 34 for the season he exited the playoffs early so Houston could rest. He's coming into next season extremely well rested having taken time off to spend with Lil Baby and enjoy Houston's food scene. I doubt it.

Less sure of himself? Clearly you don't know Harden. Dude has made a HOF career thriving off his haters and doubters. He has always had supreme confidence in himself.

Lacks Hunger? For real? He asked out of Houston cuz he wants a chance to compete and he finally gets it with Brooklyn. He'll be hungrier than ever before.

Lacks Clutch Factor? Lol... ok, now we're just trolling.

Watch on YouTube

Regarding being slower: James Harden eats (enjoying Houston’s food scene, right?) during the off-season, Dame spends tens of thousands on his personal trainer, diet, and boxing regiment.

Regarding self confidence: James was a highly touted prospect out of USC, Dame was an unknown player from Weber state. There isn’t a superstar in the league that took the path Dame did. Also, Harden stopped thriving off haters once he stopped taking care of himself in the off-season, something Dame has never done.

Regarding Hunger: Harden came off a WCF team that was an epic cold streak away from making the finals. Dame hasn’t had a chance at the playoffs in two seasons. Dame is far more starved for success than Harden ever was. Harden is too stuffed from the buffet table to be starved for anything else.

Regarding Clutch: Dame is the only player in league history to hit a walk off shots to win a series… twice. Dame Time is Dame Time for a reason. He built his brand on being clutch. Nobody has ever put Harden on the same level of clutch as Dame. If anything, Harden had a reputation of choking in the playoffs that followed him for large portions of his career.

Bottom Line: Harden is probably the worst comp u can make for a guy like Dame. He simply stopped taking care of himself, and his drop in production followed. There is no reason to think a guy like Dame, who seriously invests in his physical maintenance during the off season, will have the decline Harden did at his age.

You can't even get Harden's school right, nice. Dame was still the 6th overall pick, he wasn't some unknown guy.

[Showdown]

Lillard is on a slow decline ,not statwise but when it come to impact, if he had same team he had in past 2 years when he was younger that teams would do much more and would be really dangerous,he lead much worse teams to the playoffs when he was younger. That doesn't means that he won't be successful with Bucks because he is still good shooter and scorer and they have Giannis who is impact player and teams cant double Lillard in playoffs anymore because if they do that he will pass the ball to Giannis and he will have clear path to the basket.If they try to clog the paint then Lillard can destroy them from the 3 point line, that's why that pairing is so dangerous.