License to Lilliard

 It’s tough not to love this kid

 I hate making comparisons especially before the draft… But after watching some more highlights of him, he reminds me of a cross between Russel Westbrook and Steph Curry. Not as athletic as Russ, not as good a shooter as Steph, but still has a chance to be on the level of either of them I believe especially if put into the right situation. Portland would give him the best opportunity to succeed because I imagine the worst case scenario for him in his career would be similar to Raymond Felton.

He reminds me of a less cocky Jerryd Bayless.

Hey OP what Irving video?

Lillard and Robinson are my two favorite prospects in the draft because of their style of play and more so their attitude. I liked their interviews and especially how Lillard came to the combine and did every drill even when he was already considered a top prospect at pg.

 I’m getting just tired watching him do those drills

Slowly becoming my favorite player in this draft..If he falls to GSW I would not be opposed to drafting him and using curry as trade bait for a vet or a late lottery pick.. not saying its possible.. but id love em on the warriors regardless of what our current roster looks like

Also it should be license to Lill … any1 think that sounds better?

@RedDead93

You do realize that Bayless was shooting 40% from three-point coming out of Arizona?

And I don’t think Lillard is anymore of a point guard coming out of college than Bayless was. They’re both score first and don’t really create for others. They both averaged the same amount of assists coming out and Bayless was a lot younger.

They have different personalities, but I see a lot of Bayless in him. Lillard is longer, but same size and build. Similar athleticism (but he isn’t quite as athletic as Bayless) and they both look to shoot first. Let’s just hope he gets the opportunities that Bayless didn’t get in Portland.

You’re forgetting that Lillard played Weber State which, no offense, is a far cry from the level of talent that Arizona U attracts. Lillard was his teams best scoring option, so he scored. We will get a better feel for his playmaking skills when the season starts or maybe in summer league.

@RedDead93

I’ve watched plenty of Blazers games, especially during Bayless’ rookie season. He didn’t get to play a lot, so the sample size was small.

Bayless has always had three-point range and been respectable, but his bread and butter has always been his pull-up mid-range jumpshot. Lillard shoots better from deep (the most three’s he took in college was 230 compared to Bayless’ 145), but Bayless was just as good of a mid-range jumpshooter coming out of college.

IF you read the strengths and weaknesses of both players coming out of college, they are very similar. Both guys got comparisons to Jay Williams.

Like I said… The big difference to me is Lillard’s wingspan and Bayless carries himself with more of a swagger. The BIG difference in the NBA will be opportunity. Bayless was a better player coming out while being younger too.

 You’re new to the boards, but you gotta relax, that’s not how things are done on here. It’s a friendly site where we can debate but no need to take it so personally. 

I didn’t seee Lillard in college, but I’m loving his workouts.  I hope the Jay Williams comp is legit as he and Hurley are two lost guys I’d have loved to see get to really play in the league.  With Lillard and Rubio, perhaps we have the 2.0 versions of each. 

I still think Bayless was badly misshandled in Portland and could have been very good.  That really just wasn’t the team for a scoring, fast-paced 1 and it wrecked his confidence and stunted his development.

 who say’s Lillard is going to be as good as a shooter he was in college in the NBA, remember 3 point line further back, tougher longer defenses. I mean Jimmer struggled shooting 3’s in the NBA and we all know he was god at shooting 3’s in college. I’m with Indianabasketball on the Bayless comparison, it’s pretty fair. Plus you’re judging Bayless coming into the NBA as young 20 yr old compared to Lillard in a low level D1 school as 21 year old, of course Lilard has better numbers. 

i’m a little worry about his shot, he has very low release point!

i’m a little worry about his shot, he has very low release point!

I think he’s going to be good, but not as GOOD as some people think he will be.

The Jeff Teague comparisons aren’t legit to me.

Lillard did average 24.5 PPG 5.1 RPG 4.0 APG and that’s tough to do in any conference……but he was in a lower conference, where the competition was not that tough, or should I say as tough as other conferences.

Teague at Wake Forest averaged at one time 22.8 PPG  4.1 APG 3.9 RPG while shooting 58% from the field and 55% from the 3, in the toughest conference in America that year(ACC) while leading his team to a #1 ranking at one point, while Lillard’s team on the other hand never cracked the top 50.

Maybe the comparisons are because Lillard and Jeff Teague are two undersized combo guards that scored alot for their teams, but far as game and skill go I don’t see anything to compare, Jeff is a far better player than Lillard now and in college.

But I do think Lillard is a good player I just see him being more Boobie Gibson than Jeff Teague.

I think Bayless was a far better pro prospect at Arizona and I feel like Lilliard will fall short of everyone’s expectations on This site…

People have him going in the top 6 (The Kings and Blazers better not take him that high because he will be a giant Bust)

Where was Lilliard ranked before the College Season??? I’m not convinced by his stats at a Small School with no other Real talent around him….Imagine what Marquis Teague, Tony Wroten Jr. or Tayshawn Taylor would have averaged if they were to switch spots with Lilliard…Wroten would have likely lead the nation in scoring and highlight reel plays…

I don’t think Lilliard would have even cracked Kansas’s or Kentucky’s rotations…

He will not be a better Pro than Teague, Marshall or Tony Wroten Jr…I’m almost certain Tayshawn Taylor and Scott Machado will have better carrers than him too…

I’ll go 1 further and admit that I believe Malik Wayns will be a better Pro as well…People are so High on Lilliard and hasn’t done anything at the College level aside from score on a Bad Team…

Marquis Teague run Pg for the National Champions at Kentucky(NBA U since Calipari joined them)

Kendall Marshall played like the perfect pass 1st Pg at North Carolina(who knows how far The Tar Heels go if he doesn’t get injured)

Tayshawn Taylor played at Kansas and Improved as the season went on, he also showed some serious flashes of NBA talent…

Tony Wroten and Malik Wayns played in the Pac 10 and Big East respectively, they had other Team mates to get involved and Their teams underachieved, but they played far better Comp. than Lilliard and showed real NBA potential at Big Schools/Conferences…

Damian Lilliard will make me look like a genius in 2 years…I’m predicting he’ll be a huge bust if he’s taken in the Lottery…He will not be a starting Pg longterm…He’ll be a homeless man’s Mo or Lou Williams at best…Maybe even Eddie House….His workouts didn’t impress me, he was ducking Tony Wroten and Marquis Teague(who have more potential and would have exposed Lilliard on Defense)

Of course this is just 1 guys opinion….

After re-watching some games from last season, including some All Star games like McDonald’s All American game and others…I realized their was only one Pg prospect that jumped out at me, and that was Tony Wroten Jr.

I loved Marshall’s passing ability but what else did he do at an NBA level?

I loved Teague’s speed and scoring potential, but will he be a Pg or Sg full time, I see a lot of Jason Terry in him

Taylor was way too out of control at times, I loved his speed and scoring ability too, but is he a fulltime Pg in the NBA?

Malik Wayns was one of the best Pg prospcets last year and due to a dissapointing season he may not be drafted until late in the 2nd(if he’s drafted at all) but he’s a true floor general and unlike Lilliard played the best competition possible in the Big East while at Villanova for 2 seasons…