[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

Ok I need some definite help. I think I may have found the Jazz’s answer at Point Guard. (Hopefully he can replace Deron Williams but even if he doesn’t it won’t matter, at least, he’ll be better than Devin Harris.)

I think their answer is Damian Lillard. He has shot up draftboards recently. He was considered as a late first rounder but now he’s being considered as a late lottery pick and possibly the best point guard in this draft!

The problem I have with declaring Lillard as the guy the Jazz should target in this year’s draft is the fact that he goes to a small school and therefore has not had the chance to prove himself against the big guys. In last year’s draft there was also another lottery pick that went to a small school that everybody was raving about, Jimmer Fredette. As a matter of fact, if you watch Damian play, he even plays a lot like Jimmer.

Jimmer, unfortunately, has not done so well in the NBA (since the last pick in that same draft) [2011] has beaten him out of the starting spot (Isaiah Thomas). So what I’m wondering is if Damian is better than Jimmer was in college.

Obviously Jimmer is a better outside shooter than Damian. But I think Damian is a better passer, a better defender, a better rebounder, and a better decision maker (meaning his shot selection is better than Jimmer’s was) Also this site has said that "metaphorically speaking Lillard is a gigantic shed filled with tools you never knew existed. He’ll give you motion- sickness with his hesitation-acceleration dribble, while showing creativity, athleticism and balance finishing at the rim."

The reason why I am asking this question is because last year I did not get a chance to watch Jimmer enough so I can’t determine whether or not Damian is better than the college Jimmer was. So please do not respond if you did not watch Jimmer enough in college either. I could really use help from someone who has seen both players play and therefore can determine each player’s strengths and weaknesses and then decide if Damian is in fact better than the college Jimmer was.

[chevilicousParticipant]

Well I thought Jimmer was a little overrated in the college game, however he did get his team to the big dance, and i beleive if they would have had davies that year that he would have won a few more games than they did. It’s hard to compare the 2 on a collegiate level due to the competition both of them play against. However as a pro prospect I’ve always though lilliard was a step ahead for the same reasons that you mentioned above. One thing people were sold on with Jimmer was his ability to shoot the ball, however that has really yet to translate in the pro’s due to the fact that teams don’t have to really honor him as a pentrator like they did in college to give him space, and can stay home on him on the perimeter.

 

 I also had a chance to to literally sit right next to lilliard at the Thunder game last month, which he was there with 4-5 of his college teamates and one of his assistant coaches. One thing about the kid, is that while all his teamates where there enjoying the game, and kicken it with their chicks and messing around. The dude was talking with his assistant coach the entire game and really watching the play of westbrook, and discussing not only what makes him successful, but what kind of skills he has that he could develop himself. I loved the fact that he was just a student of the game, I’m not sure he even blinked the entire game and was just zoned in. I also got a chance to talk to him afterward and wish him luck in the tourney and at the next level, and even got a pick with him, at which i realized if hes considered 6’2 I must have grown 2 inches cause theres no way in hell the dudes that tall. All in all he’s a humble, good kid with a good game that should probably translate to a very good backup pg in the league in my opinion. His lack of size, and mediocre playmaking ability with probably never let him be a starter in the league. As a jazz fan however I’m still hoping we snag Marshall with one of our 2 picks this year.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

I like that you said that Damian is a student of the game. Instead of sitting back and enjoying sitting with his buddies he was talking constantly to his assistant coach and analyzing the play of Westbrook and what made him successfull. This means that he’s a gym rat, just the kind of player the Jazz love.

I don’t think he will be a backup point guard in the NBA even if he is considered small to you. Look at Isaiah Thomas, he’s is only 5’9 yet he’s starting over Jimmer with the Kings. Remember Mugsy Bogues or Nate Robinson or Keyon Dooling? All those guys are generally small point guards yet all have had successfull careers in the NBA. (Maybe you have grown 2 inches)

The thing that I don’t like about Marshall is that he is only a good passer. The Jazz really need someone who can pass, score, shoot and defend. They need someone who is a mix of all the skillsets they already have but can also facilitate the offense enough that he can possibly be the #1 guy for the Jazz. If you look at the group of youngsters the Jazz have right now, none of them are potential #1 guys. Kanter is raw offensively but a great rebounder, Favors is raw offensively as well, but also a good rebounder and defender (what I mean by this is that he is very intense and agressive defending the ball almost too intense and agressive that he gets into foul trouble but this is getting much better), Hayward is a good shooter, good passer, good defender but has a tendency to disappear a lot in games if his shot is not on which is more often than not, and Burks (who I think should be given more playing time) is an excellent driver and good freethrow shooter, but not a great defender or a great outside shooter. Because of their skillsets right now, none of them are #1 guys, yet they all have the potential to be with the right facilitator. I think Lillard can be that #1 guy for the Jazz right now, and be the right facilitator too. In the long run, Favors probably has the most potential to be the #1 guy, but Lillard can be that guy temporarily right from the get-go and be the right facilitator in the long run too.

That’s why I think the Jazz should go with Lillard. Marshall is just a great passer, but because he is not a good outside shooter, nor a good scorer, nor a good defender (passing is really his only strong suit), I don’t think he will ever have the chance of being a #1 guy, not even temporarily and that’s what the Jazz really need right now.

[CheesusParticipant]

the only other Weber alum on this board, that I know of.  Did you ever go to a weber game?  Having watched both play quite a bit I’d say Lillard can be a solid PG in the NBA.  I’d say you are accurate in saying that Jimmer is the better shooter with better range, Lillard is better at pretty much everything else.  Lillard is no slowch as a shooter with range either.  I’m not a BYU or Jimmer fan, but I think Jimmer actually hasn’t looked too bad.  the problem is he plays on a very selfish team full of scoring guards.  I still think he will have a pretty good NBA career, but it’s still a little to early to tell.  As far as Lillard goes he is a loyal, a good leader, hard worker, good character, good three point shooter, good free throw shooter, and good decision maker.  I’d say that’s exactly what the Jazz need.  I like Marshall a lot too, but would rather take Dame (might be because I’m a self proclaimed homer).    

[romeeezybabyParticipant]

This cat always had major talent! Conventional wisdom has always proven that it doesn’t matter whether you attend a D-1 powerhouse, or a mid major team – if you got what it takes, you got what it takes. Scouts & hype usually will find you. Like a poster mentioned above, he’s a relentless worker and his broken foot didn’t stop him from anything he only came back better than ever. If you look at his stats, his scoring instantly jumps out at you. But if you actually seen Weber State play, he does a whole lot more, and is ASKED to carry the team in scoring for obvious reasons. 6’3" 200 lbs, quick first step, and dribbles extremely low while penetrating opposing defenses. I’d go far enough to say he’s game remids me a whole lot of Deron Williams (same built, ability to create shots, and composure). He’s will go down as the best player to ever play for Webert State since Harold "the show" Arecenaux!

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

Yes, cheesus, I have now watched Damian play. I saw 2 games of his. I went and watched him live play against Texas Arlington (this was their bracketbuster game), and I watched him play in his most recent game against Montana on ESPN2 (unfortunately they lost this game in a blowout, it was the Big Sky championship game)

I would say you were right in what you said in a different post, he is a lot of fun to watch.

romeeezybaby, I wouldn’t go so far as to say Damian is the next Deron Williams. (although that would be awesome to find) Even though he does have the same build, ability to create shots for himself and others, and composure, he still goes to a small school and so the fact that he plays against small competition on a regular basis gives him the illusion that’s he’s better than he actually is. Don’t quote me on this though, because I could be totally wrong. Like you said "conventional wisdom has always proven that it doesn’t matter whether you attend a D-1 powerhouse or a mid major team – if you got what it takes, you got what it takes. Scouts and hype will usually find you." I do agree with that completely and Damian definitely has conventional wisdom but nothing surpasses the ultimate test of proving yourself on the big stage. That’s what I have yet to see from Damian. Hopefully Weber State will still make the tournament even though they lost the Big Sky Championship. (Although I am starting to doubt that this will happen, because the Big Sky usually only gets 1 team in the tournament) If Weber State does not make the tournament they should definitely make the NIT and maybe that stage will be big enough (The Jazz still drafted Alec Burks last year in the lottery even though Colorado did not make the tournament last year either) for Lillard to prove himself. All is not lost for Damian Lillard and Weber State even though they lost the Big Sky tournament.

[Ahkasi ClayParticipant]

 guessing you might be in Utah?

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

He isn’t better than Jimmer in college, and he isn’t as good as Jimmer is now. Fredette got smacked around on Sacramento’s monster road session in January that every team has, but he is playing well now. The Kings had the backloaded home slate, and they are going to get their wins  and see their young players play better because of it.

Lillard is not a lottery talent. He is a guy worth bringing in, but he isn’t elite. He is a good player who has put up good numbers against one of the worst conferences in D1.

[Coach MassParticipant]

Yo whats up gentlmen? I want to preface this by saying that I was Dame’s strength coach throughout highschool and we remain good friends, so I am biased. No one knows( except those closet to him) how good Damian really is because he has never been a name player. He flew under the radar as a high school player which is why he didn’t get the big offers some other less talented players got. I have seen both players and the Mr. Freddette is a solid player who dosen’t come close to Damian as a basketball athlete. As a 5′ 10" high school guard I’ve watched Damian dunk on people 6’8". Dame has ridiculous range and has been shooting, with accuracy, from beyond NBA 3 distance since he was a junior in high school. Competition aside, Scottie Pippen played at a D-3 school, Damian played well when he has been invited to elite college camps and throughtout his AAU career has always excelled against whatever competition he has faced. In all of sports, there have always been people who have excelled professionally who haven’t played against the best competition while in college. Damian is still the best player no body ever heard of. Let’s take it a step furthur; Damian is far better than Jeremy Lin, who is a good baller.

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