I love watching Damian Lillard. He is crazy good offensively. He’s methodical on the offensive end…
But to do well in this league. You have to be good on the defensive end as well as the offensive. And nobody knows that more than “The Glove” Gary Payton.
While in Miami watching the Finals, the Hall Of Farmer told Comcast Sportsnet Northwest that if Lillard wants to be one of the greatest two-way guards, he better buck up his defensive skills…
He can be like Patrick Beverley [of the Houston Rockets] if he wants to, but that’s a mindset, think Damian has to be willing and ready to play that type of way. Right now, he’s scoring so easily and he’s so good at the offensive end, he doesn’t have to think about defense. He doesn’t have to think about it because he knows he can outscore somebody.
He can have 35 [points] when he wants to and that’s where the game is going right now. But we have to get that out his mindset. If he wants to be a two-way guard and have his name in a legacy for being that way, he has to step it up on the defensive end.
Hard to disagree with The Glove. One of the greatest defensive guards in history. And the fact he knows that Lillard is already a great player only adds to Lillard’s great potential.
