Last night, Damian Lillard hit an outrageous shot at the buzzer to, not only end, but eliminate the Thunder from the playoffs. The shot gave the Trail Blazers a 118-115 lead and saw reactions from all NBA fans across the globe.
In one of the greatest shots I’ve seen in the game of basketball, Lillard took on one of the league’s premier defenders in Paul George. He stepped back onto the Moda Center logo, and the rest was history. But, what must be addressed is the praise that Lillard is getting, and it’s crucial that fans don’t start giving Lillard too much praise.
Yes, Lillard dropped 50 in Game 5, including 32 in the second quarter. However, realistically, that doesn’t stop me from keeping my top point guards list unfazed. In order, my list starts with Warriors PG Steph Curry, Thunder PG Russell Westbrook, and Celtics PG Kyrie Irving.
Lillard vs. Curry
If Damian Lillard can hit that shot, Stephen Curry can as well. Let’s not forget the shot that Curry made on February 27, 2016, which was a 32-foot shot that, ironically, torched the Thunder as well. I understand the overwhelming reactions to Lillard’s shot, but let us remember (as Paul George reminded us on the postgame podium) that it was a terrible shot at that.
Stepping back on one of the best defenders in the league, let alone from a logo, is absolutely absurd. Although Lillard has proven he can make those shots, Curry can make just as many and even more. I don’t even have to go into the numbers here because that would further justify Curry’s claim.
Lillard simply doesn’t match Curry, and there’s no argument that can be made. Think about how many players Curry alone has cost championships ever since the Warriors’ 67-15 season. He may have even cost more players than LeBron did. His current streak of dominance is just ridiculous, and to compare Lillard to the best point guard in basketball is just blasphemy. But, the argument for Lillard to be a top point-guard may be more intense with the next players.
Lillard vs. Westbrook
Anyone who believes that Damian Lillard is a better player than Russell Westbrook is simply going by what they’ve seen this season. I understand that opinion and why people are so quick to put one player over the other.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3PT% | TO |
| Damian Lillard | 33 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 46% | 48% | 4.4 |
| Russell Westbrook | 23 | 8.8 | 11 | 36% | 32% | 4.6 |
As you can see, Lillard clearly dominated Westbrook throughout the series which included waving him back home. But, put respect on Russell Westbrook’s name. I’ve written plenty about him concerning his difference of play before and after the All-Star break, as well as his legacy. Through it all, I still remained clear that Westbrook was an MVP candidate this season.
Westbrook is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for three straight seasons. The fact that he couldn’t get past the first round in the post-Durant era is terrible. But, that’s not what’s being discussed. It’s the fact that the fans and media have Lillard as high as the second-best point guard just isn’t right. Curry has been the best point guard in the league since his coming-out year in 2014-15, and I’ll take up that debate with anyone.
Russell Westbrook is a former MVP who, as alluded to before, averaged a triple-double for three straight seasons. Do you want to make the argument that Westbrook can’t be the first option on a contender/championship team? Well, neither can Lillard. Now, the conversation switches to Kyrie Irving.
Lillard vs. Irving
Damian Lillard is not better than Kyrie Irving. I’m impressed that Lillard makes the shots he does. But, Kyrie is so smooth and slick with his handles that he can get himself out of the situations that force Lillard’s tough shots. Even if Irving at that point can’t get himself out of tough defense, he’s still a player able to make the toughest of shots.
Both Lillard and Irving are known as players that can score more efficiently than they can play-make. Understand that Irving has been in clutch situations too. You may call Lillard the most clutch player in the league, but to me, he’s not. Irving, Durant, and Curry all hold that spot above Lillard.
Kyrie is Clutch Too
Throwing it back to the 2016 NBA Finals, Irving hit a fadeaway jumper over Steph Curry. With 53 seconds left, Kyrie hit the biggest shot of the Finals, giving the Cavaliers a 92-89 lead. May I mention that the shot was hit in Oracle Arena in a Game 7.
Yet the talk and praise were not nearly as much as Lillard is receiving for his absurd shot in the first round. But, if we’re being honest, putting roster differences aside, Kyrie is the best player on a championship-level team. Although that hasn’t been proven, it will be sooner rather than later with the Celtics. Lillard, on the other hand, doesn’t have that argument. Although the roster are drastically different in ways, the fact still remains true.
Wrapping it all up
This piece is obviously very opinionated. There’s no doubt that Lillard is a fantastic player, but he’s now receiving a little bit too much praise in the discussions surrounding the NBA’s best point guards. I understand the story behind Lillard and the shift from getting swept last year to rising above the ashes this year. Before the postseason, he received his fair share of praise after both C Jusuf Nurkic and SG C.J. McCollum went down with injuries. This left Lillard to fill the void that was left by these players, and obviously, will the Trailblazers to the third seed in the West.
I already mentioned how crazed (like everyone) I was about the shot that he hit in yesterday. But, that one shot along with what he has done throughout the postseason, regular season, and his career, simply doesn’t will him to be a top three point guard. Call me crazy, but calling Damian Lillard a better player than Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, or Kyrie Irving would just be ridiculous.