"I don't see how Dame can last in Portland" - JWill on Damian Lillard's continued stay with the Portland Trail Blazers
The debate on whether Damian Lillard should leave the Portland Trail Blazers or not continues even as the six-time All-Star has pledged his loyalty to the franchise. In a show called Keyshawn, JWill & Max, former NBA star and current television analyst Jay Williams believes that Lillard's time in Portland might be coming to an end.
"I don't see how Dame can last in Portland."
Williams cited several reasons why he thinks Damian Lillard will not last in Portland despite Dame being big on loyalty and wanting to bring a championship to the team that drafted him. One such reason is the ongoing investigation into the franchise's general manager's work conduct. An investigation was opened a few days ago into Neil Olshey centered around alleged workplace misconduct.
Chancey Billups' rape allegation and Damian Lillard's shooting slump were also put into consideration by Williams before he made his declaration. He strongly believes that Lillard will soon decide that Portland is not where he needs to be.
"I know he's the guy that will sit there and say 'I am loyal, I want to be here' but this is a team that's always plagued with injuries, it's a team that always doesn't hit where you want them to hit, and I think you're gonna see Dame conclude pretty soon here guys, where that's not gonna be the place he needs to be."
Damian Lillard's performance with the Portland Trail Blazers so far this season
It has been a struggle for Damian Lillard shooting the ball this season, the 2013 Rookie of the Year is averaging career-low numbers in three-point shooting (25.5%) on ten attempts per game and a .365 field goal percentage.
"I always look at struggles as an opportunity to show my true character."
Damian Lillard on the Blazers' struggles https://t.co/WtHfbJuWfV
A reason for the drop in Damian Lillard's shooting could be because of the ball change. The NBA switched from Spalding to Wilson for the 2021-22 season, and several players are having trouble shooting effectively. The league's shooting percentage is the lowest it's been in 15 years, as well as the three-point percentage, which is at its lowest this century.
Paul George of the LA Clippers, in an interview on November 4, spoke on how the change of ball will impact shooting.
"Not to make an excuse or anything about the ball, but it's a different basketball. It don't have the same touch or softness that the Spalding ball had."
Another reason for the drop in performance could be the NBA's rule change regarding offensive players initiating contact through non-basketball moves to draw a foul. Damian Lillard has made only 3.2 attempts per game from the free-throw line in the 11 games he has played so far this season. At this stage of the game last season, Dame had already been sent to the charity stripe 80 times compared to this season's 30.
Damian Lillard on the new foul rule changes.
(h/t @gifdsports)
https://t.co/Sedk5I0pIq
The Trail Blazers point guard has expressed his displeasure with the officiating, saying it is unacceptable. All of these factors could impact Damian Lillard's decision to stay, and things might turn out just as Jay Williams has predicted.