When the PBT staff made our predictions for MVP you saw some expected names — LeBron James, James Harden — and a smart pick off some people’s radar in Kawhi Leonard. Russell Westbrook was discussed as someone with a chance.
What about Damian Lillard? You know, the hip-hop star.
Lillard told a Jay Allen of Portland area Fox Sports Radio that’s his goal.
.@Dame_Lillard on personal goals for this season: "MVP. I wanna be the MVP." (1/2)
— Jay Allen (@PDXjay) October 23, 2016
Lillard: "If we come out & do the things we're capable of doing as a team & we win games..." (more)
— Jay Allen (@PDXjay) October 23, 2016
Final #Lillard: "...I think that means that my performance would be at a level of the MVP." @trailblazers #RipCity
— Jay Allen (@PDXjay) October 23, 2016
Lillard averaged 25.1 points and 6.8 assists per game last season, he is unquestionably a dynamic offensive force — he has a great pull up jumper and he can get to the rim and finish. Plus, he’s just entertaining to watch.
But MVP? That’s going to take more than numbers.
Portland won 44 games last season. The MVP almost always goes to the best player on a top two or three seed, meaning a team winning around 55 games or more. For Portland to add 10 wins or so and get Lillard noticed in the MVP race is going to be about defense — Portland was bottom 10 last season in defense and they need to be at least middle of the pack this time around. Which comes back to Lillard on some level, he’s often an overmatched defender and he can lose focus on that end. He’s gotten better over the years, but Lillard is going to have to lift up the Blazers defense, not just offense, to get in the MVP discussion.
I’m skeptical (of Lillard’s chances and the Trail Blazers taking a step forward), but we all underestimated Portland last season, too.