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Portland Trail Blazers: Predicting the NBA’s top scorers for 2019-20

By Carson Brown

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 16: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers defends Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Two of the 2019 Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at the ORACLE Arena on May 16, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MAY 16: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers defends Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Two of the 2019 Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at the ORACLE Arena on May 16, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers fires up the crowd during the second half (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard had another exceptional season last year capped off with a Western Conference Finals run for the first time for the Portland Trail Blazers in nearly twenty years. He’s a phenomenal leader for the Blazers and appears to love every part of putting Rip City on his back.

Lillard is a guy who seems to get better every year and another jump should be expected entering his eighth year as the Trail Blazers’ lead guard. Each year we watch Lillard take the court he seems more mature as a point guard and as a leader.

Lillard has an impressive offensive repertoire of different ways for getting the ball into the basket. He can break you down with a dribble move that has him laying the ball up before the defender has time to notice where Lillard went. His three-ball is about as deadly as you’re going to find in the association and the ability to shoot off the dribble or catch and shoot is what makes him lethal from any spot on the court.

There is no weakness for Damian Lillard on the offensive side of the ball, as he shoots free throws at an incredibly high clip of 91.2 percent and his ball handling ability is truly special. He’s got the breaks out the full arsenal every game and his skill of creating space makes him such a tough match for anybody.

After finishing 11th in points per game last season, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to propel himself into league’s top five scorers at the years end. Kevin Durant will be out next year due to injury and five of the players above Dame teamed up, meaning they’re probably set for a bit of regression. He has all the pieces necessary and a perfect team around him to achieve this.