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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 reasons why Damian Lillard deserves All-NBA nod

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 01: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during pregame against the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on April 1, 2018 in Portland, Oregon.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. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 01: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during pregame against the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on April 1, 2018 in Portland, Oregon.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. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
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Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

He is the best point guard in the league right now

Dame is the best point guard in the league right now.

James Harden is a shooting guard. Stephen Curry was injured this season, while his team wasn’t good enough to make it to the NBA bubble, or the playoffs.

There may be some buzz for Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul, but neither has had the combination of leading their team in scoring while also having the task of distributing. They don’t have the efficiency of Lillard and haven’t done what he has done offensively for this team.

Curry will have to come back and claim his crown if he wants to be the best point guard in the league again. The Blazers team record will come into question with some voters and observers of the point guard hierachy, but the Blazers are 31 and 33 when Dame played this season. If they can win their final two games and make the playoffs, then they will be a flat .500.

The questions of the team record, though, shouldn’t be there. That Dame has got this team to 31 wins should be acknowledged. For most of the season, the only plus NBA players Dame had on the team were CJ McCollum, Carmelo Anthony, and Hassan Whiteside.

Zach Collins and Rodney Hood were injured, Kent Bazemore had one of the toughest stretches of his career before he was traded, and then we only got 21 games out of Trevor Ariza. Gary Trent Jr. has also only broken out the last 20 games or so.

To propel this ragtag team to a likely playoff spot and a .500 record, should be one of Dame’s proudest achievements. He is the game’s premier point guard. The stretch he is having in the NBA bubble and then his outrageous run in February means that this shouldn’t be in question.

Dame should be All-NBA second team at worst, but in my eyes, the first team should look like this.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, James Harden, Damian Lillard.

Sorry Anthony Davis, you are in the second team.

Dame may not have won 45 games like some of these players and teams, but he propelled the Blazers to a top-five offense and probably the playoffs.

In the last two games of the season, he will show his All-NBA credentials by dragging this team to the post-season.