Portland Trail Blazers: Discussing Damian Lillard’s struggles with Roger Galo

Roger Galo expresses concerns about Damian Lillard’s struggles

Damian Lillard is simply too good, too proven to not be given the benefit of the doubt. There’s no reason to believe that Dame’s shooting woes will be prolonged. I’m willing to bet my house and my non-existent farm that Lillard won’t finish the season shooting 35 percent from the field and 23 percent from distance, as he has through Portland’s first eight games.

That being said, Coach Galo does not believe that his sudden inaccuracy is just a result of misfortune or the yips. And he definitely doesn’t think that it’s because of the league’s transition to the Wilson ball instead of the Spalding, as some fans have speculated:

"I can’t put too much weight on it because everybody else is shooting with the same ball, the same “new” ball. Coupled with the fact that they’ve been playing with it now, long enough, even though it’s early in the season, to become acclimated to it."

Coach doubled-down on his belief that the players have had more than enough time to get accustomed to the Wilson:

"By the way, when I train somebody, I make it a point to find out which ball they are using so that we can practice with that ball. I have to believe that the respective teams have had these guys practicing with a Wilson ball since the move was announced or expected to be announced in advance, so that they could become more familiar with the ball ahead of time."

Rather, he suggests that it may be a case of fatigue that’s caught up to the All-NBA point guard. He alluded that Dame’s shot, while historically effective, has some faults that are now showing with age and tired legs:

"Damian Lillard’s shooting slump is suggesting to me that the extra movements and his extreme athleticism, coupled with inefficiencies throughout his entire shooting form, from start to finish, is rearing its ugly head. His lower body is getting in the way of his upper body, with less discipline when executing his series of movements to a level I can’t recall him ever showing. Particularly, it’s evident on his long range jumpers. There’s a more pronounced separation of components that are counterproductive, preventing him from knocking down the kind of 3-pointers he’s been comfortable and capable of making before."

Could Dame’s shooting mechanics, coupled with the recent mileage he’s quickly accrued — or nagging injury he’s been battling — be diminishing his effectiveness from beyond the arc?