Lillard Scores High in Mid-season Point Guard Rankings

With the 2016-17 NBA season quickly approaching the midway mark, the top players at each position for this season are becoming more clear.

Adam Fromal of Bleacher Report ranked the top-30 point guards in the NBA at the mid-point of the season, and Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard came in at No. 9. This placed him between Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Mike Conley Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Fromal gave positive remarks about Lillard’s shooting prowess and lack of turnovers, but strongly criticized his poor defense.

He still treats screens like they're brick walls and sits in the 21.8 percentile while defending pick-and-roll ball-handlers. He's also in the 41.3 percentile as an isolation defender and the 23.2 percentile against spot-up shooters.

Lillard is averaging 26.5 points per game this season, good for seventh best in the NBA.

Defense also played a factor in the ranking of Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, who ranked at No. 11 despite ranking third among all point guards in scoring. Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder placed first in the ranking.

Help Blazer’s Edge send 2000 kids in need to see Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers play Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76’ers on March 9th. Here’s how!