Jason Kidd: Avdija is the Leader, Lillard Steps Back
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Hall of Famer Jason Kidd stated that Israeli forward Deni Avdija is the leader of the Portland Trail Blazers, with Damian Lillard stepping back to support him. The Trail Blazers have a 6-3 record, with Avdija averaging 22.3 points and Lillard contributing 19.4 points per game. This dynamic is seen as key to the team's potential success in the Western Conference.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Jason Kidd says Deni Avdija is the leader, with Damian Lillard supporting him.
- Kidd believes Lillard understands Avdija is the primary on-court leader.
- The Portland Trail Blazers have a 6-3 record early in the season.
- Avdija is averaging 22.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
- Lillard is averaging 19.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.
Hall of Famer Jason Kidd believes Israeli forward Deni Avdija has emerged as the leader for the Portland Trail Blazers, with veteran guard Damian Lillard embracing a supporting role. Kidd, speaking on "NBA on ESPN," noted Lillard's statement that Avdija is their "horse" and that the team will follow his lead. Kidd sees this as Lillard taking a step back to acknowledge Avdija as the primary on-court leader, a move he feels is crucial for the Blazers' success.
The Trail Blazers have started the season with a 6-3 record, exceeding expectations despite recent losses. Clutch Points analysis highlights the synergy between Lillard and Avdija, describing them as a difficult duo for opponents to stop. Avdija's playing style reportedly creates space on the court for shooters, which benefits Lillard's game.
Despite yielding the leadership role, Lillard, in his 14th NBA season, is still performing well, averaging 19.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. Meanwhile, Avdija, 25, has proven to be a prolific forward, averaging 22.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists through the first nine games, shooting 47.1% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
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