Portland Trailblazers star guard Dame Lillard took issue with a local reporter’s hot take on who has the best backcourt in the NBA. Following a Blazers’ 132-126 win over the Sacramento Kings in which Lillard scored 40 points and dished out 13 assists, Dame got his opening to call out Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian.
“Lillard: I saw your tweets where you was saying there was a backcourt better than me and CJ, too.
Fentress: Today?
Lillard: Well, I don’t see how it would be today after tonight, but you were saying the Wizards backcourt was better than us.
Fentress: I raised it as an option because someone said there was no contest, and I said ‘well, what about Beal and Westbrook?”
Lillard was referencing to Fentress’ tweet earlier this month. Just like Fentress said during the conference, he was posing the question of the Washington Wizards’ dynamic duo of Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook possibly being better than the Blazers’ combo of CJ McCollum and Lillard.
Even in a question format, Lillard was non too pleased about suggesting any backcourt being better than McCollum and him.
Westbrook is a former NBA MVP and averaging nearly a triple-double with 19.3 points, 11.3 assists and 9.7 rebounds. Westbrook opened the season with four straight triple-doubles. Beal leads the NBA in scoring with 35 points per game this season, a year averaging 30.5 points. But their pairing and individual numbers has not translated into wins. The Wizards are 3-8 thus far this season.
Meanwhile, the success of Lillard and McCollum has led to team wins. Portland is 7-4 and tied for the third-best mark in the Western Conference. McCollum is third in the league in scoring with 28.1 points per game and leads the league with five made three-pointers per game. Lillard is sixth with 27.4 points.
It’s debatable which backcourt is better. However, some of that debate may be answered on Feb. 20 when both teams play each other in Portland.
