With this game, it is CONFIRMED that Shabazz Napier is like a mini version of Damian Lillard except he doesn’t have a Soundcloud rap project. A Napier who was not a mini Damian Lillard wouldn’t have taken over this game the way this Napier did. When I saw he only had one point in the first half, I literally said out loud to myself “I bet this guy who is mini Damian Lillard is going to take over the game in the second half” and guess what, I was right!
It actually might be an insult against Napier to compare him to Lillard, considering that Lillard’s shooting is way down this year (42% from the field, 35% from three), whereas Napier is shooting above 40% for the first time in his career and is at 49% right now (including 45% from three). Shabazzledazzle (or, alternately, Shabazzmatazz), is having a career year right now, but it will all come screeching to a halt when Damian Brickard comes back and takes all the minutes away.
That’s why I think the Blazers should trade Napier BACK to the Magic so he can be their point guard of the future even though he can’t pass and probably isn’t starter quality on any team that has hopes of making the playoffs. That way Napier can average 14/4 in peace for the next couple years, or he could just regress and it will be another in a long line of failed trades for the Magic. In return the Blazers can get some picks or Mario Hezonja or something. I’ve got this GM’ing stuff all figured out.