Portland Trail Blazers: 3 goals for Damian Lillard in 2018-19

3. Average 1.5 steals per game

Damian Lillard is not known as a lockdown defender. However, he can deliver on that end of the floor if things are schemed correctly. In the case of Portland, the team needs an effective rim protector and shot-alterer in the paint to take the pressure off of perimeter defenders such as Dame. Jusuf Nurkic has filled that role admirably in his one and a half seasons in Rip City.

The difference shows in the statistics. Portland went from 21st in defensive rating in 2016-17 to eighth in 2017-18. For Lillard, his rating improved from 108.9 points allowed per 100 possessions in 2017 to 103.5 in 2018.

Part of his improvement came from the increased amount of steals he pulled off last year. Lillard swiped 1.1 steals per game in 2017-18, up from 0.9 the year before. As most of last season’s roster returns — leading to players being more comfortable communicating on defense — Lillard should take the opportunity to be a little more aggressive when guarding on-ball.

Lillard’s career-high average for steals is 1.2 in 2014-15, so 1.5 seems like a fair bar to aim for. Looking to grab an extra steal or two when the chance presents itself will greatly help a Blazers defense that already took major strides last season.