Fansided

The NBA’s underrated list

By Clint Pemberton

Apr 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) goes up to make a basket as Brooklyn Nets forward-center Mason Plumlee (1) defends in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Brooklyn 115-113. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) goes up to make a basket as Brooklyn Nets forward-center Mason Plumlee (1) defends in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Brooklyn 115-113. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2014; Ontario, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre (50) guards Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in the first half of the game at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2014; Ontario, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Sacre (50) guards Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in the first half of the game at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Most Underrated Western Conference Player

Damian Lillard

21.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, FG% 45.8, 3P% 39.1

ORating 118, DRating 102, TS% 59.7, WS/48 .234, VORP 6.6, RPM 6.48, PER 23.12

Anyone who tells you they considered Damian Lillard to be an MVP candidate coming into this season is a dead set liar, but that is exactly what Damian Lillard is; a legitimate MVP candidate.

Lillard’s advanced metrics rank among the very elite in the NBA; second in Wins Above Replacement (WAR), third in VORP, fourth in Win Shares, fifth in PER, fourth in Real Plus Minus (RPM). Yet somehow Damian Lillard is sitting eighth in All-Star voting for a Western Conference guard spot. Huh? Really?

Not only is Lillard is the leader and best player on a genuine title contending team that sits second in the Western Conference meat-grinder, but he is also the best closer in the NBA. The Blazers point guard doesn’t just make shots, he makes important shots. Since Lillard arrived in the NBA he has made 12 game tying or go ahead field goals in the last 15 seconds of games, the next best over that period is James Harden with eight.

Similarly to how Kyle Lowry has struggled to gain acceptance as a star outside of hardcore NBA fans, Damian Lillard is working against initial perceptions of being a level below the NBA elite; being drafted at 22 years after four years at a mid-major college and allegedly lacking elite athleticism will do that to you.

However sooner or later we need to forget our biases and believe what our eyes are telling us.

Damian Lillard is a superstar and you better get used it.

Next: Who are the greatest players in every NBA franchise's history?

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