LeBron and Lillard

Love the opening paragraphs from J.A. Adande:

The best argument for underclass players staying in college for more preparation is the fact that you can mention Damian Lillard and LeBron James in the same sentence. No, not that you can compare Lillard's game to LeBron's, but you can write this perfectly acceptable sentence: LeBron James for MVP and Damian Lillard for rookie of the year are the two easiest choices for this year's NBA awards.

Lillard lapped the field, averaging 19 points and 6.5 assists per game, because his game is so polished. It's so polished because he stayed at Weber State for four years. The Big Sky Conference might not be stocked with NBA-level talent, but the likes of Shaka Smart at Virginia Commonwealth and Brad Stevens at Butler have shown there are good coaches throughout college basketball. And going against well-coached teams with evolving defensive schemes forced Lillard to improve...