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Lillard says 'Check my track record' to writer who compared him to Kyrie

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Damian Lillard is wondering what it takes to get a little respect these days.

Responding to a piece by ESPN writer Tom Haberstroh - which compared Lillard to Kyrie Irving and said both struggle being the main piece on an NBA team - Lillard took his critic to task.

While Lillard was not the focus of Haberstroh's piece, the writer did make several unflattering remarks about the dynamic guard.

"Irving might fancy himself as the next Kobe (Bryant) or (Russell) Westbrook - alpha dogs who became MVPs after their co-star left the picture - but you can't just ignore Irving's losing track record as the No. 1 guy. The more realistic expectation is that he's another Lillard," Haberstroh wrote.

After a 33-49 season in Lillard's rookie year, Portland has indeed made the playoffs in four straight seasons in a tough Western Conference, despite transitioning away from a core built around former franchise player LaMarcus Aldridge after the 2014-15 season. Overall, the Blazers have posted a 190-138 record from 2013-17.

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