A changed Aldridge?

[MickZagger]

I hope so. I've heard it before though.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/10/blazers_preview_lamarcus_aldri.html

The year before, Houston did the same thing on its way to a first-round playoff victory: Crowd, harass and deny Aldridge going to his right.

"My whole summer was about me assessing my weaknesses," Aldridge said. "And determining what I wanted to get better."

His ah-ha moment came a month after the season ended while he reclined on his couch in Dallas, Texas, with an NBA playoff game on the television in the background. He was still stinging from the Blazers' first-round playoff loss to Phoenix, which in large part was decided because Aldridge and the Blazers were unable to make the Suns pay for double-teaming him every time he touched the ball.

Coach Nate McMillan said Aldridge was "very sensitive" to criticism early in his career. And Bayno said that last season Aldridge eventually "tuned out" Bayno's suggestions about how to improve certain areas of his game.

"He's calmer," McMillan said. "He's slower about things, whereas before, you could see him thinking, 'Where's the double team coming from?' Now, he reads, and if they come with the double, he drops it, if they don't, he goes to work."

 

[VanillaGorilla]

He just tuned out the coaches trying to help him? WTF?

 

[MickZagger]

He just tuned out the coaches trying to help him? WTF?

I was kind of thinking the same thing. Maybe he's matured. But, that sounds about as little boyish as you can get.

 

[cdub503]

well i can see the tuning out thing especially late in the season... i know if i had people nagging on me every time id probably either change it or tune them out. which ive done both before haha its good that he changed his attitude though hopefully it will show

 

[Natebishop3]

I was kind of thinking the same thing. Maybe he's matured. But, that sounds about as little boyish as you can get.

Does it really surprise you though? Aldridge has always kinda had that attitude. Remember what he was like at the Fan Fest last year?

"Well, I don't have my contract yet, so I don't really want to be here...." Obviously I'm paraphrasing his attitude, but the pouting was just so obvious.

 

[Rhal]

Does it really surprise you though? Aldridge has always kinda had that attitude. Remember what he was like at the Fan Fest last year?

"Well, I don't have my contract yet, so I don't really want to be here...." Obviously I'm paraphrasing his attitude, but the pouting was just so obvious.

Weren't him and Roy fairly shaky for the first two years because of some slight Aldridge thought he had received from Roy?

 

[Natebishop3]

Weren't him and Roy fairly shaky for the first two years because of some slight Aldridge thought he had received from Roy?

No I think it was Quick. I think Aldridge held some kind of grudge against Quick because of something Quick said during his rookie season or something like that.

 

[BGrantFan]

Weren't him and Roy fairly shaky for the first two years because of some slight Aldridge thought he had received from Roy?

Yep. At least that was the report. I remember Roy saying something about them finally getting along at a commercial shoot in Los Angeles. The third wheel in that story, as I remember it, was Oden sleeping in the bedroom of their trailer the entire day. Given what we now know about Oden's drinking, I think I know the reason why Greg may have been sleeping all day after a night in LA.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Weren't him and Roy fairly shaky for the first two years because of some slight Aldridge thought he had received from Roy?

Yep. At least that was the report. I remember Roy saying something about them finally getting along at a commercial shoot in Los Angeles. The third wheel in that story, as I remember it, was Oden sleeping in the bedroom of their trailer the entire day. Given what we now know about Oden's drinking, I think I know the reason why Greg may have been sleeping all day after a night in LA.

That's exactly what happened.

As for Aldridge, lots of people have that personality flaw. It's tough for some people to take criticism, and based on his upbringing with an absent father, it sounds like he developed a pretty prickly and cold demeanor as a defense mechanism when he perceives he's being slighted or attacked.

Good for LMA if it's true

 

[Natebishop3]

Yep. At least that was the report. I remember Roy saying something about them finally getting along at a commercial shoot in Los Angeles. The third wheel in that story, as I remember it, was Oden sleeping in the bedroom of their trailer the entire day. Given what we now know about Oden's drinking, I think I know the reason why Greg may have been sleeping all day after a night in LA.

Stayed up all night watching chick flicks and eating ice cream?

 

[julius]

Didn't his mom deal with breast cancer this summer and he became a father?

That can sometimes be a quick boost to the maturation process.

 

[barfo]

Given what we now know about Oden's drinking, I think I know the reason why Greg may have been sleeping all day after a night in LA.

What do we know about Oden's drinking? I think I missed this story.

barfo

 

[Darkwebs]

What do we know about Oden's drinking? I think I missed this story.

barfo

We don't know much about his past alcohol habits except that he stopped drinking alcohol recently, according to Jason Quick.

He no longer drinks alcohol. No longer goes to clubs. No longer partakes in late-night fast food.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/09/blazers_insider_greg_odens_min.html

 

[Natebishop3]

We don't know much about his past alcohol habits except that he stopped drinking alcohol recently, according to Jason Quick.



http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/09/blazers_insider_greg_odens_min.html

Sounds like a real asshole. Completely out of control. What 21 year old drinks alcohol, goes to clubs, and eats late-night fast food? I dare you to name even one!

 

[hasoos]

I have thought that big problem for Aldridge all along was that he would not recognize a where he needs to improve his game. When you hear interviews and he talks about rebounding, but to him, there was no rebounding problem. That in itself, is the whole problem. Instead of saying I will get better, it's not his problem.

I keep hearing Aldridge will be different this year, and I will believe it when I see it. The games I have seen so far seem to be pretty much the same Aldridge, a little more agressive in getting to the rim. But part of the problem the last few years is you get Aldridge to play for a quarter or so, and he puts up huge numbers in that quarter. A lot of times he will get into the teens. Then he just disappears. *poof*. Next thing you know the game is over, and the 3 quarters since he had his one big quarter, he has put down like 4 points and 2 rebounds for the rest of the game. A lot of the time the team gets into trouble somewhere in there, usually in the 4th quarter. Then they try to go back to him, but he hasn't had a decent touch in 2 quarters, so it doesn't work out well, because they haven't been going through him for all game long.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I keep hearing Aldridge will be different this year, and I will believe it when I see it.

Agreed. Talk is very cheap. I give him a better chance than others that have said the same things though.

 

[Natebishop3]

That's one big difference between Sheed and LMA. Wallace was extremely competitive and wanted to win more than anything else. Aldridge just doesn't have that fire. He can get pissed off from time to time, but generally he's a quiet guy.

 

[MickZagger]

I have thought that big problem for Aldridge all along was that he would not recognize a where he needs to improve his game. When you hear interviews and he talks about rebounding, but to him, there was no rebounding problem. That in itself, is the whole problem. Instead of saying I will get better, it's not his problem.

I keep hearing Aldridge will be different this year, and I will believe it when I see it. The games I have seen so far seem to be pretty much the same Aldridge, a little more agressive in getting to the rim. But part of the problem the last few years is you get Aldridge to play for a quarter or so, and he puts up huge numbers in that quarter. A lot of times he will get into the teens. Then he just disappears. *poof*. Next thing you know the game is over, and the 3 quarters since he had his one big quarter, he has put down like 4 points and 2 rebounds for the rest of the game. A lot of the time the team gets into trouble somewhere in there, usually in the 4th quarter. Then they try to go back to him, but he hasn't had a decent touch in 2 quarters, so it doesn't work out well, because they haven't been going through him for all game long.

Basically the same beef I have with the guy.

 

[MickZagger]

That's one big difference between Sheed and LMA. Wallace was extremely competitive and wanted to win more than anything else. Aldridge just doesn't have that fire. He can get pissed off from time to time, but generally he's a quiet guy.

He usually only gets pissed off when the media calls him out for something and it hurts his feelings.

 

[THE HCP]

10-24-2010 12:55PM


I think LA will blow up this season! I think Greg won't be back this year and BRoy's knees will explode so LA will become the #1 option and thrive. Just my opinion.

 

[barfo]

10-24-2010 12:55PM


I think LA will blow up this season! I think Greg won't be back this year and BRoy's knees will explode so LA will become the #1 option and thrive. Just my opinion.

ur an idyut. adrige is pussy soft I predic 6 pts, 2 rbs this season. Too bad he got big $$$ now we are stuk with him. Vulkans really screwed this up.

barfo

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why do people keep bringing up old threads?

 

[crandc]

I don't think Aldridge has chagned so much as he has grown. He was what, about 19 when he was a rookie? He had growing to do.

As for unlike Sheed Aldridge not caring about losing, I don't see that. Sheed loved playing basketball and at the end he was ready to shake the opponent's hand and go on his way. We all remember the famous game when Sheed & others were laughing and joking in the locker room after a tough loss, and faced the Wrath of Pippen.

Evidence of Oden's "drinking problem" is about as solid as evidence of the worldwide caliphate. Like, zero. Having a drink is not a drinking problem.

 

[Kaydow]

Why do people keep bringing up old threads?

Actually I like it. It's funny to read what people were saying about him in October. I wonder what the posters who criticized him not being "competitive" think when the re-read this. He has showed tremendous heart and determination and put the team on his back. I don't ever remember Rasheed having a stretch where he did anything close to what Lamarcus is doing.

 

[Kaydow]

I don't think Aldridge has chagned so much as he has grown. He was what, about 19 when he was a rookie? He had growing to do.

As for unlike Sheed Aldridge not caring about losing, I don't see that. Sheed loved playing basketball and at the end he was ready to shake the opponent's hand and go on his way. We all remember the famous game when Sheed & others were laughing and joking in the locker room after a tough loss, and faced the Wrath of Pippen.

Evidence of Oden's "drinking problem" is about as solid as evidence of the worldwide caliphate. Like, zero. Having a drink is not a drinking problem.

You must be an alcoholic. Only a person with a guilty conscience/drinking problem would defend Greg's indulgence. The first step is surrendering, which is what we're all waiting for Greg to do

 

[andalusian]

Aldridge still mostly goes only one way - he is just so big and strong now - that people can not stop him or have to foul him when he goes this way.

Last night, the thing I noticed mostly was that Boozer was mostly loading on Aldridge one way when Aldridge was backing him down - and Aldridge kept on going that way and plowing through him.

He still has room to grow - which is fantastic news actually - as he might become better...

 

[illmatic99]

Ya, no doubt. He can still improve. The biggest improvement I'd like to see is him finding cutters more. But he's always been a willing passer and has shown the intent to improve, so I'm sure he'll get that soon and eventually become the most skilled post player in the NBA.

 

[mook]

Aldridge still mostly goes only one way - he is just so big and strong now - that people can not stop him or have to foul him when he goes this way.

Last night, the thing I noticed mostly was that Boozer was mostly loading on Aldridge one way when Aldridge was backing him down - and Aldridge kept on going that way and plowing through him.

lol. Yeah, I noticed that too. I kept looking for him to make a spin move to take the little bank with his left, and he never did because the defense never really forced him to. They tried, but they just couldn't.

The general rule is that you can't really go to a big man at the end of games. You need a wing closer. But the way he can work with a smart guard to quickly transition from post-up to pick-and-roll to pick-and-pop all in about 10 seconds is just a thing of beauty to watch.

Even his patented pick-and-pop shot, which is all he really had for much of his career, is looking so much more lethal. Teams are just conceding that with wide open looks because they are so focused on the pick-and-roll and post-up. You give him a wide open 18 footer and it's practically a layup.

Hopefully Roy is paying careful attention to how to work with Aldridge on the block. If he can do much the same thing Miller does, but add in a three point threat, it'd be huge.

 

[Kaydow]

Aldridge still mostly goes only one way - he is just so big and strong now - that people can not stop him or have to foul him when he goes this way.

Last night, the thing I noticed mostly was that Boozer was mostly loading on Aldridge one way when Aldridge was backing him down - and Aldridge kept on going that way and plowing through him.

He still has room to grow - which is fantastic news actually - as he might become better...

That has to be the surprise of the season to me. I thought that LA had reached his ceiling. I always thought he'd have problems getting post position because I use to see him getting pushed out to the 3 point line when he tried. What a difference the weight training has made for him. He's also added some moves to his arsenal. He never had much of a left hand. It's still not dominant, but he uses it enough to make you think about it. That lefty up/under move that iced a game at Houston back in January was a thing of beauty. See link below at 1:40.

 

[maxiep]

10-24-2010 12:55PM


I think LA will blow up this season! I think Greg won't be back this year and BRoy's knees will explode so LA will become the #1 option and thrive. Just my opinion.

Finally I have someone to blame. It's all your fault.