A few thoughts on LMA's style/type of game

[SlyPokerDog]

Let me start off by saying I have always hated 3pt shooting big men. As a long term Blazer fan I cringed when first Uncle Cliffy fell in love with the 3pt shot and then Rasheed started to drift around past the 3pt line waiting for the ball instead of battling down low.

The only Blazer big man that I didn't mind shooting 3's was Sabonis.

I've always liked my pf's to have that be low on the block posting up, battling for rebounds and put backs. The way Lucas, Buck and yes even Zbo used to play the position.

Which brings me to LaMarcus, he's really got a lot of skills. Hell of an athlete, great speed, great shooting touch. There is a lot to like about LMA but his lack of a traditional post up game has always bothered me like it has many of you.

So I have to ask, are we using him correctly, are we getting the most out of what his natural skill set has to offer? I think maybe it's time for LMA to work on expanding his shooting range. To develop a consistent 3pt shot. I really think LMA could be more like Dirk Nowitzki.

LMA's shot is mechanically sound, high arc, smooth soft release. Also I think that would help Roy and Miller by pulling a big man defender away from the basket and opening the lane more for them to drive.

I don't think he'll ever be a traditional pf with a bruising post game but I do think he has the ability to be Chocolate Dirk.

Thoughts?

 

[HailBlazers]

Very Interesting, I was hoping to see more of a Kevin Garnett smooth fade post up game though than a "dirk chocolate"

 

[Nikolokolus]

If we had a legit low post scorer I wouldn't worry about him as much, but with Oden hardly reliable and not exactly capable of doing much beyond 3 feet from the hoop I think it tends to magnify LMA's deficiencies -- both his handle in the face-up game and his footwork on the block are pretty terrible -- I don't mind Aldridge being the player he is, but his steady decline in blocks and a real lack of aggressiveness on the defensive end are the parts that make him tough to take (at least in my own humble opinion).

If he stays with the team I won't be unhappy because I think he provides pretty steady, if unspectacular play, punctuated with moments of brilliance, but damn am I left wanting a lot more.

 

[Idog1976]

Let me start off by saying I have always hated 3pt shooting big men. As a long term Blazer fan I cringed when first Uncle Cliffy fell in love with the 3pt shot and then Rasheed started to drift around past the 3pt line waiting for the ball instead of battling down low.

The only Blazer big man that I didn't mind shooting 3's was Sabonis.

I've always liked my pf's to have that be low on the block posting up, battling for rebounds and put backs. The way Lucas, Buck and yes even Zbo used to play the position.

Which brings me to LaMarcus, he's really got a lot of skills. Hell of an athlete, great speed, great shooting touch. There is a lot to like about LMA but his lack of a traditional post up game has always bothered me like it has many of you.

So I have to ask, are we using him correctly, are we getting the most out of what his natural skill set has to offer? I think maybe it's time for LMA to work on expanding his shooting range. To develop a consistent 3pt shot. I really think LMA could be more like Dirk Nowitzki.

LMA's shot is mechanically sound, high arc, smooth soft release. Also I think that would help Roy and Miller by pulling a big man defender away from the basket and opening the lane more for them to drive.

I don't think he'll ever be a traditional pf with a bruising post game but I do think he has the ability to be Chocolate Dirk.

Thoughts?

I think it's LMA mostly with a dash of the coaching staff. I remember during 2008/09 season LMA would roll across the middle with a hook and it was EASILY our most devastating play especially when it was set up with a pass from Martell who then cut back door taking his defender with him. If LMA would just get in the paint more, I would trade Oden + Batum etc. for CP3. It's LMA's fear of the paint or stupid coaching that makes me hesitate. Also Oden was just so damn perfect last season until he went down (worst gut punch yet IMO, trumping 2007 micro).

LMA has the tools I've never doubted that. If you cut out Noah's heart and brain and put it into LaMarcus you would have a 25 / 12 guy for sure.

EDIT: Jesus Christ, I meant LMA not Martell

 

[illmatic99]

Very Interesting, I was hoping to see more of a Kevin Garnett smooth fade post up game though than a "dirk chocolate"

Good call.

KG never really had a Duncanesque post game, but was nearly as effective with his array of moves both in and out of the paint during his career. But I do think LA and prime KG are on different tiers athletically. LA might be fast end to end, but he doesn't have the hops or power that KG (or even Sheed) did.

 

[barfo]

LMA has the tools I've never doubted that. If you cut out Noah's heart and brain and put it into Martell you would have a 25 / 12 guy for sure.

Not sure about that, but we can pass the suggestion on to Minnesota.

barfo

 

[RR7]

I think the biggest issue with LMA becoming "Chocolate Dirk" isn't his range, it's his handles. Everyone looks at LMA's FT numbers, and assumes he doesn't get to the line because he lacks low post moves and doesn't "bang" enough. That's false. Al Jefferson does those things. His best year, he got 5 FTAs a game. Meanwhile, Bosh is considered soft, as is Dirk. Bosh gets to the line over 8 times per game. Dirk around 7. Why? Same reason slashing guards get to the line. Bosh and Dirk have good face up games that allow them to dribble from the high post to the rim, and draw contact. It's tougher for a big man to start covering a guy at the key, and back up to the rim avoiding contact. It's much much easier for a big man to play D in the post, and stand with his arms straight in the air, and avoid picking up the foul. Aldridge can expand his range to the half court line, but the most important thing he can learn is to be a even competent dribbler. I've heard the past three offseasons about how great he looks in the offseason penetrating, but he looks completely incompetent with the ball in his hands dribbling. He's already a dangerous shooter out to about 20 feet. Think ho much better he would be on that pick and pop when it's passed out to him, and instead of the defender being able to sell out on his shot, they have to worry about him going around them and getting to the hoop. There's absolutely no threat of that now.

I'm fine with LMA. I don't agree with other's criticisms that he needs to be in the post. He is what he is. And if you want to force him in the post with Al Jefferson type moves, you're taking away his strengths. I think you should coach a player to be able to do many things, but ultimately, if you're building around players, you should build to their strengths. Not their weaknesses. I don't want Oden working on a 17 footer, to spread the floor for LMA in the post. I want Oden in the post hurting people. (Not himself). Would it be awesome if LMA had ZBO's post game AND his current fade away and mid range game? Sure. He likely would have been drafted #1 by Toronto though, instead of Bargs. And we'd be figuring out how to build around Roy and Tyrus Thomas or some shit.

He is who he is, and he is built as a perfect complement to Oden. His defense is better than I think he is given credit for. I think he actually does a good job of post defense, and thought in games against LA and Orlando last season, that he actually looked good defending both Dwight and Bynum. Two of the stronger big men in the league. His shot blocking has declined, but I think that has been more off of style of our defensive scheme than anything. He's probably a better man defender than help defender, but I saw flashes of him and Oden together that made me think he could still be a very good help defender for us.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I think LA can pretty much play and shoot where ever he wants to and can find good success. It's just a matter of where Nate wants him in the scope of the offense.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He really hasn't made any significant improvements since coming into the League.

I really don't see LMA 'blowing up.' Dirk he is not. Not now, not ever.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

I've always liked my pf's to have that be low on the block posting up, battling for rebounds and put backs. The way Lucas, Buck and yes even Zbo used to play the position.

Uhhh... I think you seem to have forgotten that ZBo used to jack up some horrendous threes at critical times, and loved playing the outside at the expense of offensive rebounds.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He really hasn't made any significant improvements since coming into the League.

I really don't see LMA 'blowing up.' Dirk he is not. Not now, not ever.

You know who LMA makes me think of? Luol Deng.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He actually reminds me of the Portland version of Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

He really hasn't made any significant improvements since coming into the League.

I really don't see LMA 'blowing up.' Dirk he is not. Not now, not ever.

I completely agree with you, I have not seen much of any difference in LMA's game from when he game into the league to now. Some of this I attribute to Coach Lucas being ill the last couple of years. I look at LMA with still a ton of untapped, undeveloped potential. I'd love to see him expand his game in all areas. Maybe bring in Karl Malone during training camp and have him teach LMA that space clearing elbow of his.

Now I'm not saying that I want LMA to be like Frye or that Frye is a better player, he's not. But Frye had a skill (3pt shooting) that either Nate didn't know about or choose not to take advantage of. Are we getting full use out of LMA's skill set? What areas should we look to expand or develop in his game? I think there is still a lot of untapped potential there.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Uhhh... I think you seem to have forgotten that ZBo used to jack up some horrendous threes at critical times, and loved playing the outside at the expense of offensive rebounds.

I didn't forget that and I f'ing hated it. But to be fair to Zbo he did have a better low post offensive game than Luke or Buck did. He was a black hole, lazy on defense, well we all know the rest but he was damn good at creating a good shot in the low post even when double teamed.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

ZBO shot 119 3-pointers in 6 seasons as a Blazer (out of 5,246 shots)

 

[hasoos]

I completely concur Lamarcus should develope the 3. The reason being, the shot one foot inside the line is the stupidest shot to take in basketball. Take a step back and make the 3.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I completely concur Lamarcus should develope the 3. The reason being, the shot one foot inside the line is the stupidest shot to take in basketball. Take a step back and make the 3.

Pretty much. If you're going to take an 18 footer learn to shoot from a full step back and you can even shoot 10% lower in overall percentage, but come out ahead of the game (assuming LMA went from 49% to 39%)

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

only knock on LMA is he's not agressive enough consistantly. I don't want him being a 3 point shooter....

 

[Hype #9]

When LA is put on the block, he has a decent post up game, but he has absolutely no face up game towards the basket.. which in turn makes him easier to defend in the post. This was apparent in the playoffs, where defense is magnified.

 

[STOMP]

I've always liked my pf's to have that be low on the block posting up, battling for rebounds and put backs. The way Lucas, Buck and yes even Zbo used to play the position.

Thoughts?

For optimal spacing in a half court set you only want one guy on the low block.... Walton, Duck, and Sabas/Sheed all were mostly found on the high post. Today's Blazers want to feature LA on the high post & Greg on the low block

STOMP

 

[Idog1976]

Not sure about that, but we can pass the suggestion on to Minnesota.

barfo

See my edit, dear lord.

 

[Idog1976]

When LA is put on the block, he has a decent post up game, but he has absolutely no face up game towards the basket.. which in turn makes him easier to defend in the post. This was apparent in the playoffs, where defense is magnified.

Which is insane given his ability to hit a jumper and high release. He definitely should add a little Nowitski to his game, not sure the 3-ball is the part I want. Just a Hakeem/Nowitski lite type of face up game would be nice I agree.