Aldridge and Dame's defense this season

[Natebishop3]

Aldridge with a career high 1.3 blocks this season. (career 1.0)

Dame with a career high 1.5 steals per game. (career 0.9)

Side note - LA's middle name is Nurae?

 

[magnifier661]

It's weird because just a year ago many of us were concerned with Lillard's D and Aldridge's help defense.

This season, you don't hear shit about either one

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It's weird because just a year ago many of us were concerned with Lillard's D and Aldridge's help defense.

This season, you don't hear shit about either one

I hear plenty about the defense that each is playing. Mostly about how much better it is.

 

[magnifier661]

I hear plenty about the defense that each is playing. Mostly about how much better it is.

Touché

 

[Strenuus]

It's weird because just a year ago many of us were concerned with Lillard's D and Aldridge's help defense.

This season, you don't hear shit about either one

You're right. You hardly hear more than smatterings about Dames' D. And Aldridge stopped swiping and started moving his feet more.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Batum is also averaging a career high at 1.3 spg.

We don't have any one single great shot blocker, but we still do pretty good as a team. With Lopez at 1.5 bpg, Aldridge 1.3 bpg, Kaman 1.0 bpg and Batum at 0.8 bpg, we average 5.3 bpg as a team, which is 6th in the entire league. We have a +1.8 block differential per game (which is up from +1.0 last year). We've also given up only 62 dunks this season - second fewest in the league. So, we're definitely doing a good job protecting the rim.

Of course, there is a lot more to defense than blocking shots and getting steals, and it's our over all improved team defense that has been the most impressive. They mentioned last night during the broadcast that the Blazers are 5th in the league in defensive efficiency. In spite of playing that a faster than average pace, we are 3rd in the league in opponent scoring (96.6 ppg) and 2nd in the league in opponent eFG% at .453. That's very impressive and quite a substantial improvement from last season when we were 22nd in opponent scoring at 102.6 ppg.

BNM

 

[santeesioux]

It seems like they knew what to work on over the summer and did it.

 

[magnifier661]

Batum is also averaging a career high at 1.3 spg.

We don't have any one single great shot blocker, but we still do pretty good as a team. With Lopez at 1.5 bpg, Aldridge 1.3 bpg, Kaman 1.0 bpg and Batum at 0.8 bpg, we average 5.3 bpg as a team, which is 6th in the entire league. We have a +1.8 block differential per game (which is up from +1.0 last year). We've also given up only 62 dunks this season - second fewest in the league. So, we're definitely doing a good job protecting the rim.

Of course, there is a lot more to defense than blocking shots and getting steals, and it's our over all improved team defense that has been the most impressive. They mentioned last night during the broadcast that the Blazers are 5th in the league in defensive efficiency. In spite of playing that a faster than average pace, we are 3rd in the league in opponent scoring (96.6 ppg) and 2nd in the league in opponent eFG% at .453. That's very impressive and quite a substantial improvement from last season when we were 22nd in opponent scoring at 102.6 ppg.

BNM

Stop with this crazy talk!!!! It almost sounds like we are contenders!

 

[magnifier661]

It seems like they knew what to work on over the summer and did it.

I think our team, as a whole, are professionals. Their desire to be the best is showing because of their work ethic in the offseason

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think our team, as a whole, are professionals. Their desire to be the best is showing because of their work ethic in the offseason

I honestly have to ask: is there a harder working back court in the entire NBA than Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews?

Both came into the league as underdogs, Wesley undrafted and Lillard from a small school in a weak conference, and both seem determined to prove the doubters wrong. They both play hard every minute of every game, but it's also obvious they both put in a lot of work during the off season to improve their weaknesses.

That kind of relentless drive to improve is contagious. I hope Olshey does everything he can to keep this core together for as long as possible. Let this team continue to grow and improve together.

BNM

 

[magnifier661]

I honestly have to ask: is there a hard working back court in the entire NBA than Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews?

Both came into the league as underdogs, Wesley undrafted and Lillard from a small school in a weak conference, and both seem determined to prove the doubters wrong. They both play hard every minute of every game, but it's also obvious they both put in a lot of work during the off season to improve their weaknesses.

That kind of relentless drive to improve is contagious. I hope Olshey does everything he can to keep this core together for as long as possible. Let this team continue to grow and improve together.

BNM

Hear hear! I hope every player on this roster is still here for many years