Aldridge article

[magnifier661]

http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/129505-aldridge-powers-forward

Tells you haters he just doesn't care about your criticism. He is doing what is asked of him.

 

[KingSpeed]

Great interview. This should be a must read for everyone in this forum. I feel better about him. He wants to win, he wants to get better.

 

[jlprk]

Good interviewing skill shown by Eggers at being subtle the way he poked criticism at Aldridge.

 

[magnifier661]

Good interviewing skill shown by Eggers at being subtle the way he poked criticism at Aldridge.

Yeah of course you would say that. It's the reason why you aren't taken seriously


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[magnifier661]

Sexy line for Aldridge vs. New York. 24 points, a couple blocks, a few assists and 10 boards. Just another day in the office.


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[jlprk]

Yeah of course you would say that. It's the reason why you aren't taken seriously

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Of all the people on Earth who might say that...
Refraining from laughing at you and remaining serious...
How can I mine your polished expertise in being taken seriously?

 

[magnifier661]

Of all the people on Earth who might say that...
Refraining from laughing at you and remaining serious...
How can I mine your polished expertise in being taken seriously?

No problem! I'm glad I was amusing to you. You definitely are very entertaining as well.

 

[BrianFromWA]

maybe you're going off this quote in your OP statement, Mags?

Does it bother you that some fans are critical of your performance in the clutch?
I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t care. There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t like your game. Just like when I make 12 of 14 jump shots, I played great. And when I make 2 out of 12 jump shots, I’m taking way too many. I can’t worry about those things. I have to do what’s best for this team.

Couple things here. LMA has never shot 12-14 on jump shots in a game in his life. Not at Texas, not in the NBA. In fact, only 2 players this year have shot even 75% when shooting more than 12 jump shots--Paul Pierce and Brandon Knight, both of whom were 10-13 and each a bunch of 3's. He went 12-15 (total) against WAS last year, but 6-9 on jumpers and 6-6 on layups and dunks. He was 13-16 against HOU in 2009, but 7-9 on jumpers and 6-7 on dunks and layups. He was 12-15 against SAC in 2007, but 5-7 on jumpers and 7-8 on layups.

When he HAS taken more that 12 J's? He's done so 97 times in his career. 6 of those 97 times he's shot 60% or better. 39 of those times he's been 40% or worse. So no, LMA--you've never, EVER once made 12 of 14 jump shots. (To his credit, though, he's only had 2 2-12's or worse). If you cared about what's "best for the team", you'd be banging Chuck Hayes 6x to get to a place where you get more than .82 points per shot.

He doesn't say a word about "doing what's asked." He in fact says that shooting jump shots is his game. Which is one of the major things the "haters" criticize him for, and which you apologize for him for. Seems that it's unwarranted. In fact, he's not "asked" to do anything.

He (Stotts) gives players the freedom to take shots and to make plays. He gives us a lot of confidence out there to be ourselves.

Great. LMA feels free to take 12 of the least-efficient shots in basketball a game, making 5 of them, and thinks that because "that's his game" he can "be (him)self", and that his team because depends on him more than any other team depends on their PF, that he's now #1.

Do you consider yourself the top power forward in the game?
LMA: I do. My team depends on me more than any power forward in the league.

Let's parse, shall we? He's not the Top PF in the league, in his mind, because of his performance. It's b/c the team "depends on him" more. But at least he's polite when he says he doesn't care.

This next summer, it will be working on being at the elbow, being able to make plays for myself and for my teammates. Being more dominant in the elbow-area isolation is what this offense needs.

No, it doesn't. Unless it means that he's going to attack the hoop more (see previous comments about him not wanting to go low) or he's magically going to start shooting mid 50% instead of low-40% from the elbow. But since he's been shooting them ~10x a game for the last half-decade and every year has been in between 41.6-43.2%, I don't have a ton of confidence in his ability to magically morph into a Mark Gasol or Chris Bosh-level mid-range shooter, much less a Nowitzki. Which is what would be needed to even come close to making his statement or his "game" something that helps the team instead of hinders it.

At least it seems that LMA is getting some confidence, or else he trusts Eggers enough to let the chip on his shoulder make it into the media. Good for him. Unfortunately, every statistic he brings up in here is a lie, and everything brings up to justify his greatness and leadership is a non-measurable platitude ("they depend on me more, so I'm the best"..."You miss some (clutch shots), but as I do it more and more, I’m going to get better.") News flash, you're shooting more and more of the worst shot in basketball, and not getting better.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I take it LMA is not married? I am all for these guys staying single during their 20's. Less of a headache and a hell of lot
safer financially.

On the flip side you can't have your cake and eat it too. I am sure he misses his kids, but that is his own fault.
Not that he was bitching about it.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I take it LMA is not married? I am all for these guys staying single during their 20's. Less of a headache and a hell of lot safer financially.

Well, he seemed to play well last night with a headache. Maybe he should get hitched.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Sexy line for Aldridge vs. New York. 24 points, a couple blocks, a few assists and 10 boards. Just another day in the office.

Better than a couple blocks - he had 5.

 

[magnifier661]

Better than a couple blocks - he had 5.

Yep! But be quite cause the haters will say its because he played against weal competition. And if the haters find a game against weak competition, and Aldridge has a mediocre game, they will say Aldridge always plays down to the competition.

Basically the haters are a bit confused. They just can't like the guy.


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[magnifier661]

maybe you're going off this quote in your OP statement, Mags?

Couple things here. LMA has never shot 12-14 on jump shots in a game in his life. Not at Texas, not in the NBA. In fact, only 2 players this year have shot even 75% when shooting more than 12 jump shots--Paul Pierce and Brandon Knight, both of whom were 10-13 and each a bunch of 3's. He went 12-15 (total) against WAS last year, but 6-9 on jumpers and 6-6 on layups and dunks. He was 13-16 against HOU in 2009, but 7-9 on jumpers and 6-7 on dunks and layups. He was 12-15 against SAC in 2007, but 5-7 on jumpers and 7-8 on layups.

When he HAS taken more that 12 J's? He's done so 97 times in his career. 6 of those 97 times he's shot 60% or better. 39 of those times he's been 40% or worse. So no, LMA--you've never, EVER once made 12 of 14 jump shots. (To his credit, though, he's only had 2 2-12's or worse). If you cared about what's "best for the team", you'd be banging Chuck Hayes 6x to get to a place where you get more than .82 points per shot.

He doesn't say a word about "doing what's asked." He in fact says that shooting jump shots is his game. Which is one of the major things the "haters" criticize him for, and which you apologize for him for. Seems that it's unwarranted. In fact, he's not "asked" to do anything.

Great. LMA feels free to take 12 of the least-efficient shots in basketball a game, making 5 of them, and thinks that because "that's his game" he can "be (him)self", and that his team because depends on him more than any other team depends on their PF, that he's now #1.


Let's parse, shall we? He's not the Top PF in the league, in his mind, because of his performance. It's b/c the team "depends on him" more. But at least he's polite when he says he doesn't care.


No, it doesn't. Unless it means that he's going to attack the hoop more (see previous comments about him not wanting to go low) or he's magically going to start shooting mid 50% instead of low-40% from the elbow. But since he's been shooting them ~10x a game for the last half-decade and every year has been in between 41.6-43.2%, I don't have a ton of confidence in his ability to magically morph into a Mark Gasol or Chris Bosh-level mid-range shooter, much less a Nowitzki. Which is what would be needed to even come close to making his statement or his "game" something that helps the team instead of hinders it.

At least it seems that LMA is getting some confidence, or else he trusts Eggers enough to let the chip on his shoulder make it into the media. Good for him. Unfortunately, every statistic he brings up in here is a lie, and everything brings up to justify his greatness and leadership is a non-measurable platitude ("they depend on me more, so I'm the best"..."You miss some (clutch shots), but as I do it more and more, I’m going to get better.") News flash, you're shooting more and more of the worst shot in basketball, and not getting better.

Sounds like you have a real problem with Aldridge. I'm curious, how we're you with Roy? How we're you regarding sheed? What are your feelings about Batum?


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[BrianFromWA]

I don't have a problem with Aldridge. He's a fine basketball player.

He's not the top PF in the league. He's not a good shooter, and I don't think his "game" helps the team nearly as much as you and he thinks it does. But I haven't seen you address or refute any of the stats (or questions about them) I've asked or provided in the last couple of days.

Do you NOT have a problem with LMA shooting the worst/least-efficient shot in basketball 10-12x a game because he doesn't want to play down low like a big man who is a mediocre mid-range shooter generally does?

I just took his comments and addressed them. As he said, he doesn't care about my criticism. But your characterization that he was just doing as he was asked or told is patently false, and this is not the first (or third) article that has come out from him explicitly stating it.

You can see my feelings about Roy/Batum/Outlaw/Webster/Blanky/Nate/etc. on just about any thread that brings them up. I'm not generally shy about my opinions, but unlike LMA I generally have pretty concrete reasons for them.

 

[Rhal]

Yep! But be quite cause the haters will say its because he played against weal competition. And if the haters find a game against weak competition, and Aldridge has a mediocre game, they will say Aldridge always plays down to the competition.

Basically the haters are a bit confused. They just can't like the guy.


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LA is a tad confusing watching him play. He can look dominant against great competition and then a game later be outplayed by a bench player.

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[magnifier661]

I don't have a problem with Aldridge. He's a fine basketball player.

He's not the top PF in the league. He's not a good shooter, and I don't think his "game" helps the team nearly as much as you and he thinks it does. But I haven't seen you address or refute any of the stats (or questions about them) I've asked or provided in the last couple of days.

Do you NOT have a problem with LMA shooting the worst/least-efficient shot in basketball 10-12x a game because he doesn't want to play down low like a big man who is a mediocre mid-range shooter generally does?

I just took his comments and addressed them. As he said, he doesn't care about my criticism. But your characterization that he was just doing as he was asked or told is patently false, and this is not the first (or third) article that has come out from him explicitly stating it.

You can see my feelings about Roy/Batum/Outlaw/Webster/Blanky/Nate/etc. on just about any thread that brings them up. I'm not generally shy about my opinions, but unlike LMA I generally have pretty concrete reasons for them.

Well Brian, I've always respected yours because of you keep it straight. Ad yes, I would much rather have Aldridge take it inside. But I think it's pretty obvious that Stotts was trying to use him like dirk, which epically failed. Those shots are getting less and less of the norm lately.

I only asked this question because it seems you hold a higher standard and not afraid to be pissed when they aren't performing. I think the contract is another factor.


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[Rhal]

No, it doesn't. Unless it means that he's going to attack the hoop more (see previous comments about him not wanting to go low) or he's magically going to start shooting mid 50% instead of low-40% from the elbow. But since he's been shooting them ~10x a game for the last half-decade and every year has been in between 41.6-43.2%, I don't have a ton of confidence in his ability to magically morph into a Mark Gasol or Chris Bosh-level mid-range shooter, much less a Nowitzki. Which is what would be needed to even come close to making his statement or his "game" something that helps the team instead of hinders it.

Most of your post seems to be just "reading between the lines", you and I took away very different things from this article. The one thing I wanted to bring up is when he is talking about the left Elbow I think he is talking about how he was the last two years. That was when the offense was run through him starting at the eblow, and he used it to set up teammates and back people down into the paint more, not this turn around fade away that he has fallen in love with this year.

 

[mook]

I'm with Brian. Pretty disappointing that he and Stotts are planning on doubling down on the Dirk Strategy this summer. That strategy only worked once for Dirk, and then you have to go back a long way to find a team led to a championship by a jumpshooting power forward. (Actually, I'm trying to think about it right now and I'm drawing a blank. Surely it's happened before?) And LMA will never, ever have the talent Dirk did.

This is Rasheed all over again. Sheed hated Dunleavy, but you can't deny he was a dominant low post player under Dunleavy because Dunleavy made him do it. Cheeks came along trying to be everybody's friend, and that version of Sheed was never seen again.

The one thing I miss about Nate was that he cemented LMA in the post. I remember writing more than once that LMA was simply the best low post player in the game. That's completely gone now.

To be fair, some of that is also Lillard. DL is so effective at the high pick-and-roll, because he terrifies teams with his speed and his jumper. LMA naturally takes the "pop" (instead of the roll), and sometimes that's just fine because DL has sucked in defenders to the paint.

Still, though, there's no reason for Portland not to plant LMA in the post more and use others for that pick-and-roll play.

 

[Rhal]

I'm with Brian. Pretty disappointing that he and Stotts are planning on doubling down on the Dirk Strategy this summer. That strategy only worked once for Dirk, and then you have to go back a long way to find a team led to a championship by a jumpshooting power forward. (Actually, I'm trying to think about it right now and I'm drawing a blank. Surely it's happened before?) And LMA will never, ever have the talent Dirk did.

This is Rasheed all over again. Sheed hated Dunleavy, but you can't deny he was a dominant low post player under Dunleavy because Dunleavy made him do it. Cheeks came along trying to be everybody's friend, and that version of Sheed was never seen again.

The one thing I miss about Nate was that he cemented LMA in the post. I remember writing more than once that LMA was simply the best low post player in the game. That's completely gone now.

To be fair, some of that is also Lillard. DL is so effective at the high pick-and-roll, because he terrifies teams with his speed and his jumper. LMA naturally takes the "pop" (instead of the roll), and sometimes that's just fine because DL has sucked in defenders to the paint.

Still, though, there's no reason for Portland not to plant LMA in the post more and use others for that pick-and-roll play.

I'd love to see him roll more to the hoop, he may get an open shot out at the spot Damien hits him at but he has had to many horrid shooting nights to just continually pop. He needs to realize that sometimes you need to get to the line to get your head straight, and rolling to the rim hard gets you and easy dunk/lay in or its a foul one way or the other.

 

[magnifier661]

I'd love to see him roll more to the hoop, he may get an open shot out at the spot Damien hits him at but he has had to many horrid shooting nights to just continually pop. He needs to realize that sometimes you need to get to the line to get your head straight, and rolling to the rim hard gets you and easy dunk/lay in or its a foul one way or the other.

Hopefully stotts will see this and work more on implementing a low post concentration of Aldridge. He has all summer to work it up.

If we see the same jump shooting Aldridge next season, then we should be concerned, but a summer with game tape and advanced stats should pursued stotts enough to run more plays down low next season.