Aldridge isn't an all star

[NOVoodoo]

Overall Aldridge is better player that Marc Gasol.

Have you seen the strides Marc has made in his game this season? He's the main reason the Grizzlies sit at 5-1 right now. He's in a two game shooting slump, but overall, some of his performances have been nothing short of epic. He's a legit seven-footer, and he's shooting over 89% from the line with 5.2 apg.

He's been a mismatch nightmare for opponents, because he's a great back to the basket player, yet he can stroke it from the perimeter like a guard. He doesn't shoot his mid-range jumpers because he's a soft Euro (in fact, he's one of the least soft players we've had in a while). He shoots those because he knows that certain players can't defend his diverse skill-set. If any player from the Grizz gets an All-Star nod this year, it should be Gasol, even if it comes down to Randolph or Gasol, and Randolph is still leading the league in rebounding at the time. Gasol is just too essential to what the Grizzlies do to not be given credit for their success.

 

[MickZagger]

If the Blazers where 5-3 this conversation would do a full 360.

If our best player was playing like he should we wouldn't be 3-5.

Fact.

 

[MickZagger]

Yeah, Marc Gasol > LMA.

....and Pau.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Have you seen the strides Marc has made in his game this season? He's the whole reason the Grizzlies sit at 5-1 right now. He's in a two game shooting slump, but overall, some of his performances have been nothing short of epic. He's a legit seven-footer, and he's shooting over 89% from the line with 5.2 apg.

He's been a mismatch nightmare for opponents, because he's a great back to the basket player, yet he can stroke it from the perimeter like a guard. He doesn't shoot his mid-range jumpers because he's a soft Euro (in fact, he's one of the least soft players we've had in a while). He shoots those because he knows that certain players can't defend his diverse skill-set.

Oh please, The Blazers just pretty much restructured the whole team, they don't even have a true identity and most of all they just got a new coach with a totally different offense which has Aldridge mostly playing outside on the elbow. I think for the most part he is doing better on the rebounding than he did last year so far.

 

[noknobs]

I liked Aldridge tonight. He had a hurt wrist but still got good position down low several times and kept drawing fouls. Going for rebounds is tough with a bad wrist because you don't want it to get hit. Plus I do believe I actually saw some help defense from time to time.

 

[NOVoodoo]

Oh please, The Blazers just pretty much restructured the whole team, they don't even have a true identity and most of all they just got a new coach with a totally different offense which has Aldridge mostly playing outside on the elbow. I think for the most part he is doing better on the rebounding than he did last year so far.

I don't think I said anything at all about Aldridge or the Blazers.

My point was that the Memphis Grizzlies, if they maintain their current level of play, will at least get one All-Star bid, and the two most likely candidates are Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. If it comes down to one of the two, Gasol will get the nod, because he is more responsible for the Grizzlies' play, despite Z-Bo leading the league in rebounding.

Now if there are two spots left for Marc Gasol, LMA, and Z-Bo, then that's a whole nother story, but if there's just one spot for the three, then the nod has to go to Marc Gasol at this point.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't think I said anything at all about Aldridge or the Blazers.

My point was that the Memphis Grizzlies, if they maintain their current level of play, will at least get one All-Star bid, and the two most likely candidates are Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. If it comes down to one of the two, Gasol will get the nod, because he is more responsible for the Grizzlies' play, despite Z-Bo leading the league in rebounding.

Now if there are two spots left for Marc Gasol, LMA, and Z-Bo, then that's a whole nother story, but if there's just one spot for the three, then the nod has to go to Marc Gasol at this point.

I have a good feeling about this season. I actually think we still have a shot at the playoffs. I think Scotts and the youngsters are still learning the system. The moment everything clicks; things will get much better. At that point, Aldridge becoming an allstar is a more likely reality

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I have a good feeling about this season. I actually think we still have a shot at the playoffs. I think Scotts and the youngsters are still learning the system. The moment everything clicks; things will get much better. At that point, Aldridge becoming an allstar is a more likely reality

Me too. Many people are bashing the bench but I think they are going to be better than expected. Freeland held his own vs team USA in the Olympics and I expect him to improve, same with Barton and Claver if they get a chance.

You never know......a bit of confidence and momentum and this team could be tough.

 

[magnifier661]

Me too. Many people are bashing the bench but I think they are going to be better than expected. Freeland held his own vs team USA in the Olympics and I expect him to improve, same with Barton and Claver if they get a chance.

You never know......a bit of confidence and momentum and this team could be tough.

Yes the bench is thin; but I like Scott's way of thinking. If it was Nate; he would probably put Matthews or Batum on the Bench, along with Hickson; so he can have more scoring. That is a piss poor way of thinking. Scott's wants the best players on the floor starting at all times.

Let management find the talent as the season progresses. They get to evaluate all mid season on the actual bench players needed for the second part of the season. Then they have the luxury to use cap space and weaker talent to trade for role players on teams with sizeable contracts.

WIN WIN

 

[HailBlazers]

Yeah, Marc Gasol > LMA. ....and Pau.

LMA and Pau are PF's so it's moot IMO.

Aldridge is really hurting from having to rehab this offseason, he could really benefit from a summer working on post moves.

 

[noknobs]

I have a good feeling about this season. I actually think we still have a shot at the playoffs.

A little early in the day to be drinking isn't it?

 

[Elton]

I love the optimism, but I just can't buy the idea that management couldn't secure a little bit more firepower from the bench. This team simply has no depth--it has to overachieve to even catch a whiff of playoff hopes.

It's very well concealed tanking, me thinks.

 

[HailBlazers]

It's very well concealed tanking, me thinks.

Could very well be true. Regardless, I've bought tickets to 5 games so far, whereas last year I didn't go to a single game. The product is on par IMO.

 

[KingSpeed]

I have a good feeling about this season. I actually think we still have a shot at the playoffs. I think Scotts and the youngsters are still learning the system. The moment everything clicks; things will get much better. At that point, Aldridge becoming an allstar is a more likely reality

Stotts

 

[Rhal]

Could very well be true. Regardless, I've bought tickets to 5 games so far, whereas last year I didn't go to a single game. The product is on par IMO.

I watched almost every game last year. The products are on par but the experiance is different. Watching Last years team, after they quit on nate, was like having a route canal with asprin for the painkiller. Watching this team is like the same thing but with strippers everywhere.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

Our backup PG out-rebounded our starting PF last night.

So yeah.

 

[BrianFromWA]

to be fair, there were a lot more bricks being tossed up when the backup PG was out there...

 

[Carlito]

This place is batshit crazy!!!

King speed hitting on zagger, talks of playoffs, and a troll named oden is god! Awesome

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

20.5ppg 6.9rpg 1.5bpg. that's what's up.

He's the only PF that is in the top 35 in scoring.
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/p...er-game/sort/avgPoints/year/2013/seasontype/2

 

[magnifier661]

20.5ppg 6.9rpg 1.5bpg. that's what's up.

Funny thing is; he trumps everything Sheed ever done for us.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm finding it awfully hard to care about much this season ... I wonder if LaMarcus feels the same way? He's probably intimately aware of just how awful the depth on this team really is and just how many minutes he's going to have to play with not a lot of payoff on the line. It sounds sort of bad, but I kind of hope he does conserve himself and tries primarily to stay healthy in this rebuilding year.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think LMA is feeling like he doesn't want to put a shit-ton of stress on his surgically repaired hip by banging some jackass with his butt 40 minutes a night until he feels more confident in his hip's ability to handle the strain. In other words, LMA (a traditionally slow starter) is a little behind on his off-season conditioning, and a bit skittish about his hip being 100%. See also Zach Randolph post surgery.

 

[BBert]

This is veering a little off the LaMarshmallow topic, but I'm perfectly fine with how this season is likely to play out. It is what it is. The team is asking the starters to play like starters. They are doing that. It's fun more often than not. They are working in a new offense and some new teammates, including a rookie point guard. They are progressing fine. They are developing the bench rookies (Leonard, Freeland, Barton, Claver) I'm going to assume at their proper pace. I'm fine with that. They've been cautious with expirings to give us as much $$ as possible to go after reinforcement(s) this summer. All the while everyone knows the bench scrubs can't beat a YMCA team, so the end result will be ping pong balls (metaphorically speaking). OK. That's a good shot at two quality reinforcements this summer and hopefully a better class of scrub next year. As for LaMarcus, I don't like how Stotts is using him, but I'm just as happy that he doesn't kill himself getting banged up over a lost season. Let Lillard, Batum, Wes and Hickson do the heavy lifting. LaMarcus will get his 18, 6, and 4 assists a game by the end of the season just by showing up.

Edit: In Stott's defense, Hickson is such a one-trick pony and Leonard isn't ready, so as much as I'd rather see LaMarcus playing the center position, it's probably not a great fit right now. Once Leonard develops, it won't matter.

 

[jlprk]

Excuse after excuse, year after year, for why his lack of rebounds is only temporary.

I admit that he's playing harder under the new coaches, but--he will never be a good rebounder.

 

[BBert]

No doubt he will never be a monster rebounder. Ever. Playing 20 feet from the basket doesn't help.

 

[jlprk]

No doubt he will never be a monster rebounder. Ever. Playing 20 feet from the basket doesn't help.

The word "monster" should be "good." He has always been mediocre, less than good.

 

[PapaG]

I think LMA is feeling like he doesn't want to put a shit-ton of stress on his surgically repaired hip by banging some jackass with his butt 40 minutes a night until he feels more confident in his hip's ability to handle the strain. In other words, LMA (a traditionally slow starter) is a little behind on his off-season conditioning, and a bit skittish about his hip being 100%. See also Zach Randolph post surgery.

Very solid and plausible opinion. Perhaps the hip is still even not 100%, he and the team won't let anyone know, and he's pissed because reporters and fans keep questioning his toughness.

 

[BlazerWookee]

No doubt he will never be a monster rebounder. Ever. Playing 20 feet from the basket doesn't help.

Neither does playing alongside a rebounding machine like Hickson/Przybilla/Camby/Oden(for a few games, anyway). I'd be curious to see how many of his boards LaMarcus gets while JJ is on the floor as opposed to how many he gets with JJ on the bench...

 

[BBert]

The word "monster" should be "good." He has always been mediocre, less than good.

I'd settle for good.