Anyone else hate watching LMA?

[Fez Hammersticks]

When he creates his own shot it ends up a brick. Usually it's from mid-range. He NEVER takes it to the hoop and when he does score in the paint it's usually Roy collapsing the defense to get LMA an uncontested look.

There is really nothing I like about his game. You'd think he would play up to his contract and take 'that next step' but he's done the exact opposite so far.

He's a 16/8 PF being paid $60m/5. That makes me sick.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I think he's a good young player, getting better. In a couple of years we'll be darn happy we have him.

 

[hasoos]

I just get frustrated watching a guy who has a lot of tools not have the motor to back them up. I have just felt this year that Lamarcus motor is not running. Where Josh Smith of Atlanta figured it out that shooting 3 pointers/outside shots was hurting the team and went to 99% of his buckets coming from attacking the hoop, Aldridge has done the opposite, and drifted further outside. I know he is a little bit banged up right now, I have seen him wince when he comes down sometimes. So I give him a little benefit of the doubt there. I just want a PF that plays like a power forward. I want more nasty on the team. Not a 6'11" outside shooter.

Another thing I wanted to add in. If you are going to be a main scorer on a team, you should demand the ball, and work for better starting position on the post. Lamarcus tends to dissappear for quarters at a time, and there is no reason for it. It all goes back to that "Motor" issue. So many times this season he scores like 12 points in one quarter, and then the next thing you know, it's the 4th quarter and he hasn't taken another attempt since. That is bullshit. That is motivational.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Yes. He is a decent player, and I wouldn't mind having him if it was for a lot cheaper and if he wasn't our 2nd option. People complain about Travis being a one-dimensional jump shooter, but they say nothing about LaMarcus when he is the same. And I do not think he is getting much better.

 

[THE HCP]

He is a key piece to our future success. Wish he could get healthy and help put Brandon though!

 

[Ed O]

I like watching him a lot. He gets a lot of good looks with his mid-range jumper. He runs the floor well. He has busts of activity on the offensive glass that are very effective.

I'm glad he's a Blazer. We might have signed him to too big of a deal, but that doesn't influence how much I enjoy watching him play.

Outlaw and Blake are the two Blazers I can't stand watching, so I've been enjoying the games lately in spite of all the injuries...

Ed O.

 

[craigehlo]

He's a finesse jumpshooter at the PF spot. The fact that he doesn't mix it up in the paint really hurts his FT attempts and his shooting percentage. I can't think of any PFs that start as finesse players and then move to the inside to bang. It always happens the other way around ala Sheed and Frye.

If you watched Bosh, Amare and KG as young players, it was easy to see that they weren't scared of contact in the paint. I get the exact opposite reaction watching LMA.

He's a good, albeit overpaid, player. If he's going to be option #2 for the Blazers, then there's no chance of going far in the playoffs for the foreseeable future.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

He's a finesse jumpshooter at the PF spot. The fact that he doesn't mix it up in the paint really hurts his FT attempts and his shooting percentage. I can't think of any PFs that start as finesse players and then move to the inside to bang. It always happens the other way around ala Sheed and Frye.

If you watched Bosh, Amare and KG as young players, it was easy to see that they weren't scared of contact in the paint. I get the exact opposite reaction watching LMA.

He's a good, albeit overpaid, player. If he's going to be option #2 for the Blazers, then there's no chance of going far in the playoffs for the foreseeable future.

Repped. I agree.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He's one of my favorite players on the team, but this has definitely been a "down" year for him, part of it I think can be attributed to his general style of play that is farther from the basket than most would prefer, part of it can probably be pointed at ankle and knee injuries that have left him a little hobbled, and I still don't think he's gotten comfortable with his ever changing role this season. Hopefully he turns it on in the second half of the season; it's been a little disappointing so far, but he still seems to want to get better and doesn't appear to have "mailed it in" after inking his extension.

 

[hasoos]

He's a finesse jumpshooter at the PF spot. The fact that he doesn't mix it up in the paint really hurts his FT attempts and his shooting percentage. I can't think of any PFs that start as finesse players and then move to the inside to bang. It always happens the other way around ala Sheed and Frye.

If you watched Bosh, Amare and KG as young players, it was easy to see that they weren't scared of contact in the paint. I get the exact opposite reaction watching LMA.

He's a good, albeit overpaid, player. If he's going to be option #2 for the Blazers, then there's no chance of going far in the playoffs for the foreseeable future.

Yep I am seeing him moving down the totem pole in scoring a bit. But that means we need to find a new #2.

 

[THE HCP]

Yep I am seeing him moving down the totem pole in scoring a bit. But that means we need to find a new #2.

RUDY!!!

 

[mook]

I hate seeing him in walk-it-up grinding half court basketball. Just not a perfect fit for McMillan and Roy. You put Aldridge on the Suns and he'd average 25 a game. Put him on a team that's just middle-of-the-road in pace and he'd probably be around 21-22.

Anyway, I think he makes a fine second or third option. Which is great if you have Oden, Bayless, Webster and Fernandez all as quality options, and a superstar in Roy.

In my dream scenario we trade Roy for Chris Paul. Aldridge was born to play next to Paul.

 

[blue32]

no.

 

[hasoos]

I hate seeing him in walk-it-up grinding half court basketball. Just not a perfect fit for McMillan and Roy. You put Aldridge on the Suns and he'd average 25 a game. Put him on a team that's just middle-of-the-road in pace and he'd probably be around 21-22.

Anyway, I think he makes a fine second or third option. Which is great if you have Oden, Bayless, Webster and Fernandez all as quality options, and a superstar in Roy.

In my dream scenario we trade Roy for Chris Paul. Aldridge was born to play next to Paul.

You put any player in the league that runs the floor on the Suns and their scoring average almost doubles. It doesn't mean they are good. Put it this way. If I was trading for a player on the Suns, I would plan on their production dropping in half on pretty much any other team in the league, outside of NY Knicks which run the same system, and even then it would drop because they don't have Nash.

 

[RR7]

I don't think LMA is scared of contact at all. I just think it's not really part of his game. Why force something you don't do well, when you can take a shot you do hit well? I would prefer if he had an awesome array of moves in the low post. I'd also prefer if Bayless was a 45% three point shooter. But does it make sense to complain about Bayless' game because it is currently lacking something. I think LMA can easily learn new post moves, which will improve his game. And I think he'll be able to because he doesn't shy away from contact, it's just his fade away is better than his ability to slam into guys and try to take a shot. Garnett shoots an awful lot of jumpers. I don't see him with a GREAT post up game.
I see Aldridge seeming to lack focus, or effort at times, but I don't see it at all as being soft. But I know everyone has jumped on that, so there' sno derailing that train of thought now.

 

[Minstrel]

Aldridge doesn't strike me as soft on defense, which leads me to believe his lack of rebounding is either a lack of ability or circumstantial (based on his role on offense).

I definitely think his lack of post play is not a question of toughness, it's just not what he's good at. A post game is skill/talent, just like being a distributor or wing scorer. Aldridge's offensive talents are high post...shooting, facing up and passing the ball a little bit. Not in posting up on the block, backing it down and finishing over someone.

 

[craigehlo]

I think LMA can easily learn new post moves, which will improve his game.

I think he's got some solid post moves, but gets easily taken out of games by physical defenders. Instead of imposing his will, he tends to get frustrated and then settles for 18-footers.

 

[mook]

He's a finesse jumpshooter at the PF spot. The fact that he doesn't mix it up in the paint really hurts his FT attempts and his shooting percentage. I can't think of any PFs that start as finesse players and then move to the inside to bang.

Dirk Nowitzki. He's still by no means a "banger," but he generates far more offense close in than he used to. He's averaged about half as many three pointers in the past 3 years as he did early in his career.

 

[hasoos]

Dirk Nowitzki. He's still by no means a "banger," but he generates far more offense close in than he used to. He's averaged about half as many three pointers in the past 3 years as he did early in his career.

The difference being, Dirk Nowtitzki actually acts like he wants the ball, and wants the shot. He also has a variety of fakes to draw fouls.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I don't like Aldridge's offensive game, but he really can hit those jumpers, so I don't mind too much, particularly as the low post game seems to be disappearing now that zone defenses are allowed. He's got a Euro-offense! I know it's fun to watch a low-post scorer like Jefferson or (ironically) Scola go to work with the step-throughs and such, but remember, if/when Oden comes back, we want him in the post.

BUT: LMA's real value is on defense. He is an excellent team-defender: very few near 7-footers can guard smaller players like him, and he actually has a larger wingspan than Oden. If we ran more his end-to-end speed would make him more fun to watch.

Remember, he's got gimpy ankles at the moment, but despite that his rebounding has improved.

LaMarcus really is similar to Sheed in both offensive and defensive game (in good and bad).

 

[RR7]

I also have to add I find it funny people don't care to watch Aldridge, because of his offensive game, and him lacking a true post game. With all of the fakes and whatever that go with it. I remember having that 4 years ago. And you'd have to sit through 5 or 6 seconds of fakes to see a shot, and THAT was boring. And about as effective as drawing fouls, I might add.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't like Aldridge's offensive game, but he really can hit those jumpers, so I don't mind too much, particularly as the low post game seems to be disappearing now that zone defenses are allowed. He's got a Euro-offense! I know it's fun to watch a low-post scorer like Jefferson or (ironically) Scola go to work with the step-throughs and such, but remember, if/when Oden comes back, we want him in the post.

BUT: LMA's real value is on defense. He is an excellent team-defender: very few near 7-footers can guard smaller players like him, and he actually has a larger wingspan than Oden. If we ran more his end-to-end speed would make him more fun to watch.

Remember, he's got gimpy ankles at the moment, but despite that his rebounding has improved.

LaMarcus really is similar to Sheed in both offensive and defensive game (in good and bad).

It cracks me up that so many people are down on LMA, the areas where he's typically been "bad", rebounding in particular are the best they've ever been, but now that he's getting 2-3 fewer shots per game and can't take as many chances on blocks (being the only real big man of worth) he's "terrible."

All things considered I'm pretty hopeful that this year's offensive performance is a setback and not any kind of longterm trend downward.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I hate seeing him in walk-it-up grinding half court basketball. Just not a perfect fit for McMillan and Roy. You put Aldridge on the Suns and he'd average 25 a game. Put him on a team that's just middle-of-the-road in pace and he'd probably be around 21-22.

Bingo. You beat me to it. Aldridge is wasted in McMillan's glacially paced system. He is a gazelle running in wet concrete.

People talk about Miller being a "poor fit" in Nate's system, but if that's that case, so is Aldridge - and Oden.

We NEED a system that takes advantage of ALL of our talent, not just ONE player. Triangle offense anyone?

BNM

 

[rocketeer]

I just get frustrated watching a guy who has a lot of tools not have the motor to back them up. I have just felt this year that Lamarcus motor is not running. Where Josh Smith of Atlanta figured it out that shooting 3 pointers/outside shots was hurting the team and went to 99% of his buckets coming from attacking the hoop, Aldridge has done the opposite, and drifted further outside. I know he is a little bit banged up right now, I have seen him wince when he comes down sometimes. So I give him a little benefit of the doubt there. I just want a PF that plays like a power forward. I want more nasty on the team. Not a 6'11" outside shooter.

the idea that aldridge has drifted outside more than normal is entirely false. the past three seasons, his percentage of jump shots hasn't changed.

 

[RR7]

Bingo. You beat me to it. Aldridge is wasted in McMillan's glacially paced system. He is a gazelle running in wet concrete.

People talk about Miller being a "poor fit" in Nate's system, but if that's that case, so is Aldridge - and Oden.

We NEED a system that takes advantage of ALL of our talent, not just ONE player. Triangle offense anyone?

BNM

How does the triangle change the pace of our offense?

 

[Boob-No-More]

How does the triangle change the pace of our offense?

It creates more player movement and more ball movement. It should create open looks earlier in the shot clock than our current "hold the ball until the shot clock is at 8 and then run an ISO for Roy" offense.

BNM

 

[RR7]

So that really does nothing for LMA getting out into space, does it? The triangle isn't making use of his gazelle like abilities.

 

[BlazerWookee]

When he creates his own shot it ends up a brick. Usually it's from mid-range. He NEVER takes it to the hoop and when he does score in the paint it's usually Roy collapsing the defense to get LMA an uncontested look.

There is really nothing I like about his game. You'd think he would play up to his contract and take 'that next step' but he's done the exact opposite so far.

He's a 16/8 PF being paid $60m/5. That makes me sick.

Well, it's a good thing you don't bother watching him much. Brick?

 

[BlazerBenner]

There's no doubt that LaMarcus plays soft for a man of his size. (one more reason why Blake, who plays even softer) shouldn't be on the floor at the same time with him.

 

[B-Roy]

There's no doubt that LaMarcus plays soft for a man of his size. (one more reason why Blake, who plays even softer) shouldn't be on the floor at the same time with him.

I don't even know what "soft" means anymore, since the term just tossed around now.

So tell me, what makes LaMarcus so "soft" and why is that bad?