Do we finally call LMA our starting Center?

[BlazerCaravan]

So, the Blazer pick up a stretch 3, powerful guy who can play the 4 by all accounts. He definitely deserves to start. Batum could come off the bench, but his productivity off the bench hasn't been stellar this year.

So why not start them all? LaMarcus has shown his best when he's our true center. It also puts our five best players on the floor to start the game, and gives us a true backup center (Camby). With Roy back to play backup PG/SF, we now lack only a backup PF. But a 3-man rotation of Camby, Wallace, and LMA would get the job done for half a season and into the playoffs.

I say let's stop pretending our 6'8" power forward is a center, and let LMA be our real center.

 

[anonymous gambler]

It does make for an interesting lineup- Aldridge/Wallace/Batum/Matthews/Miller- three very good defenders with Aldridge probably able to defend half the centers well...I dunno, look forwarding to seeing it in action, though! I also like the idea of Wallace as the 6th man, coming in for Batum and staying in when Aldridge takes a break. Hopefully Camby can get healthy- CambyAldridge/Wallace/Batum/Matthews strikes me as an interesting situation lineup- tough to score against, provided that Mathews can play a little simple point.

 

[oldguy]

So, the Blazer pick up a stretch 3, powerful guy who can play the 4 by all accounts. He definitely deserves to start. Batum could come off the bench, but his productivity off the bench hasn't been stellar this year.

So why not start them all? LaMarcus has shown his best when he's our true center. It also puts our five best players on the floor to start the game, and gives us a true backup center (Camby). With Roy back to play backup PG/SF, we now lack only a backup PF. But a 3-man rotation of Camby, Wallace, and LMA would get the job done for half a season and into the playoffs.

I say let's stop pretending our 6'8" power forward is a center, and let LMA be our real center.

I hope you realize we'll track you down and let HCP do unspeakable things to you if LA injures a knee now.

Go Blazers

 

[McNicholicious]

I think it definitely depends on the match up, but i like that lineup. It would be tough to score on, that's for sure. just imagine the second unit too. Having roy, camby, and wallace, batum or aldridge in with the second unit is awesome.

 

[Ed O]

I'd rather go with Camby at the 5 and Wallace backup at the 3 and 4.

It's better, IMO, to be bigger than your opponents in as many positions as possible. By bumping Camby we get smaller at two spots.

Ed O.

 

[Mediocre Man]

LA says he is NOT a center

 

[illmatic99]

Hell fuckin no.

 

[Nikolokolus]

You just can't use the 'C' word so frivolously.

 

[Dirty_F_Baby]

I'd rather go with Camby at the 5 and Wallace backup at the 3 and 4.

why wouldnt crash start at 3?

batum is a great sixth man when we can shift lma/wallace to 5/4 and have batum at 3.

 

[cdub503]

why wouldnt crash start at 3?

batum is a great sixth man when we can shift lma/wallace to 5/4 and have batum at 3.

as stupid as it sounds i think you fuck with batums confidence if you put him to the bench which could hinder his production. yes he should be able to cope with being on the bench but to be a starter for so long and get sent to the bench like that just might fuck with his head. but i suppose that could be the same for wallace....

 

[Minstrel]

Since we now have two threads asking the same question, I'll re-use this response, but add quite a bit to it.

I don't think the label matters much. If the team were to acquire a Paul Millsap, then Aldridge would probably become the team's long-term center. If Oden were to return and stay healthy, then Aldridge would be the team's power forward. Aldridge can play either position and whom he defends will basically be a question of match-ups and whom his frontcourt mate is.

Right now, the team has Camby and Wallace and not much else in terms of legitimate front court players. So Aldridge, regardless of what you call him, will pretty much be the power foward when Camby is on the floor and the center when Wallace is and Camby isn't.

I posted this depth chart in another thread, and this is what I'd like to see:

Miller (35) / Roy (13)
Matthews (33) / Fernandez (15)
Wallace (7) / Batum (32) / Roy (9)
Aldridge (20) / Wallace (28)
Camby (33) / Aldridge (15)

So Aldridge would essentially be a center for 15 minutes a game in this scenario. While I think Wallace is more of a natural small forward and I think, despite the fact that I like Batum a lot, that Wallace is better than Batum....I think the fact that Batum is a useful player and the team has a gaping lineup hole behind Aldridge in the depth chart means that Wallace's greatest value to the team is spending most of his time at power forward. Some of that time alongside Camby, some of it alongside Aldridge.

 

[cdub503]

Since we now have two threads asking the same question, I'll re-use this response, but add quite a bit to it.

I don't think the label matters much. If the team were to acquire a Paul Millsap, then Aldridge would probably become the team's long-term center. If Oden were to return and stay healthy, then Aldridge would be the team's power forward. Aldridge can play either position and whom he defends will basically be a question of match-ups and whom his frontcourt mate is.

Right now, the team has Camby and Wallace and not much else in terms of legitimate front court players. So Aldridge, regardless of what you call him, will pretty much be the power foward when Camby is on the floor and the center when Wallace is and Camby isn't.

I posted this depth chart in another thread, and this is what I'd like to see:

Miller (35) / Roy (13)
Matthews (33) / Fernandez (15)
Wallace (7) / Batum (32) / Roy (9)
Aldridge (20) / Wallace (28)
Camby (33) / Aldridge (15)

So Aldridge would essentially be a center for 15 minutes a game in this scenario. While I think Wallace is more of a natural small forward and I think, despite the fact that I like Batum a lot, that Wallace is better than Batum....I think the fact that Batum is a useful player and the team has a gaping lineup hole behind Aldridge in the depth chart means that Wallace's greatest value to the team is spending most of his time at power forward. Some of that time alongside Camby, some of it alongside Aldridge.

your times seem about right although i know that Roy and fernandez will probably get more minutes. especially roy when he feels he is ready.

 

[Minstrel]

your times seem about right although i know that Roy and fernandez will probably get more minutes. especially roy when he feels he is ready.

Well, 21 minutes seems ambitious right now. If he can play more while playing reasonably well, great.

As for Fernandez, there was just a minutes crunch. He probably will get more than 15 minutes per, but I think that's about what he should play with all the perimeter options available.

 

[maxiep]

"C" rhymes with "knee" and we know what the knees of Przybilla, Oden, Camby and Pendergraph have done.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think Camby works well with Aldridge and makes his game better. But I'm sure there will be lots of times when Aldridge is out there as our biggest guy and that will work too.

 

[KingSpeed]

Camby is our starting center. Can't beat the Lakers' length by going small.

 

[glazeduck]

Even if he plays every second of the rest of the NBA season and every second of every game of the post season (let's see, 25 games left in RS, 7 games per series for 4 series, that's 53 more games at 48 mins (60 secs) apiece - yes we're winning the whole thing, yes every series is going 7, no OT... 53 x 48 x 60 = 152640...

Even if Lamarcus plays the final 152,640 seconds of this season a the center position, he absolutely, cannot be considered our "CENTER". We've had nothing but absolute shit for luck at that position.

Walton, hurt. Bowie - lost coin flip for Hakeem, drafted him (for need) over the best player in history, HURT. Duckworth, decided to live up to his at-table potential, rather than his on-court potential. Sabas, marries boozehound, hangs out with the commies until he's old, fat, slow, and a shell of his immensely talented self (some international scouts still claim that Sabonis, in his prime, was better than Jordan in his. Sadly he was nowhere near his prime when he got here). Joel, can't stay healthy. Oden, unfortunately looking like Sam Bowie part deux at the moment.

I don't care if Mark Mason has to announce 3 forwards everynight for the rest of LA's career, he CAN'T BE OUR CENTER!