Imagine how good we could be . . .

[Shooter]

You do? You said he was too lazy to excel unless he was playing in front of his buddies in Dallas.

Exactly. Aldridge has often saved his best performances for his appearances in Dallas, but last night he showed that he may be finally getting it. Instead of being content with shooting long jump shots, he played on the interior, not only scoring 36 points on mainly inside shots, but pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking 5 shots. That is a direct result of playing inside, rather than outside.

And my point was, "Imagine how good we could be if Aldridge played this way every night." Remember? Well, we got a little taste of it last night. Aldridge dominated the paint, and played the game at a much higher level than he usually does. If he starts playing this way every night, we are going to be a very competitive team.

You must admit yourself, despite your blindness to most plain facts, that the Aldridge we have seen the last two nights was always there, under the surface, and that this is the way he should have been playing the last 4 years.

 

[Minstrel]

And my point was, "Imagine how good we could be if Aldridge played this way every night." Remember?

If that was your main point, it was trite and trivial. Along the lines of "Imagine how good we'd be if Roy and Oden were completely healthy" or "Imagine how good we'd be if Matthews put up around 30 PPG every night."

The rest of your post made clear that your main point was to excoriate LMA as lazy.

You must admit yourself, despite your blindness to most plain facts, that the Aldridge we have seen the last two nights was always there, under the surface, and that he is finally bringing out his own true potential.

It's amusing that you consider your moralistic little rants to be "plain facts," but I've always agreed that Aldridge had the talent to have big games. He's never been good enough to be a superstar. I still don't think he is, but if the light comes on, it would be a rare good break for the franchise.

What I found silly about your post was the idea that he's too lazy/uninterested to be great. As I said, you re-frame lack of talent (and no, sorry, athleticism is not the sole measure of talent) as a moral failing in the player (usually laziness or lack of desire) so that you can feel justified ranting at them.

 

[Shooter]

If that was your main point, it was trite and trivial.

"If" that was my main point?? That was the title of my post, Einstein. Maybe you ought to go back and read it again.

And it was far from trite or trivial. It was spot on, as everyone on this board except you seems to realize. Aldridge is a 6'11 guy with amazing skills, and yet we have seen only a glimmer of them from time to time during his career. That game last night was a thing of beauty, and it proves what he can do on the court when he is playing the game the right way to optimize all of his abilities.

I've always agreed that Aldridge had the talent to have big games. He's never been good enough to be a superstar.

"Superstar"? I don't know. "All-Star," there's no doubt about it. Aldridge has all the tools to be a top tier poward forward in the NBA.

What I found silly about your post was the idea that he's too lazy/uninterested to be great.

I really don't know what world you're living in, but in the real world, Aldridge HAS been a little lazy his entire career. He plays outside rather than inside, just as Rashweed Wallace did, and Wallace wasted his talents for the most part. If Aldridge can toughen up and play around the paint, he's going to be a beast.

 

[Minstrel]

And it was far from trite or trivial. It was spot on, as everyone on this board except you seems to realize.

Everyone agrees that IF Aldridge put up 40 a game, the team would be better? Shocking. Not trite or trivial at all.

That's not analysis, just like "If Roy and Oden were completely healthy, the team would be much better" is not analysis. Your attempt at analysis was that Aldridge is a lazy guy. Yes, a few agree with you on that...people who, like you, are inclined to take out their sports frustrations on athletes by accusing them of moral laxness. I don't think everyone agrees that Aldridge is lazy which keeps him from being a great player.

I really don't know what world you're living in, but in the real world, Aldridge HAS been a little lazy his entire career. He plays outside rather than inside.

Which of course has nothing to do with ability. Anyone could play inside if they just "wanted to," it takes no talent or ability. Why, you could play a great inside game consistently in the NBA because you're a hard worker! (Well, assuming you're a hard worker...I have no idea whether you are. Let's put you on a basketball court and find out!)

Aldridge, from all accounts, has always been an extremely hard worker. The idea that a certain style of play, that best fits his talents, connotes laziness really only suggests laziness in your analysis.

 

[STOMP]

Aldridge has proven himself to be a solid all around Big man. I don't find reason to fault his effort or desire as he's always seemed professional playing a good 2nd fiddle to Roy from the high post. While not possessing elite talent either athletically or in the ability to focus/get into the zone, he's certainly capable of putting up bigger numbers in a bigger role. It usually helps clear a shooter's conscious to know he's the guy and expected to keep shooting even following a few misses... maybe this will help LA bring more focus? Roy liked having the paint clear for his drives to the hoop so LaMarcus stayed outside at the high post... maybe he benefits from being down on the block surrounded by better outside threats? Then again, maybe the extra defensive attention he'll draw as the Blazers 1st option will result in as many games below his established mean as above and the end story will be roughly more of the same?

Hopefully as the team's first option he'll garner some more respect from the officials, especially on the road. That would be nice

STOMP

 

[Shooter]

[Aldridge's] ability to have exceptional outlier games does not mean that he sleepwalks through most games nor that he's weak-willed. It means that he--like EVERY NBA player--is very good, and will occasionally have games where he spikes above his averages.

Setting those spikes as an expectation is unfair to him, and... well, silly.

Yeah, someone should tell Aldridge that he really can't play the way he's played the last 4 games. It's all an illusion. A trick. Please come back to earth, LaMarcus. You're just a slightly above-average guy, and we hate the way you're playing right now.

Heh, heh.

 

[TripTango]

Wait! Wait! Imagine how good we'd be if Aldridge kept playing like this AND Roy and Oden were completely healthy...

Dude...

 

[bemac]

Wait! Wait! Imagine how good we'd be if Aldridge kept playing like this AND Roy and Oden were completely healthy...

Dude...

If Roy were completely healthy, Aldridge and Rudy would never have the opportunity to play like this. Now, you mix a healthy Oden in with this group, and things could be interesting.

 

[Shooter]

Wait! Wait! Imagine how good we'd be if Aldridge kept playing like this AND Roy and Oden were completely healthy...

Roy and Oden are not responsible for their injury problems. Aldridge, however, is completely responsible for his play of late. Big difference.

 

[Shooter]

Everyone agrees that IF Aldridge put up 40 a game, the team would be better? Shocking.

Everyone does NOT agree with that, including me. The Lakers weren't better when Kobe put up 40 points a game--they were most effective when he distributed the ball and got other players involved. The fact that you think the Blazers would automatically be better if Aldridge averaged 40 points a game reveals your ignorance about basketball.

What I DID say is that Portland is more effective when Aldridge plays a power game rather than shooting jump shots all night. This increases his field goal percentage, helps him draw fouls, and increases his chances of getting rebounds. All of these things have been happening over the last 4 games. Aldridge could have been playing this way long ago--he's simply never dedicated himself to doing it. The results speak for themselves.

That's not analysis, just like "If Roy and Oden were completely healthy, the team would be much better" is not analysis.

Speaking of analysis, I think you could benefit from some on a professional's couch. But as a mater of fact, it IS analysis to say that Aldridge and the team would be better off if Aldridge exploited his talents around the basket and got more involved in the offense.

Aldridge, from all accounts, has always been an extremely hard worker.

"From all accounts"??? I don't need to hear anyone's "accounts" of Aldridge's game, I've been watching him play for the last 5 seasons. Maybe that's your problem, you're reading other people's "accounts" instead of watching the games. If he's always been such a hard worker, how come he often got only 4 or 5 rebounds a night? How come he insisted on shooting jump shots instead of taking the ball to the hoop where he might get roughed up? He's getting more blocks and more steals over the last 4 games because he's more involved in the game around the hoop than on the periphery, where he is accustomed to hanging out.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Wait! Wait! Imagine how good we'd be if Aldridge kept playing like this AND Roy and Oden were completely healthy...

Dude...

If Roy were completely healthy, Aldridge wouldn't be playing like this, and if Oden were completely healthy also, either he or Roy wouldn't be playing as good as they could. Brandon has shown by his actions and words that he does not want to share the spotlight with anyone on this team.

 

[STOMP]

what has changed more in the last couple weeks... LaMarcus's ability or the circumstances with the Trailblazers? Being the #1 option is a completely different role mentally then the supporting wingman... he touches on this in the postgame interview in the game thread from last night.

Here's to seeing him stay on this roll when he's up against teams that have decent front lines... and on the road

STOMP

 

[Shooter]

what has changed more in the last couple weeks... LaMarcus's ability or the circumstances with the Trailblazers?

No one has said his "ability" has changed--only his attitude and determination.