Is Aldridge finally coming back down to earth?

[james3921]

This is not to rain on the parade of our great win last night. It was awesome, we are awesome, etc etc. This is about a seperate issue I've noticed over the past 5-10 games (including last night).

What's up with aldridge's habit as of late to get the pass in the post and then wait for the double? Why wait for the double? A few months ago he was catching and immediately making a quick move.

Now, it seems like he dribbles it in, waits for the double, and then kicks it out, which starts this whole pass-it-around the perimeter game until someone either drives or shoots a contested shot as the clock winds down. It reminds me a little of our offense from the playoffs last year. I remember screaming at the tv for aldridge to make quick moves towards to basket when he caught the ball in the post against Phoenix, instead of simply waiting around for the defense to position itself.

Is it just me?

 

[julius]

Having Gerald Wallace as a legitimate threat on the offensive end has taken away some of the necessity for LaMarcus to be as aggressive as before. I think, therefore, he's crept back into the habits of his old "game", also teams have adjusted to him and he's not forcing things as much (because he doesn't have to).

 

[3RA1N1AC]

it seems as though he is relishing the opportunity of being able to defer a small amount and let other players step up and contribute, while still winning...nothing wrong with that, in fact i would say that is a NICE development

 

[THE HCP]

No, we just added Brandon and Wallace. That's 30+ points showing up to help. LA could care less about his #'s as long as we are winning. Check out his FG attempts pre and post.

 

[jlprk]

it seems as though he is relishing the opportunity of being able to defer a small amount

Well, LaMarcus, STOP relishing deferring to others, and take the gimmes when given. TAKE the layup and stop thinking, "Gerald and Brandon bring 30 points so I'll pass up this easy shot."

And if you ARE going to defer, then after you pass, get to the rebound, because you just passed up a close shot so someone could take a long shot. Get your mind on rebounds if you won't take shots.

 

[Natebishop3]

Doesn't bother me. The guy has shown he can be a #1 option. That's what I'm happy about. Right now we have so many weapons that I think it will be hard for LMA to put up the 30+ ppg numbers. I'll be happy with the 20 points/8-9 board games because usually Gerald is dropping between 15-20 pts and 8-10 boards as well. On top of that we have Camby coming off the bench getting around 8-10 boards. I have no complaints. I really like our team right now and I love our balance in age. We have some young guys in Batum, Rudy, Aldridge, Matthews, but we also have vets in Wallace, Camby, and Miller. Good mix and I think they're all unselfish so we're playing good ball right now. Just think how good this team could be next season (if there is one).

 

[C_note]

I'm guessing a lot of it is Nate's doing. BTW this only happens in the high post or when LMA does not have great position. If he does, he still has been going to work immediately...

Option one is a look into LMA. He's supposed to hold it for a split second and assess the situation. Therefore, double-teams are guaranteed to come and he passes out of it. If not, he backs them down a bit and fades baseline.
They aren't really forcing the issue as much with him anymore, since we have more perimeter threats now...as others have said.

 

[EGame]

I am not to overly worried, in fact, I would love if he can somewhat just sail through the regular season and not have to do as much as long as we still get wins. The reason being because I want him to save as much energy and put a lot of effort into the playoffs and really being the true number 1 again (unless of course Roy can become that again especially in the 4th). Last years playoffs he really had the chance to help carry us and be the number 1 option with Roy being out and he failed pretty badly. This season he has done extremely well and once again has a chance to prove himself in the playoffs. If he does not answer the call again in the playoffs, I will be dissapointed (and by answering the call I do not necessairly mean actually winning a series, that would be icing on the cake. I mean by doing what he has done throughout the season this year). I think he can do it, though.

 

[THE HCP]

LA is this season's MVP. He carried us thru a really tough time this year and he deserves credit for that!

 

[PapaG]

Replacing Dante Cunningham with Gerald Wallace, as well as replacing Patty Mills with Brandon Roy, is going to impact LMA's numbers.

Meanwhile, the team is a season's best 12 games over .500...

 

[KingSpeed]

I do not care. Winning is what matters. Not individual stats. When we were hovering near and below the 8th spot, it was fun to see Aldridge put up big numbers but now we're winning and that's a lot more fun.

 

[Natebishop3]

I have a feeling LMA has figured out how to put up those numbers any time he wants. That's a good thing.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think the original poster made a good point about him waiting for a double. Possibly at one time Aldridge needed to slow it down a little bit, as he still needs to do sometimes as he finishes his shot. But I have noticed there are times when even his single defender is not set up as Aldridge receives the ball. As the defender closes the distance Aldridge could easily spin to the basket. I'm hoping the coaches have noticed this also and as Aldridge learns to see each situation as an individual moment, he will become even better. (I believe this is related to the "zen" that Phil Jackson used to try to instill; one of Jordan's greatest strengths was his ability to adjust to what was happening in each microsecond.)

 

[Rhal]

I think the original poster made a good point about him waiting for a double. Possibly at one time Aldridge needed to slow it down a little bit, as he still needs to do sometimes as he finishes his shot. But I have noticed there are times when even his single defender is not set up as Aldridge receives the ball. As the defender closes the distance Aldridge could easily spin to the basket. I'm hoping the coaches have noticed this also and as Aldridge learns to see each situation as an individual moment, he will become even better. (I believe this is related to the "zen" that Phil Jackson used to try to instill; one of Jordan's greatest strengths was his ability to adjust to what was happening in each microsecond.)

I agree here. He seems to want to get his teammates an open shot rather then get one for himself, that's why he seems to wait instead of attacking when he is 1 on 1 quickly. I would rather he attacks the basketball right when he gets the ball instead of letting the defense set up and come over to double him and make him kick it out to our inconstant three shooters.

 

[TripTango]

I seem to recall a similar "coming down to earth" soon after Roy's initial emergence (pre "bone-on-bone", of course). I think this is a common cycle for high-level players -- there's an initial burst of production once the player has elevated his game, followed by a slumping period as other teams adjust and send more/better defenders at him. At this point, the player either learns how to overcome the extra attention and becomes a truly elite level player, or he wilts and is relegated to #2 option status -- always a threat, but unable to handle the defensive pressure of being a #1 option.

I think LaMarcus has actually already shown that he can be a true #1 option this season, but it's taken its toll mentally and physically. In my opinion (always tinted by my Rose-colored Koolaid Glasses™, of course) he's pacing himself now that some other pieces are around him to pick up the slack. He does need to keep getting better at handling double-teams, and learning how to pass out of them effectively is part of what makes an elite player what he is. I'm glad he's no longer having to push himself quite as hard every single game, though, and I fully expect him to crank up the intensity again come playoff time.