LaMarcus Aldridge - what are your expectations this season?

[Natebishop3]

LMA last year - 21.1 ppg, 9.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks, 20.4 PER

So far this preseason - 15 ppg, 7 boards, 1 assist, 1.5 blocks in 15.5 minutes per game.

What do you expect out of LMA this season? Does he improve? Where would you like to see him improve?

What are your predictions for a stats line?

 

[Mediocre Man]

20.2 ppg; 8.3 rpg; 1.1 bpg; 22.4 PER for Portland

18.9 ppg; 7.9 rpg; 0.8 bpg 24.5 PER for Houston

 

[Natebishop3]

20.2 ppg; 8.3 rpg; 1.1 bpg; 22.4 PER for Portland

18.9 ppg; 7.9 rpg; 0.8 bpg 24.5 PER for Houston

I don't see how he could end up in Houston. They don't have anything to trade us, and I doubt they have the cap space to sign him outright in a couple years.

 

[HailBlazers]

What do you expect out of LMA this season? Does he improve? Where would you like to see him improve?

Based on his pre-season stats, increased efficiency. And that's what I'd like to see improve most. Higher FG%, and getting to the line more.

 

[magnifier661]

20.5 ppg, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 22.3 per.

I think Lopez will help Aldridge become way more efficient. The per may possibly be even higher. Lopez will help Aldridge rebound more efficiently too; which is why I put up higher rebounding this season

 

[Natebishop3]

20.5 ppg, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 22.3 per.

I think Lopez will help Aldridge become way more efficient. The per may possibly be even higher.

I would like to see more efficiency. Brian showed a bunch of good numbers on LMA's jump shooting and they weren't good. I'd like to see some more inside scoring and hopefully more lobs this year.

 

[magnifier661]

I would like to see more efficiency. Brian showed a bunch of good numbers on LMA's jump shooting and they weren't good. I'd like to see some more inside scoring and hopefully more lobs this year.

I agree. If he's going to pop; then step back one more foot and launch a three. I want at least 60% of his shots coming from 10 ft and closer. It will allow him to have better rebounding position; plus ability to receive more lobs.

He needs to get to the line more; and he won't be getting there from the perimeter!

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm curious if we might see his rebounding go above the 10 board mark this year. Lopez is a decent rebounder, but he's not nearly as good as Hickson was.

 

[magnifier661]

I'm curious if we might see his rebounding go above the 10 board mark this year. Lopez is a decent rebounder, but he's not nearly as good as Hickson was.

I think Lopez is fundamental; meaning he will box out his man and allow the other teammate to grab the board. I think Aldridge and whomever is playing SF will benefit from this. So even though Lopez may not get Hickson type rebounding numbers; I suspect the team rebounds will increase.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Lopez is fundamental; meaning he will box out his man and allow the other teammate to grab the board. I think Aldridge and whomever is playing SF will benefit from this. So even though Lopez may not get Hickson type rebounding numbers; I suspect the team rebounds will increase.

Yeah, that's a good point. I would be thrilled if we saw Aldridge's overall rebounds and maybe his blocks go up. He had 2 blocks in 16 minutes the other night.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

25 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg, 1st team all-NBA, finals MVP. Anything less is an utter disappointment and should result in him being dealt immediately.

/blue9

 

[magnifier661]

25 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg, 1st team all-NBA, finals MVP. Anything less is an utter disappointment and should result in him being dealt immediately.

/blue9

Lmao!!!!!

 

[HailBlazers]

Oh forgot to add, I'm hoping for and expecting to a degree, a significant jump in the chemistry between him and Dame. There is no reason why these two can't become a dynamic duo in this league.

 

[mook]

Oh forgot to add, I'm hoping for and expecting to a degree, a significant jump in the chemistry between him and Dame. There is no reason why these two can't become a dynamic duo in this league.

I know there's a lot of talk about Damian getting pointers from Payton over the summer. (What ever happened with that?)

But I'd really like to have him watch a ton of tape of Andre Miller playing with Aldridge. With Damian's outside shot and penetration ability, and Aldridge's post moves, that lob is going to be there all night if they can just get it down.

Right now Damian's instinct when he gets an inch of space at the three point line is to shoot a three. Which isn't a bad shot in that moment. But if the guy guarding LMA is constantly worried about the lob it's going to open up LMA's game so much, and really create better driving lanes for Damian. Miller always got his points when guys were so worried about staying behind LMA to prevent the lob that they get pinned and can't provide help defense on Miller's snail-slow penetration.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I know there's a lot of talk about Damian getting pointers from Payton over the summer. (What ever happened with that?)

But I'd really like to have him watch a ton of tape of Andre Miller playing with Aldridge. With Damian's outside shot and penetration ability, and Aldridge's post moves, that lob is going to be there all night if they can just get it down.

Right now Damian's instinct when he gets an inch of space at the three point line is to shoot a three. Which isn't a bad shot in that moment. But if the guy guarding LMA is constantly worried about the lob it's going to open up LMA's game so much, and really create better driving lanes for Damian. Miller always got his points when guys were so worried about staying behind LMA to prevent the lob that they get pinned and can't provide help defense on Miller's snail-slow penetration.

Great points. Repped

 

[blue9]

25 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg, 1st team all-NBA, finals MVP. Anything less is an utter disappointment and should result in him being dealt immediately.

/blue9

You don't know me well enough. I'd MUCH rather have LMA averaging 18ppg than 25ppg. But more important to me is where he's taking his shots, his ability to play team defense, and whether he's battling for (and winning) rebounds rather than just collecting the ones that fall to him.

 

[blazedanugz]

On courtside Monday night Antonio Harvey gave his expectations for LMA...

21 ppg, 10rbs,4assists,2 blks a game

my first thought was...".gee Antonio Harvey thinks he was actually a decent NBA player" ..which is funny.

second....I thought "wow the part that is actually funny is LMA has potential to put up those numbers.".....but wont.

my expectaions is roughly the same as last year with a slight uptick in boards and blks..but not over 10 and not over 2

 

[Rhal]

We got much deeper so I'm hoping we can keep his minutes to around 34 a game. He needs to increase his efficiency as well.
19pp
10rep
3assists
2blocks

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[Natebishop3]

I know there's a lot of talk about Damian getting pointers from Payton over the summer. (What ever happened with that?)

But I'd really like to have him watch a ton of tape of Andre Miller playing with Aldridge. With Damian's outside shot and penetration ability, and Aldridge's post moves, that lob is going to be there all night if they can just get it down.

Right now Damian's instinct when he gets an inch of space at the three point line is to shoot a three. Which isn't a bad shot in that moment. But if the guy guarding LMA is constantly worried about the lob it's going to open up LMA's game so much, and really create better driving lanes for Damian. Miller always got his points when guys were so worried about staying behind LMA to prevent the lob that they get pinned and can't provide help defense on Miller's snail-slow penetration.

The Dame/Payton thing fell through because Payton got a new job.

 

[KingSpeed]

20/10

Why are you posting preseason stats, Nate? They mean nothing. Nothing at all.

 

[illmatic99]

More of the same: ~20 ppg with <50% Fg due to high % of his shots coming from 10-20'. Perhaps slightly better rebounding and defense.

Most players don't change drastically between their 7th and 8th years.

 

[Natebishop3]

20/10

Why are you posting preseason stats, Nate? They mean nothing. Nothing at all.

He's posting 15, 7 and 1.5 blocks in 15 minutes... you don't think that's impressive?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

My expectations are that he plays in a way that helps get us 7th seed or better - the stats are only important in that it'd be nice for him to have even more national respect.

That being said, I would like his eFG% goes up, but I hope this for everyone on the team.

 

[KingSpeed]

He's posting 15, 7 and 1.5 blocks in 15 minutes... you don't think that's impressive?

Very impressive but against awful teams and in preseason. Meaningless. It's why I refuse to watch preseason games. The regular season is long enough. I can't invest my time into games that mean nothing.

 

[Natebishop3]

Very impressive but against awful teams and in preseason. Meaningless. It's why I refuse to watch preseason games. The regular season is long enough. I can't invest my time into games that mean nothing.

It's not meaningless. Obviously it's not as meaningful as regular season, but if he came out and was completely sucking, it would be cause for concern.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The regular season is long enough. I can't invest my time into games that mean nothing.

Since we've all gone without for months, some of us find a little foreplay appealing

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I know there's a lot of talk about Damian getting pointers from Payton over the summer. (What ever happened with that?)

Payton went on an old NBA player exhibition tour in China and then took a job with Fox Sports 1. He was not available to work with Lillard.

 

[KingSpeed]

It's not meaningless. Obviously it's not as meaningful as regular season, but if he came out and was completely sucking, it would be cause for concern.

No it wouldn't. Melo and LeBron have had games where they've scored 8 or 9 points. Is there cause for concern? No. Pierce scored 4 points last night. He'll average more points in the season. These games mean nothing. There is no cause for concern or joy with these games.

 

[KingSpeed]

Since we've all gone without for months, some of us find a little foreplay appealing

Oh sure. I understand that's why some people watch but I explained why I don't.

 

[illmatic99]

It's not meaningless. Obviously it's not as meaningful as regular season, but if he came out and was completely sucking, it would be cause for concern.

Nah I disagree. I remember when BRoy had some seriously AWFUL preseason games. Didn't mean anything. I'm paying attention cuz I'm a fanatic, but there is very little we can take away from the play of veterans especially.