LMA - No. 1 Option

[ABM]

http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/blazerbanter/2010/apr/16/aldridge-becomes-blazers-no-1-option/

TUALATIN, Ore. — Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is the new No. 1.

With Portland All-Star guard Brandon Roy out through at least the first round of the playoffs, Aldridge immediately becomes the team’s primary option on offense.

How will the fourth-year forward answer the call?

The only way he knows: by being himself and staying true to his game.

“I’m going to be the same,” said Aldridge, following a Friday morning workout at the team’s practice facility. “I’m not going to take more shots or try to prove anything. I’m going to do what I’ve been doing all season. I think I’ve been aggressive. I’ve been unselfish. And I’m going to play that same way.”

That way has unquestionably been the right way since the All-Star break. Portland went 19-8 down the stretch, while Aldridge played the best ball of his career.

Pushing his game toward the low block and maximizing his diverse array of talents, the 6-foot-11, 240-pound Aldridge finished the season ranked second on the team in average scoring (17.9) and third in rebounding (8.0) while shooting 49.5 percent from the field. Moreover, Aldridge averaged a team-high 19.7 points during the Blazers’ final 44 games of the season.

Aldridge said he has not changed this season. If he is mentally and physically tougher, it is simply because his game has evolved.

But one aspect of Aldridge’s impressive offensive attack stands out: his newfound, consistent ability to punish opponents on the low block.

Aldridge has long been one of the top forwards in the game in regards to perimeter shooting. But the sight of Aldridge digging in on the low block, twisting and turning to find an edge, and then exploding toward the basket for a smooth finish has altered the shape and direction of Portland’s offense.

It is not a coincidence.

“I would say my game is growing more toward the block,” Aldridge said. “I looked at some chart — I haven’t made that many 18-footers in the last two months; all my points are in the paint.

“I think as you get older and you get stronger and you learn the game more, you tend to go either way. I think my game is going more toward the block, which I like. Because I think I still make an 18-foot jump shot every now and then.”

Aldridge’s final sentence was followed by laughter, and he appeared comfortable, confident and at ease while being swarmed by the media Friday. The former Texas standout also showed no ill effects from a stomach virus that forced him to be hospitalized overnight Tuesday, and sit out Portland’s regular-season finale against Golden State.

“He looked fine,” McMillan said. “He didn’t have those heavy eyes the day that we saw he was sick. He looked good.”

Aldridge will have to be better than good for the injury-prone No. 6 Blazers to have a chance against No. 3 Phoenix.

The teams’ first-round best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series tips off at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Phoenix.

The Suns are best known for their high-powered offense — Phoenix ranked No. 1 out of 30 NBA teams in average scoring (110.2), field-goal percentage (49.2) and 3-point percentage (41.2). But the Steve Nash-led Suns are also guided by a revamped defense that allowed the team to finish the season with the best record in the league after the All-Star break at 23-6.

To hold down Phoenix, McMillan said Portland must hold down the tempo. The Blazers will have to sharply execute their offensive sets in their entirety, and not be lulled into taking quick jump shots that lead to fast-break points for the Suns.

Aldridge will be the focus of the majority of those sets. And as Portland attempts to run an inside-out offense that seeks a high-percentage field-goal attempt while milking the shot clock, Aldridge will be asked to carry the most weight.

He said he is ready for the load — and the challenge.

“Nate always challenges me to speak up, be more vocal, be more of a leader,” Aldridge said. “He always tells me that Brandon and myself can do it together. I think this season, I’ve tried to be more vocal and be more of a leader. So, I think it’s going to be a little bit easier to try to lead now.”

 

[Denny Crane]

Miller's #1

 

[KingSpeed]

Moreover, Aldridge averaged a team-high 19.7 points during the Blazers’ final 44 games of the season

This is what too many people in here take for granted. He has been our rock.

 

[KingSpeed]

Miller's #1

Right. 44.6% shooting. 20% three point shooting.

Or you can throw the ball to Aldridge. 49.5% shooting.

 

[HailBlazers]

Miller's #1

LMA is the number one option in the offense, Miller is simply number one in charge of the offense. We got a shooter's chance with Dre at the helm and an answer for Nash. Hopefully LMA can match Amare somehow

 

[Denny Crane]

Right. 44.6% shooting. 20% three point shooting.

Or you can throw the ball to Aldridge. 49.5% shooting.

If it was so easy, he wouldn't have just 2 games > 30 points.

Miller had a 50+ point game. And he'll have the ball in his hands.

I'm thinking you need them both to step up, though.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

By default.

 

[KingSpeed]

If it was so easy, he wouldn't have just 2 games > 30 points.

Miller had a 50+ point game. .

Miller had a 6 point game in our last game against Dallas. Aldridge is far more steadier. You want to make a player the number one option merely because he scored 52 points once but has been mostly mediocre the rest of the season. Aldridge is our top scorer in the second half of the season. Who cares if he only scored 30+ twice? He's scoring 18-20 every single night. The last time Aldridge scored less than 10 points in a game was in February. The last time Miller did it was last wek.

 

[donkiez]

This is LMA's chance to show us if he is a Batman or if he will always just be a Robin.

 

[ABM]

This is LMA's chance to show us if he is a Batman or if he will always just be a Robin.

I just hope he's serious...and not The Joker.

 

[HailBlazers]

You want to make a player the number one option merely because he scored 52 points once but has been mostly mediocre the rest of the season

No we want to make our number option the one who rarely turns the ball over, can go against any position, and has ice running through his veins whenever he has the ball no matter the situation. He has a natural ability to go up against anyone just like B, Dre is cool like that.

Dre is Iceman.

 

[STOMP]

LMA is the number one option in the offense, Miller is simply number one in charge of the offense. We got a shooter's chance with Dre at the helm and an answer for Nash. Hopefully LMA can match Amare somehow

having Amare and Frye guarding him should help that cause... Aldridge should be able to get good looks at will

STOMP

 

[Ed O]

I look forward to all of the people who (when we were talking about trading for Amare last year) claimed Aldridge was better being proven right in this series...

Ed O.

 

[MIXUM]

we're fucked

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

Miller has to GO OFF for us to have a chance. I hope he can do to the suns what he does to the Mavs. All Aldridge needs to do is hit his jumpers and try not to get dunked on too many times. I like Batum and Martell defending the perimeter.

However, we're going to lose because of our bench. Phoenix will have a field day with Rudy, Bayless and Juwan chasing them around.

 

[THE HCP]

we're fucked

Spoken like a true Blazer fan.

 

[Public Defender]

Without Roy, I just don't see the Blazers winning this series.

Playoffs are all about matchups, and where do the Blazers have an advantage?

PG: Miller v. Nash - advantage: SUNS
SG: Bayless/Fernandez/Webster v. Richardson - advantage: SUNS
SF: Batum v. Grant Hill - advantage: SUNS
PF: Aldridge v. Stoudemire - advantage: SUNS
C: Camby v. Lopez - advantage: BLAZERS

BENCH: Bayless/Webster/Fernandez/Cunningham/Howard v. Barbosa/Frye/Dudley/Amundson - a wash, at best.

Some of those advantages might be slight (is Grant Hill that much better than Batum at this point in Hill's career? Maybe not, but got to give the vet an edge, all the same...), but some are pretty significant (J-Rich is a scoring machine next to the Blazers' inconsistent options at SG).

The Blazers need a player or two to play above his level for a few games (especially at least one game in Phoenix), in order for Portland to have a chance.

 

[KingSpeed]

Without Roy, I just don't see the Blazers winning this series.

Playoffs are all about matchups, and where do the Blazers have an advantage?

PG: Miller v. Nash - advantage: SUNS
SG: Bayless/Fernandez/Webster v. Richardson - advantage: SUNS
SF: Batum v. Grant Hill - advantage: SUNS
PF: Aldridge v. Stoudemire - advantage: SUNS
C: Camby v. Lopez - advantage: BLAZERS

BENCH: Bayless/Webster/Fernandez/Cunningham/Howard v. Barbosa/Frye/Dudley/Amundson - a wash, at best.

Some of those advantages might be slight (is Grant Hill that much better than Batum at this point in Hill's career? Maybe not, but got to give the vet an edge, all the same...), but some are pretty significant (J-Rich is a scoring machine next to the Blazers' inconsistent options at SG).

The Blazers need a player or two to play above his level for a few games (especially at least one game in Phoenix), in order for Portland to have a chance.

Lopez isn't playing.

 

[Denny Crane]

Miller had a 6 point game in our last game against Dallas. Aldridge is far more steadier. You want to make a player the number one option merely because he scored 52 points once but has been mostly mediocre the rest of the season. Aldridge is our top scorer in the second half of the season. Who cares if he only scored 30+ twice? He's scoring 18-20 every single night. The last time Aldridge scored less than 10 points in a game was in February. The last time Miller did it was last wek.

You da man!

 

[jlprk]

“I’m going to be the same,” said Aldridge, following a Friday morning workout at the team’s practice facility. “I’m not going to take more shots or try to prove anything. I’m going to do what I’ve been doing all season. I think I’ve been aggressive. I’ve been unselfish. And I’m going to play that same way.”

Barkley was criticizing Aldridge tonight for that quote. He said Aldridge should be talking about stepping up in Roy's absence.

 

[STOMP]

Barkley was criticizing Aldridge tonight for that quote. He said Aldridge should be talking about stepping up in Roy's absence.

Having spent a good part of his career and now living there, it's pretty much a given that Charles will short change the Blazers throughout the series... I'd definitely take issue here as I'm more a play the game the right way advocate then star player should take it upon themselves to force the issue type. That means shoot the ball when open or have the advantage, pass out of doubleteams, etc... of course Chuck is the one with all the championship rings

Though he didn't shoot a high percentage, I thought for the most part LA made the right plays last night. Hopefully his 18' is on from here on out as they were giving him that look... no doubt that he can post up either Frye or Amare

STOMP

 

[HailBlazers]

The only one who can stop LMA is himself. He owns the suns.

 

[jlprk]

I was satisfied with Aldridge because Nowitzki did no better, so Aldridge canceled out a player more crucial than himself. Similary, Batum did about as well as Frye, so the same. Miller did as well as Nash, same comment. No Sun canceled out Camby, so he was the difference.

As long as our players each cancel out their supposedly superior equivalents on the other team, we can overcome their supposedly superior team as a whole.

 

[EGame]

I was satisfied with Aldridge because Nowitzki did no better, so Aldridge canceled out a player more crucial than himself. Similary, Batum did about as well as Frye, so the same. Miller did as well as Nash, same comment. No Sun canceled out Camby, so he was the difference.

As long as our players each cancel out their supposedly superior equivalents on the other team, we can overcome their supposedly superior team as a whole.

You mean Amare, right?

 

[jlprk]

Hours after that post, I'm perusing PERS in the thread about playoff PERS and I see Nowitzki's and I think---aagghh!! I said Nowitzki instead of Stoudamire!! I bet they've all made fun of me. So I rush back here and only you commented, and you didn't even get sarcastic! Thanks!

 

[BGrantFan]

Hours after that post, I'm perusing PERS in the thread about playoff PERS and I see Nowitzki's and I think---aagghh!! I said Nowitzki instead of Stoudamire!! I bet they've all made fun of me. So I rush back here and only you commented, and you didn't even get sarcastic! Thanks!

I noticed it. I also knew you meant Stoudemire. Typos/brain cramps happen to even the best posters.

 

[maxiep]

The funny thing is, LMA had a sub-par game. I love the fact he's playing more on the block, but most games he's hitting that 18 ft J. If that starts falling, Phoenix is in trouble, because he can take Frye off the dribble.

 

[Ed O]

The funny thing is, LMA had a sub-par game. I love the fact he's playing more on the block, but most games he's hitting that 18 ft J. If that starts falling, Phoenix is in trouble, because he can take Frye off the dribble.

He missed several shots that he can definitely hit.

He also could have got a couple more calls in the post; Frye got away with a bit more bumping than I would expect he will moving forward.

Ed O.