LMA... What would you rather have?

[magnifier661]

I would rather a 20/12 guy, than a 25/8 guy. I really think Aldridge has it in him.

 

[PapaG]

I'd rather have a 25/12 guy over both. Or a 30/15 guy.

 

[magnifier661]

I'd rather have a 25/12 guy over both. Or a 30/15 guy.

LOL you and me both. I'm just thinking of something Aldridge could get. You think he could be a 25/12 guy?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well, I've got some bad news for you, LaMarcus is probably never going to be a double digit rebound guy ... it's not because he doesn't care, it's not because he's not a very, very talented player and it's not because he's lazy. He's a mediocre rebounder because he doesn't have the instincts (or a big butt). A lot of this particular talent in the NBA comes down to knowing how to read the ball as it's traveling through the air and intuitively understanding angles. At this fairly advanced stage of his career (year 6) he's unlikely to suddenly be a revelation on the boards.

Assuming he can even get to 25/8 (decent chance) let's forget numbers for a second; what I want to see LA focus on is becoming truly great at the things he's already pretty good at. To me that means improving his face-up game, his post-game and becoming even more versatile on defense. I want the best LaMarcus we can get, not a radical transformation into a Kevin Love/Z-bo clone.

 

[tlongII]

I don't think LaMarcus will ever average 12 boards per game.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't know, I think Aldridge does have at least 10 boards a game. But we are winning, and it's good that he is scoring, so it's not a #1 need.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't know, I think Aldridge does have at least 10 boards a game. But we are winning, and it's good that he is scoring, so it's not a #1 need.

Besides you wanting it to be true, what evidence have you ever seen that he can be a double digit rebound guy? The only way I see it happening is if he ups his minutes to 48 per game.

 

[B-Roy]

I don't know, I think Aldridge does have at least 10 boards a game.

Yeah...if he plays 42 minutes a game.

 

[magnifier661]

Besides you wanting it to be true, what evidence have you ever seen that he can be a double digit rebound guy? The only way I see it happening is if he ups his minutes to 48 per game.

He got 19 rebounds a game. I've seen many other games with him getting 15. If he got them, then he has the ability to get them again.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He got 19 rebounds a game. I've seen many other games with him getting 15. If he got them, then he has the ability to get them again.

Steve Blake also got 18 assists in a quarter one time ... that doesn't mean I expect him to ever average 11 for a whole year.

 

[magnifier661]

Steve Blake also got 18 assists in a quarter one time ... that doesn't mean I expect him to ever average 11 for a whole year.

Actually the talent level between Blake and Aldridge is laughable. Aldridge has the talent and athleticism to get 10+ boards a game. You talk about the "Big butt" thing, yet Camby was a known heavy rebounder and is a toothpick.

 

[magnifier661]

And looking at this link

LMA had plenty of games of over 10 boards a game. It wasn't a fluke, like a blake 18 assist game. He is very capable of getting 10 boards. I don't buy that he doesn't have rebounding in him.

 

[B-Roy]

Actually the talent level between Blake and Aldridge is laughable. Aldridge has the talent and athleticism to get 10+ boards a game. You talk about the "Big butt" thing, yet Camby was a known heavy rebounder and is a toothpick.

He also talks about how rebounding is reading how the ball comes off the rim. Guys like Kevin Love and Marcus Camby are great at this. That's why you always see them in the right position to grab or tip a ball. Aldridge doesn't have this skill, he gets a good portion of his rebounds with the ball falling into his lap. He'll never be a great rebounder, and you should give up this idea that somehow getting more stats makes him a better player. He should work on what makes him a great player, like his shot, or post game. That's the best chance he has of reaching superstar status.

 

[magnifier661]

He also talks about how rebounding is reading how the ball comes off the rim. Guys like Kevin Love and Marcus Camby are great at this. That's why you always see them in the right position to grab or tip a ball. Aldridge doesn't have this skill, he gets a good portion of his rebounds with the ball falling into his lap. He'll never be a great rebounder, and you should give up this idea that somehow getting more stats makes him a better player. He should work on what makes him a great player, like his shot, or post game. That's the best chance he has of reaching superstar status.

So all those games on my link, were rebounds falling in his lap? You think 36 games last season with 10+ boards was just being lucky?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Actually the talent level between Blake and Aldridge is laughable. Aldridge has the talent and athleticism to get 10+ boards a game. You talk about the "Big butt" thing, yet Camby was a known heavy rebounder and is a toothpick.

You're really going to cherry pick the "big butt" comment (which was thrown in mostly as a joke)?

And really you're only half-right; LA has plenty of athleticism to be a great rebounder but he absolutely lacks the "talent", because he just doesn't have whatever intangible(s) that makes for a great rebounder ... and I don't care, because I like him for all of the other great things he's able to do.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So all those games on my link, were rebounds falling in his lap? You think 36 games last season with 10+ boards was just being lucky?

I think LA played over 40 minutes a night in a helluva lot of those games and he was almost completely out of gas at the end ... but if you want to keep bulldogging this go right ahead.

 

[B-Roy]

So all those games on my link, were rebounds falling in his lap? You think 36 games last season with 10+ boards was just being lucky?

A lot of rebounds fall into your lap when you're playing huge minutes and are very tall.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I'd rather have a 25/12 guy over both. Or a 30/15 guy.

I'd rather have a 34-24-36 gal.

 

[magnifier661]

You're really going to cherry pick the "big butt" comment (which was thrown in mostly as a joke)?

And really you're only half-right; LA has plenty of athleticism to be a great rebounder but he absolutely lacks the "talent", because he just doesn't have whatever intangible(s) that makes for a great rebounder ... and I don't care, because I like him for all of the other great things he's able to do.

I do to... But I think he is very capable of averaging 10+ boards a game. He had 36 games 10+ last season, and around 15 more of 8-9 boards. Basically half the season, he was able to get close to or over 10 boards a game. He will be a star regardless. I'm just stating something I think he can do and it will help our team. Maybe playing more in the post will help as well. It's hard to get a board, when you are shooting 20 ft from the basket.

He isn't a Kevin Love or Zbo rebounder, but he's very capable of being a Horford type rebounder.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Aldridge got plenty of rebounds as a center last year, when Camby went down. As a PF, he doesn't go after them, because our system sends the center to the boards but has the forwards leak out on the break. So if you want a 25/12 Aldridge, you have to grind him through the mill as a center instead of playing him easier minutes as a PF.

My solution: Let LMA be himself (25/8), and pair him with a rebounding Center.

 

[magnifier661]

A lot of rebounds fall into your lap when you're playing huge minutes and are very tall.

I guess we can agree to disagree. I think Aldridge is fully capable of getting 10 boards a game.

 

[Sedatedfork]

Aldridge got plenty of rebounds as a center last year, when Camby went down. As a PF, he doesn't go after them, because our system sends the center to the boards but has the forwards leak out on the break. So if you want a 25/12 Aldridge, you have to grind him through the mill as a center instead of playing him easier minutes as a PF.

My solution: Let LMA be himself (25/8), and pair him with a rebounding Center.

Yep. I want the running Aldridge, because he can beat a lot of 4's down the court. You don't try to change your best player. You try to put players around him. I loved that pass from Felton to Aldridge last night as the trailer. Great play.

 

[B-Roy]

I guess we can agree to disagree. I think Aldridge is fully capable of getting 10 boards a game.

No, we agree he can. If he plays a ton of minutes.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I do to... But I think he is very capable of averaging 10+ boards a game. He had 36 games 10+ last season, and around 15 more of 8-9 boards. Basically half the season, he was able to get close to or over 10 boards a game. He will be a star regardless. I'm just stating something I think he can do and it will help our team. Maybe playing more in the post will help as well. It's hard to get a board, when you are shooting 20 ft from the basket.

He isn't a Kevin Love or Zbo rebounder, but he's very capable of being a Horford type rebounder.

It's quibbling I know (because Horford has been close) but even he's never crested 10 rebounds per game for a season. And when did the bar get lowered to 10? You said 20/12 in your initial post.

 

[magnifier661]

It's quibbling I know (because Horford has been close) but even he's never crested 10 rebounds per game for a season. And when did the bar get lowered to 10? You said 20/12 in your initial post.

I think he can get 12 boards, but it sacrafices points. My opinion doesn't change. But I brought it down, because many of you thought that was impossible. Hell you guys think 10 boards is impossible; which I showed it was very much POSSIBLE. He had 22 games with 11+ boards and 15 of games with 12+ boards.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think he can get 12 boards, but it sacrafices points. My opinion doesn't change. But I brought it down, because many of you thought that was impossible. Hell you guys think 10 boards is impossible; which I showed it was very much POSSIBLE. He had 22 games with 11+ boards and 15 of games with 12+ boards.

I've got a couple of questions for you then. Why doesn't he get 10+ rebounds per game and what is so magical about him pulling down two more boards per game?

 

[magnifier661]

I've got a couple of questions for you then. Why doesn't he get 10+ rebounds per game and what is so magical about him pulling down two more boards per game?

I think the reason why he doesn't get 10 rebounds a game is because he isn't working hard to establish position. It could be the actual system "Maybe wanting him to leak out on the break" or it could be "He's not as interested in getting those boards".

I think it's very magical if he can get a double double. There is a level of intimidation a player of that caliber has on you. And if he and Camby average 10+ boards a game, then our rebounding is that much better. I want our team to be one of the best rebounding teams in the league. I take great pride in rebounding and defense. I love watching it and studying the effect of good D leading to better O.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'd like 26/8 from LMA.

He's one of the better defensive big in the game and if we can get this kind of scoring out of him we'd be a contender.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'd like 26/8 from LMA.

He's one of the better defensive big in the game and if we can get this kind of scoring out of him we'd be a contender.

I'd go so far as to say I'd prefer 26/6 to 22/8 and I'd prefer 22/8 to 20/12. The more effectively LMA gets the ball on offense the better we do. Last season, there was a very strong correlation to the number of FTA's LMA had to our win percentage -- he doesn't get as many FTAs from rebounding as from posting up and focusing on his offensive game.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think the reason why he doesn't get 10 rebounds a game is because he isn't working hard to establish position. It could be the actual system "Maybe wanting him to leak out on the break" or it could be "He's not as interested in getting those boards".

Ah of course, the "he's not working hard enough" routine.

I think it's very magical if he can get a double double. There is a level of intimidation a player of that caliber has on you. And if he and Camby average 10+ boards a game, then our rebounding is that much better. I want our team to be one of the best rebounding teams in the league. I take great pride in rebounding and defense. I love watching it and studying the effect of good D leading to better O.

You think there's actually a single player in the league that prepares for LMA any differently if he's averaging 22/10 vs. 22/8? the mostly negligible difference between 8 and 10 is something for fantasy basketball dorks to argue over, not teams and players that actually have to play somebody. If you want this team to be great at rebounding and "take great pride in it" (whatever that means?) then you should hope they draft or acquire a guy to pair with him that hoovers boards up and let's LMA focus on being a multi-faceted offensive threat and a guy who can guard 4 (and occasionally 5) positions.