LMA's ceiling

[Fez Hammersticks]

Has it been reached? He looks exactly the same as he did in his second year.

07-08: 17.8 PPG | 7.6 RPG | 1.6 APG | 18.5 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 34.9 MPG

09-10: 17.5 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 2.0 APG | 18.1 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 37.4 MPG

He's still not assertive. He's been aggressive on the block maybe three or four times this season. He's a steady 18/8 player but I can't see LMA ever stepping up and being that 23+ PPG scorer. Like Rasheed, he just doesn't have it in him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yep. I thought he might have another jump in performance in him and this year's circumstances have dictated that he's played out of position (at center) which probably hasn't helped his numbers, but alas I think this might be the player we can expect for the rest of his career ... I hate to presume, but the big money contract may have taken some of the wind out of his sails; I hope I'm wrong about that.

 

[The Other Guys]

I think when Greg is healthy on the floor with Aldridge he plays a little bit better. Greg attracts the attention inside and it helps LaMarcus get his jump shot easier.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think when Greg is healthy on the floor with Aldridge he plays a little bit better. Greg attracts the attention inside and it helps LaMarcus get his jump shot easier.

Actually the opposite was true through twenty games this year ... Greg getting more touches and looks on offense had LMA on the outside looking in.

 

[The Other Guys]

Actually the opposite was true through twenty games this year ... Greg getting more touches and looks on offense had LMA on the outside looking in.

Damn

 

[oldmangrouch]

Has it been reached? He looks exactly the same as he did in his second year.

07-08: 17.8 PPG | 7.6 RPG | 1.6 APG | 18.5 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 34.9 MPG

09-10: 17.5 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 2.0 APG | 18.1 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 37.4 MPG

He's still not assertive. He's been aggressive on the block maybe three or four times this season. He's a steady 18/8 player but I can't see LMA ever stepping up and being that 23+ PPG scorer. Like Rasheed, he just doesn't have it in him.

Sadly, I would have to say "yes."

I was one of the first on the "draft LMA" bandwagon, and I honestly thought this kid could be a star. It seems something is just missing.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Sadly, I would have to say "yes."

I was one of the first on the "draft LMA" bandwagon, and I honestly thought this kid could be a star. It seems something is just missing.

*raises hand* Ooh, ooh, I know this one, I'm pretty sure it starts with the inability to dribble the ball in any kind of traffic, and the fact that he never gets low enough when he tries to establish post position, meaning no leverage.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Has it been reached? He looks exactly the same as he did in his second year.

07-08: 17.8 PPG | 7.6 RPG | 1.6 APG | 18.5 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 34.9 MPG

09-10: 17.5 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 2.0 APG | 18.1 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 37.4 MPG

He's still not assertive. He's been aggressive on the block maybe three or four times this season. He's a steady 18/8 player but I can't see LMA ever stepping up and being that 23+ PPG scorer. Like Rasheed, he just doesn't have it in him.

Big difference between Sheed and LA. Sheed COULD have been the best, and run the league. He just didn't give a damn. Whitey paid him, and he was happy, as long as Whitey "cut the check". Shoulda, coulda run the City of Roses.

LA just doesn't have the balls. Flat out. He just won't bang down low. He won't try to run the team. He wants it, at least on the surface. He wants all that comes with the fame. Inside, though, he just can't dig deep enough to put it together.

Don't get me wrong. They are similar in a lot of ways. But Sheed, he had everything except the desire. LA has all that, except the MANHOOD.

 

[hasoos]

Big difference between Sheed and LA. Sheed COULD have been the best, and run the league. He just didn't give a damn. Whitey paid him, and he was happy, as long as Whitey "cut the check". Shoulda, coulda run the City of Roses.

LA just doesn't have the balls. Flat out. He just won't bang down low. He won't try to run the team. He wants it, at least on the surface. He wants all that comes with the fame. Inside, though, he just can't dig deep enough to put it together.

Don't get me wrong. They are similar in a lot of ways. But Sheed, he had everything except the desire. LA has all that, except the MANHOOD.

Yep dude full on. Lamarcus has what I call motor issues. The problem being his motor is not running all the time. He will have a good quarter here and there, and then dissappear for the rest of the game. He will play in the post one game, and then not for several games. When his motor is running he is great, everything you want.

I don't think it's too late for him to turn a corner. Josh Smith turned that corner this year when he stopped taking outside jumpers. He was a 47% shooter last year and before because he shot over 50% from inside the paint, but shot about 25% from the 3 point line and outside. So this year (his 5th) he made a commitment to stop taking outside jumpers. His field goal percentage is .514 this year. All his numbers are up. All because he started playing the right way. Every number that is important for a power forward involves dominating the paint. High percentage shots come in the paint. Rebounds happen in the paint. Blocked shots happen in the paint. When you don't play in the paint, you don't do what you need to do as a power forward to succeed at the highest level in this league.

 

[BlazerBeav]

LMA isn't even in his prime yet, and we're debating if he's reached his ceiling as a player? The 'now, now, now' crowd on here is so tiresome. The fact that his numbers haven't fallen despite being the ONLY low-post threat we've had since Greg went down would seem like a positive to me, but I suppose he is 24 and as good as he'll ever be.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Well, its a good thing we don't have ZBO here to ruin his game!

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I think when Greg is healthy on the floor with Aldridge he plays a little bit better. Greg attracts the attention inside and it helps LaMarcus get his jump shot easier.

Actually the opposite was true through twenty games this year ... Greg getting more touches and looks on offense had LMA on the outside looking in.

Damn

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

LMA isn't even in his prime yet, and we're debating if he's reached his ceiling as a player? The 'now, now, now' crowd on here is so tiresome. The fact that his numbers haven't fallen despite being the ONLY low-post threat we've had since Greg went down would seem like a positive to me, but I suppose he is 24 and as good as he'll ever be.

Amen. Rep'd.

 

[axs88]

I too think he'll basically be an 18-20 PER player the rest of his young prime/prime years. Not worth the money we gave him, but if your third best (after Oden and Roy) or maybe fourth best (after Oden, Roy and Batum) player is him, you're contending for a title. And if Oden doesn't get healthy, it doesn't matter anyway (in terms of championships).

 

[mook]

The thing I notice more and more about him is that he just doesn't seem to have the power and/or finesse to finish when he's got dominant inside position. When you see Zach Randolph, Amare, Oden, Duncan, Bosh, Landry, Boozer, etc near the rim with the ball, you pretty much expect them to get a bucket or force a foul. With Aldridge you kind of expect a weak spinning turnaround hook that avoids contact and may or may not go in, or if that isn't open a pass out to the perimeter. It's more noticeable to me after having Oden and then losing him.

This difference is about 3-5 points and 2-3 drawn fouls per game that Aldridge just doesn't create.

However, like Sheed, I like him for what he is, not who I imagine he could be. I'm glad we picked him, and I think he can still be the perfect compliment to Oden.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Aldridge is a gazelle playing in an offense that doesn't like to run. This is the worst possible offense he could be playing in, and he still averages good numbers.

 

[LittleAlex]

Aldridge is a gazelle playing in an offense that doesn't like to run. This is the worst possible offense he could be playing in, and he still averages good numbers.

QFT

 

[mook]

Aldridge is a gazelle playing in an offense that doesn't like to run. This is the worst possible offense he could be playing in, and he still averages good numbers.

Good point. Kenyon Martin used to put up 17 ppg playing next to Jason Kidd. Imagine Aldridge on a team with those kind of opportunities...

 

[Todd]

hahahah...best picture ever!

 

[hasoos]

Aldridge is a gazelle playing in an offense that doesn't like to run. This is the worst possible offense he could be playing in, and he still averages good numbers.

It is true that they miss him all the time for fast break opportunities. But that doesn't explain why he just dissappears for quarters at a time.

 

[Masbee]

Has it been reached? He looks exactly the same as he did in his second year.

07-08: 17.8 PPG | 7.6 RPG | 1.6 APG | 18.5 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 34.9 MPG

09-10: 17.5 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 2.0 APG | 18.1 PER | Defensive rating: 107 | 37.4 MPG

He's still not assertive. He's been aggressive on the block maybe three or four times this season. He's a steady 18/8 player but I can't see LMA ever stepping up and being that 23+ PPG scorer. Like Rasheed, he just doesn't have it in him.

You may be right about the 23PPG thing, but I don't think the numbers show he is "exactly the same".

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aldrila01.html

You forgot Offensive Rating: 07-08: 108; 09-10: 113

You also forgot Win Shares: 07-08: 6.2; 09-10 (Partial Season) 7.0

He is not the same player from 07-08. He is a different and better player. Changes from 07-08:

More Minutes Played: He already has as many minutes as he logged in ALL of 07-08. Keeping an inferior backup off the floor has been huge this season. Diluting his energies and playing out of position to log all those big minutes may also partly explain the drop in PER from last season and the lack of consistent agressive play.

Defensive Rebounding: With the team needing it, despite not being a strength of his game, his Defensive Rebounding Percentage has increased from 15% to 19%. (Per game: 4.7 to 5.7)

Assists: His Assist Percentage has increased from 8.8% to 9.7%.

Turnovers: His Turnover Percentage has decreased from 8.9% to 7.5%.

Usage: He is getting "his numbers" without being a ball-dominating player. His Usage has decreased from 25% to 22%. Of course, this is what many in this thread are complaining about - the want Aldridge to be an extra agressive offensive player who demands plays and shots and takes shots - even tough ones.

LaMarcus is what he is - a player who is more likely to take what the defense gives him, and his increase in efficency, lower turnovers, increased assists, lower shots - all point to an improving playing who is refining his game - but who isn't trying to establish himself as some kind of 1st Option. If you want him to be a 1st Option player or you think he should be, you are disappointed. If you accept him for a decent PF who continues to refine, expand and improve his game, you are satisfied.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Masbee, you raise some good points. Let me offer a few points in return.

You compare 07-08 to this season. What about 08-09? Didn't he actually make his big leap last season, rather than this season?

Personally, I can live with the fact he didn't become a #1 option of offense. The problem is, he hasn't become a consistent #2 option.

Defense is much harder to quantify than offense. My purely subjective opinion, is that LMA could be more of a factor on the defensive end. Many nights, he is just too passive.

 

[Masbee]

Masbee, you raise some good points. Let me offer a few points in return.

You compare 07-08 to this season. What about 08-09? Didn't he actually make his big leap last season, rather than this season?

Personally, I can live with the fact he didn't become a #1 option of offense. The problem is, he hasn't become a consistent #2 option.

Defense is much harder to quantify than offense. My purely subjective opinion, is that LMA could be more of a factor on the defensive end. Many nights, he is just too passive.

I followed the topic presented by the OP - which was 07-08 vs this season.

As others have noted, your complaints about LaMarcus are very similar to those made about Rasheed Wallace for years in this town. Sometimes the player you get is what the player is - not what you want them to be.