OK Aldridge Bashers...

[Minstrel]

La Monster now has a 20.2 PER as of this morning, and a .145 Win Shares/48.

Aldridge was down around 17 PER a few weeks ago, so this has been a pretty remarkable stretch to get his PER up over 20. He's probably been playing at a 25+ PER clip the last 2-3 weeks.

If that really is his new, permanent level of play, that would be incredible. I can't quite bring myself to hope for that.

But if it happens...Portland suddenly doesn't look too different for the future than they did a year ago, because two strokes of fortune will have balanced a huge stroke of bad luck. The stroke of bad luck, of course, was losing Roy. But with Aldridge breaking out and Matthews being much better than expected, instead of having Roy as a superstar and Aldridge as a very good complement...you have Aldridge as a superstar and Matthews as a very good complement.

Now, we need a stroke of good fortune to balance out Oden's injuries. Sean Marks becomes a once-a-generation center?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Aldridge was down around 17 PER a few weeks ago, so this has been a pretty remarkable stretch to get his PER up over 20. He's probably been playing at a 25+ PER clip the last 2-3 weeks.

If that really is his new, permanent level of play, that would be incredible. I can't quite bring myself to hope for that.

Last night was a 31 PER night for him. If last night is just another day at the office for LMA...

 

[julius]

Now, we need a stroke of good fortune to balance out Oden's injuries. Sean Marks becomes a once-a-generation center?

What's this "becomes" shit? Marks already IS a once-a-generation center.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

What's this "becomes" shit? Marks already IS a once-a-generation center.

And thank God for that!

 

[Minstrel]

What's this "becomes" shit? Marks already IS a once-a-generation center.

Well played.

 

[blazerboy30]

Aldridge tonight:

1st half: 10 points, 5 rebounds, plus/minus pos 17, we outscored Minn 63-43

2nd half: 18 points, 5 rebounds, plus/minus neg 6, Minn outscored us 55-45

http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20110107&game=PORMIN

In the first half, MIN was doubling LMA, which is why Matthews was wide open for so many threes.

In the second half, MIN made some adjustments to try to slow down Matthews. That is when LMA dominated.

I see nothing wrong with the above.

 

[BBert]

Clearly we must trade LaMarcus while his value is high.

 

[Natebishop3]

Clearly we must trade LaMarcus while his value is high.

Depends on what's offered

If someone offered us, say, Tyreke Evans, Cousins, and a draft pick, I think we'd take it.

 

[Minstrel]

Depends on what's offered

If someone offered us, say, Tyreke Evans, Cousins, and a draft pick, I think we'd take it.

Superstar big men like Aldridge are worth more. Would you trade Dwight Howard, prime Shaquille O'Neal or prime Moses Malone for Evans, Cousins and a draft pick?

 

[MickZagger]

Superstar big men like Aldridge are worth more. Would you trade Dwight Howard, prime Shaquille O'Neal or prime Moses Malone for Evans, Cousins and a draft pick?

Are you saying Aldridge was on those guys' level?

 

[Minstrel]

Are you saying Aldridge was on those guys' level?

Of course I am. You don't think Aldridge is as good as a prime Shaquille O'Neal?

 

[Shooter]

I guess my question is, what took you so long big fella? This was the Lamarcus I was waiting to start to appear in year 2.

I remember a game in Aldridge's rookie year when he got 30 points, mainly by going to the basket. I thought it was a sign of things to come, but he went back to his jump-shooting ways and seldom dominated a game that way again.

So I'm also very happy to see him finally playing the way he should have been all along. He had these skills in his rookie year, and now he's finally maximizing them.

 

[Tince]

The people who said LMA was playing soft or not up to his potential were correct.

The people who said LMA would always be soft, could never be a #1 option, etc. were wrong.

It's that simple

 

[Natebishop3]

The people who said LMA was playing soft or not up to his potential were correct.

The people who said LMA would always be soft, could never be a #1 option, etc. were wrong.

It's that simple

Who were these people? We need names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Who were these people? We need names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

Mick Zagger
3414 NW Hater Avenue
(503) 555-6666

 

[maxiep]

31/14 tonight. It was the first time I can recall Aldridge owning Bosh. Historically, it had been the other way around, IIRC.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Also 7 assists, which would have been more if a few more long range shots had gone in. We shoot 47%, and he probably gets a triple double.

 

[Nikolokolus]

31/14 tonight. It was the first time I can recall Aldridge owning Bosh. Historically, it had been the other way around, IIRC.

Yup. He absolutely destroyed him when they were matched up one-on-one

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

From a Golden State Warrior beat writer (@gswscribe)

If I'm Larry Riley, I'm going hard after LaMarcus Aldridge. He ain't available, but Portland would have to tell me no daily

 

[VanillaGorilla]

From a Golden State Warrior beat writer (@gswscribe)

Seriously I consider Aldridge one of the top bigs in the league now. And I was one of the haters.

 

[THE HCP]

Up to the minute PER?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Who were these people? We need names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

I freely admit I thought he had peaked - a perenially good but not great player who might be adequate as a third option on a contender but certainly nobody you'd ever structure your team around.

 

[THE HCP]

I'll admit that the only reason he hadn't blown up was because him being the 2nd or 3rd option. I didn't think he would put these kind of #'s up! Had his back since day 1!!!

 

[barfo]

Now, we need a stroke of good fortune to balance out Oden's injuries. Sean Marks becomes a once-a-generation center?

The stroke would be Oden playing next year.

Sean Marks can run for mayor or something.

barfo

 

[Minstrel]

The stroke would be Oden playing next year.

I was aiming for something that could actually happen, even if the chance is vanishingly small.

 

[MickZagger]

Who were these people? We need names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

About 80% of the board.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

31/14 tonight. It was the first time I can recall Aldridge owning Bosh. Historically, it had been the other way around, IIRC.

I think I proposed a trade once when Bosch was approaching free agency, it was basically Aldridge for Bosch; I would not even think about that now. As I stated after we played Utah I would not consider Jefferson AND Milsap for Aldridge, and after playing Minnesota would not consider Love for Aldridge (no matter what his statistics are).

 

[MickZagger]

I'll admit that the only reason he hadn't blown up was because him being the 2nd or 3rd option. I didn't think he would put these kind of #'s up! Had his back since day 1!!!

You have had the back of every Blazer since Vladdy Stepania though, so its not saying much.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Up to the minute PER?

20.7