PF production

[Mediocre Man]

vs

I'm not saying in the slightest that Ibaka is better than LA, but is his style of play more important to playoff success than LA's?

Is he showing that you really don't need to be a star at the 4 to benefit your team?

Could we deal LA for more depth, a chance at a superstar in the draft, and cap relief to sign a defensive minded 4?

Again, this is just for discussion

 

[santeesioux]

I literally have no idea, does Greg Monroe play any defense?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

vs

I'm not saying in the slightest that Ibaka is better than LA, but is his style of play more important to playoff success than LA's?

Is he showing that you really don't need to be a star at the 4 to benefit your team?

Could we deal LA for more depth, a chance at a superstar in the draft, and cap relief to sign a defensive minded 4?

Again, this is just for discussion

You don't need a star at the PF position to be successful in the playoffs. . . of course it helps if you have the league MVP on the team at the SF position.

 

[RoyToy]

The teams with the best player and players usually win

Discussion closed

It's not very complicated

 

[jlprk]

Aldridge shines in about 1 out of 4 games. In the rest, he's a decoy, and anyone (of at least Robin Lopez-quality) would help us more (as does Lopez, 3 out of 4 games).

 

[Mediocre Man]

I literally have no idea, does Greg Monroe play any defense?

No.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

For the sake of hypotheticals...

You'd need to land a second option. Damian can't do it by himself as Nic and Wes are not go-to guys - they're (very good) role players.

Maybe a tad off-base here but why would Neil interview Noah Vonleh? He is a lock to go no lower than #6.

 

[Mediocre Man]

For the sake of hypotheticals...

You'd need to land a second option. Damian can't do it by himself as Nic and Wes are not go-to guys - they're (very good) role players.

Maybe a tad off-base here but why would Neil interview Noah Vonleh? He is a lock to go no lower than #6.

For two years now we have heard whispers of LA maybe wanting to go to a larger city like Chicago or play in Texas. Maybe there is some slight truth to that, or Nil is covering his bases?

Yes, we would definitely need a second option. My thinking was LA would bring that back in trade. In my hypothetical

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Wow, just wow.

 

[Blazinaway]

vs

I'm not saying in the slightest that Ibaka is better than LA, but is his style of play more important to playoff success than LA's?

Is he showing that you really don't need to be a star at the 4 to benefit your team?

Could we deal LA for more depth, a chance at a superstar in the draft, and cap relief to sign a defensive minded 4?

Again, this is just for discussion

we certainly are seeing the value of "serious" shot blocking (and threat of) and from Ibaka and even Adams, damn I wish we had drafted Adams ahead of CJ, another miss. I hear what you are saying, maybe this draft time frame will be more interesting than many think? we see

 

[jlprk]

Wow, just wow.

As this board's #2 option, you are sadly lacking. We could get Travis Outlaw and Dennis Rodman for you and they'd do a better job.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

we certainly are seeing the value of "serious" shot blocking (and threat of) and from Ibaka and even Adams, damn I wish we had drafted Adams ahead of CJ, another miss. I hear what you are saying, maybe this draft time frame will be more interesting than many think? we see

On draft day I had CJ and Adams as 1a/1b.

Who knew he'd have a little Bill Lambeer in his game.

 

[jlprk]

we certainly are seeing the value of "serious" shot blocking (and threat of) and from Ibaka and even Adams, damn I wish we had drafted Adams ahead of CJ, another miss. I hear what you are saying, maybe this draft time frame will be more interesting than many think? we see

If Adams were here he'd do the same thing Leonard and Batum do...imitate the team's non-blocking role model, Aldridge. As long as he's our example to follow, every rookie will lose his toughness within a couple of years.

 

[Blazinaway]

On draft day I had CJ and Adams as 1a/1b.

Who knew he'd have a little Bill Lambeer in his game.

I wanted Adams over CJ but it was more gut feel then really seeing much of either one play, I figured we would likely not take him after having just drafted Leonard, it's perhaps one blown pick maybe causing another, and I realize CJ could still be solid

 

[Hobbesarable]

Nice!

 

[jlprk]

As this board's #2 option, you are sadly lacking. We could get Travis Outlaw and Dennis Rodman for you and they'd do a better job.

Just joking. Actually, it should be those two for Denny. Then, promote Sly to #1 and give those two the jobs of Buchanan and Born. After Chicago immediately throws Denny out of town, re-sign him as Canzano's go-for.

 

[Rhal]

You can't argue with Boobs. Boobs win.

 

[Rhal]

Realistically Ilbaka and LA are two very different players and effect the game in two different ways. You can build your offense around LA and have him be your Star player, you can't do that with Ilbaka. You can build your D around Ilbaka and have him be your Star on that side of the floor, you can't run your offense through Ilbaka.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Just joking. Actually, it should be those two for Denny. Then, promote Sly to #1 and give those two the jobs of Buchanan and Born. After Chicago immediately throws Denny out of town, re-sign him as Canzano's go-for.

If you take out Denny you can be #1.

 

[PapaG]

Realistically Ilbaka and LA are two very different players and effect the game in two different ways. You can build your offense around LA and have him be your Star player, you can't do that with Ilbaka. You can build your D around Ilbaka and have him be your Star on that side of the floor, you can't run your offense through Ilbaka.

I think it's worth noting that Ibaka plays a defined and specialized role behind two All-NBA players on offense, while LMA is much more critical for the opposing team to defend as one of the two options on offense for Portland.

 

[Sinobas]

Ibaka is head and shoulders above LA on defense, no contest. On offense, he won't give you those monster nights like LA can deliver every once in awhile, but he's a lot more efficient. And efficiency is a big deal in my book. I don't care how many points a player scores if he's less efficient than his teammates.

So if Ibaka is a lot better on defense....and maybe slightly behind on offense, he still comes out ahead in the comparsion.

 

[H.C.]

Aldridge shines in about 1 out of 4 games. In the rest, he's a decoy, and anyone (of at least Robin Lopez-quality) would help us more (as does Lopez, 3 out of 4 games).

If Adams were here he'd do the same thing Leonard and Batum do...imitate the team's non-blocking role model, Aldridge. As long as he's our example to follow, every rookie will lose his toughness within a couple of years.

well you are certainly objective. why aren't you in the front office?

I guess Lillard got his swagger and maturity from Aldridge.
Obviously Lillard will lack toughness next year.
Or did he lack it this year?


Batum came into the league as a finesse EU player.
Will always have that type of game.
Batum has been far more influenced by the French national teams than he has the Blazers players/staff/whomever.
Leonard doesn't lack toughness, he lacks everything else.
Jordan farmar.

 

[H.C.]

Ibaka is head and shoulders above LA on defense, no contest. On offense, he won't give you those monster nights like LA can deliver every once in awhile, but he's a lot more efficient. And efficiency is a big deal in my book. I don't care how many points a player scores if he's less efficient than his teammates.

So if Ibaka is a lot better on defense....and maybe slightly behind on offense, he still comes out ahead in the comparsion.

you have to ask yourself. As the #1 option on offense or hell even the #2 option. Would ibaka shoot 54% from the field? I highly doubt it. He plays with Durant and Westbrook, can't tell me if he played with Lillard he'd shoot 54% still.

Aldridge shot 45% this year as the teams #1 option.

If anyone thinks or posts Ibaka would shoot a higher or equal % from the field had he been in Aldridge's role this year is high.

 

[RR7]

Ibaka is head and shoulders above LA on defense, no contest. On offense, he won't give you those monster nights like LA can deliver every once in awhile, but he's a lot more efficient. And efficiency is a big deal in my book. I don't care how many points a player scores if he's less efficient than his teammates.

So if Ibaka is a lot better on defense....and maybe slightly behind on offense, he still comes out ahead in the comparsion.

Slightly behind. Ha! This is just dumb as shit. And I say your post is so I don't attack the poster. So much dumb here. Not gonna bother

 

[Strenuus]

Slightly behind. Ha! This is just dumb as shit. And I say your post is so I don't attack the poster. So much dumb here. Not gonna bother

Agreed. lol. Because scoring 8 points on 4/6 is so much better than 40 on 20/31 of shooting. Makes sense.

For the record, those are not real stats from Ibaka and LA... in case anyone was wanting to play semantic stat dingle smack.

 

[e_blazer]

It's that time of year,
When the board falls apart,
Every thread you read,
Seems to say,
"Let's trade our All Stars,
May our summer dreams come true."

 

[H.C.]

It's that time of year,
When the board falls apart,
Every thread you read,
Seems to say,
"Let's trade our All Stars,
May our summer dreams come true."

I don't mind the OP, it's basketball discussion and a viable topic to discuss.
However some of the posts saying Ibaka is even on Aldridge's level(or slightly behind) is outrageous, due to the fact if the Blazers called up the Thunder and said. Trade you Aldridge for Ibaka straight up.. The Thunder couldn't fax the paperwork into the NBA office fast enough.
Not because Ibaka is a bad player, but because Aldridge is better than Ibaka, and would make them The Championship favs hands down.

 

[jlprk]

well you are certainly objective. why aren't you in the front office?

I guess Lillard got his swagger and maturity from Aldridge.
Obviously Lillard will lack toughness next year.
Or did he lack it this year?

Batum came into the league as a finesse EU player.
Will always have that type of game.
Batum has been far more influenced by the French national teams than he has the Blazers players/staff/whomever.
Leonard doesn't lack toughness, he lacks everything else.
Jordan farmar.

See my avatar. How do you know about my front office experience? As for Lillard not following Aldridge as a role model, I meant that only for young forwards and centers. As for the early Batum being finesse, actually he was a more thrilling defender than now, as you recall the praise he used to get, before he settled into the example set by Aldridge.

you have to ask yourself. As the #1 option on offense or hell even the #2 option. Would ibaka shoot 54% from the field? I highly doubt it. He plays with Durant and Westbrook, can't tell me if he played with Lillard he'd shoot 54% still.

Aldridge shot 45% this year as the teams #1 option.

If anyone thinks or posts Ibaka would shoot a higher or equal % from the field had he been in Aldridge's role this year is high.

Aldridge defines the PF position purely by shooting skill. But that's last priority in the conventional description of a star PF. I don't care how good of a shooter our next PF is. He'll never be more than 5 feet from the basket, collecting rebounds, blocks, steals, altered shots, loose balls wrestled down to the floor, and lost fingernails.

 

[H.C.]

See my avatar. How do you know about my front office experience? As for Lillard not following Aldridge as a role model, I meant that only for young forwards and centers. As for the early Batum being finesse, actually he was a more thrilling defender than now, as you recall the praise he used to get, before he settled into the example set by Aldridge.

Aldridge defines the PF position purely by shooting skill. But that's last priority in the conventional description of a star PF. I don't care how good of a shooter our next PF is. He'll never be more than 5 feet from the basket, collecting rebounds, blocks, steals, altered shots, loose balls wrestled down to the floor, and lost fingernails.

Batum has never been a physical defender, or a physical offensive player. He doesn't have the body for it and sad to say it's a EU stereotype that fits him perfectly. He was only a "good defender" on nash or parker because he has length and length bothered them.

So Aldridge is the Leader of the team right? he only influences the "bigs" never talks to the "guards" nope never.

I wish I knew how to make a "grasping @ straws" gif.

 

[MARIS61]

No.

LaMarcus Aldridge was the undisputed best player in the playoffs after 2 games.

Playing on the road.

Nobody else out of 16 teams was even mentioned as being close.

So if you're looking to improve a weak spot that is keeping us from being a playoff dynasty team, starting power forward is a ridiculous place to start.