Simmons "Top 50 NBA market value" article: Blazer-related excerpts

[PtldPlatypus]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110217

Here's the list of 2009-10 incumbents who couldn't crack this year's list or even earn an honorable mention: … and I can't believe that Brandon Roy (9) made this paragraph.

Semi-related: If you had to do over the 2006 draft, LaMarcus Aldridge (picked fourth) and Rajon Rondo (21st) would be 1-2 in some order, then Rudy Gay (eighth), Paul Millsap (47th) and Bargnani (first). The sixth pick? Let's see … Randy Foye? J.J. Redick? Kyle Lowry? Brandon Roy playing bone-on-bone? Yikes.

Our toughest 2011 omissions going from "not so tough" to "very tough": ... Nicolas Batum: Dirt-cheap contract, elite defender, efficient offensively, brazenly called out Derrick Rose's shoddy defense recently, only 22 years old … for once, the Portland Soccer Moms overrated a Blazer and then had the rating inadvertently turn out to be the right rating. (Just kidding, Portland. Jokes! Come on! Loosen up! No, don't start the 150-post thread killing me on Blazers Edge! Just stop it … jokes! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

GROUP D: "Effectively Untouchable" ... 15. LaMarcus Aldridge
When I watch Aldridge this year, I think to myself, He's different. He's playing like a center. He's going down low. He's rebounding more. He's becoming a player I never imagined he could be. Conventional metrics tell us he's playing better and getting more shots, something backed up by his usage-rate numbers (22.9 percent last year, 26.3 percent this year).

2009-10: 17.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 49.5% FG, 76% FT, 15.0 FGA, 3.9 FTA, 37.3 MPG
2010-11: 22.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 49.7% FG, 79% FT, 17.7 FGA, 5.9 FTA, 39.4 MPG

Still, those numbers don't totally tell me HOW he's playing. That's why you have to love hoopdata.com, a site that breaks down scoring by zones. Last season, Aldridge attempted only 3.9 shots at the rim, 2.6 shots within 10 feet, 3.1 shots from 10-15 feet, 5.2 shots from 16-23 feet and 0.2 3s … so basically, 57 percent of his shots were long jumpers or 3s. This season, those numbers magically shifted: 6.7 shots at the rim, 3.9 within 10 feet and 7.0 shots from beyond 10 feet, meaning 60 percent of his shots now come from close range. I don't like basketball metrics that pit players against one another, but I like when they help me confirm (or in some cases, refute) what I think I'm seeing. Aldridge changed his game, started playing more like a center, grabbed a bigger piece of the offense and now he's on a whole other level. It's really that simple.

(Note to Rip City: I wanted to vault Aldridge into the next group, but he's been kicking butt for only two months -- I can't tell if it's a hot streak or something more. Had to play it safe considering he has a $70 million contract. Just know that I put a ton of thought into it; I appreciate how he's carrying your banged-up team right now; I don't eat poop; I'm not an idiot; and I don't want to have sex with myself. Wait, don't start another scathing message board thread -- NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Discuss.

 

[hasoos]

What Batum isn't one of the worst 5 defenders in the league? Total blasphemy!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Oh wait, missed this little gem in the Andrew Bynum section:

A list of the most memorable centers and power forwards of the past 35 years organized by their first six regular seasons for "games played," "games missed" and "number of seasons in which they played 90 percent of the games."

Dwight Howard: 489 --- 3 --- 6
Karl Malone: 489 --- 3 --- 6
Tim Duncan: 451 --- 9 --- 5
David Robinson: 475 --- 17 --- 5
Kevin McHale: 475 --- 17 --- 5
Charles Barkley: 472 --- 20 --- 6
Dikembe Mutombo: 471 --21 -- 5
Robert Parish: 469 --- 23 --- 5
Hakeem Olajuwon: 468 --- 24 --- 5
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 467 --- 25 --- 5
Dirk Nowitzki: 444 --- 48 --- 5
Kevin Garnett: 442 --- 50 --- 5
Patrick Ewing: 438 --- 54 --- 4
Moses Malone: 428 --- 66 --- 4
Alonzo Mourning: 409 --- 83 --- 2
Shaquille O'Neal: 408 --- 84 --- 2
Yao Ming: 404 -- 88 --- 3
Ralph Sampson: 395 --- 97 --- 3
Chris Webber: 329 --- 131 --- 1
Andrew Bynum: 309 --- 169 --- 1
Bill Walton: 223 --- 269 --- 0
Sam Bowie: 207 --- 285 --- 1
Greg Oden: 82 --- 266 --- 0

What jumps out?

Hmm...what jumps out? I wonder...

BTW, in case anyone's wondering, Sabas would be right below Ralph Sampson on that list 392 --- 68 --- 1

 

[HailBlazers]

What Batum isn't one of the worst 5 defenders in the league? Total blasphemy!

Dude, your the one who started that worthless thread based on a random twitter feed.

 

[hasoos]

Dude, your the one who started that worthless thread based on a random twitter feed.

Yes and I also said it was a ridiculous claim. It also wasn't based just upon a twitter feed bright one. That is a writer for a basketball publication.

 

[Minstrel]

Reasonably fair comments. I think Roy would still be selected at least #5, just for the first four years of his career. He just wouldn't get a significant contract after his rookie deal.

 

[HailBlazers]

Simmons is pretty unimaginable if he couldn't see how LMA could be this good. He's always had the tools, he's just finally putting it together.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Simmons bashes the Blazers, but he makes me laugh every time I read him

 

[Spud147]

I remember more than one journalist say that LaMarcus would eventually pass Brandon. They felt he had a much higher ceiling. Seems odd to me that it's coming as a surprise to these same guys now.

 

[maxiep]

Not to nitpick Simmons, but LA was selected 2nd. We traded Ty Thomas and Viktor Khryapa for him.

Thanks, John Paxson. Stop by, anytime!

 

[BBert]

A list of the most memorable centers and power forwards of the past 35 years organized by their first six regular seasons for "games played," "games missed" and "number of seasons in which they played 90 percent of the games."
Bill Walton: 223 --- 269 --- 0
Sam Bowie: 207 --- 285 --- 1
Greg Oden: 82 --- 266 --- 0

What jumps out?

Hmm, what jumps out? Greg Oden hasn't been in the league the requisite 6 years to be on this list. Fuck you Simmons.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Simmons is pretty unimaginable if he couldn't see how LMA could be this good. He's always had the tools, he's just finally putting it together.

Well I'm guessing Simmons actually watched LaMarcus in his first four years ... and no he didn't always have the tools: His footwork on the low block was terrible and his only go-to move when he was pressed was that turn around fade-away jumper of his.

 

[HailBlazers]

Well I'm guessing Simmons actually watched LaMarcus in his first four years ... and no he didn't always have the tools: His footwork on the low block was terrible and his only go-to move when he was pressed was that turn around fade-away jumper of his.

Guess what you want, but everything I've heard from Simmons makes me believe he hasn't actually watched the games except maybe the national ones.

When I say tools I mean the ability, for example he's very agile. Put in some work in the off season and those tools can become effective. Footwork is a prime example, it can easily be learned, if you got the ability, and put in work.

IMO, LMA is far from his ceiling, his post moves are still very rough, but now its evident what a little work can do for his game.

 

[maxiep]

IMO, LMA is far from his ceiling, his post moves are still very rough, but now its evident what a little work can do for his game.

And the fact that his work this offseason has paid huge dividents makes it likely he puts in more work next offseason.