The improved LaMarcus Aldridge

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cpawfan

cpawfan

Monsters do exist
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http://trailblazerscentercourt.blogspot.com/2008/09/look-out-for-lamarcus-aldridge.html

From Casey Holdahl's blog

Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Think back to my recap of the workouts at the practice facility (or if you can't remember that far back, just read the post below). Remember this little passage?

Aldridge looks to have added some muscle, but not much. And really, how much bigger can a guy like LaMarcus get?

Good stuff, though after watching LA play full-court yesterday for the second time this offseason, I realized I was wrong. Surprised? Yeah, me too.

LaMarcus is undoubtedly thicker, especially in the chest and shoulders, than he was last season. He's not going to be mistaken for Dwight Howard any time soon, but the added mass is noticeable, at least if you pay attention, which I obviously hadn't when I made the statement above. That's what happens when you draw conclusions based on a single viewing.

One thing that I did get right in my recap is that LaMarcus, when on the court at the PF, is the best player on the floor. He proved it again yesterday during a workout I would classify as the best I've seen so far this offseason. Games were close at the end, so guys were really focusing on playing tough defense. One-on-one play was kept to a minimum. Fouls were called and subsequently argued. Rebounds were fought over. I think guys are starting to feel the season is getting closer, and that realization is being reflected in the play on the court.

And LaMarcus owned it. With Steven Hill out of town, Aldridge was the only big available to go up against Greg Oden. No offense to GO, but LA took him to school, at least out on the perimeter.

Aldridge, knowing he'd have a tough time going blow-for-blow and toe-to-toe with Oden in the block, took the rook out to the three-point line and started displaying some skills that I had never seen before, namely the cross-over dribble. You ever see Aldridge dance at the three-point line before shaking his man? Me neither, but I saw it yesterday.

Aldridge, with the clear advantage in foot speed, beat Oden in a variety of ways by showing off a handle that I didn't even know he possessed. He'd go between the legs over and over, just getting in that cross-over rhythm, before eventually throwing a jab step to get Oden off-balance. Once that was accomplished, Aldridge would either pull up for the long-range jumper (which he hit over and over again) or drive baseline. Think And1 mix-tape, but without the extreme ankle-breaking, and with 6-11 versus 7-0. It's not like Oden was getting embarrassed, but you could tell Aldridge was just feeling it.

The highlight of the run was Aldridge crossing over Oden near the baseline, driving to the hoop, avoiding Travis Outlaw's block attempt, then finishing with the reverse layup. So pretty.

I don't know if Aldridge is comfortable enough in his handle to break out these kind of moves during the regular season, but if he gets to that point, the rest of the league is going to be in a whole lot of trouble. I don't think Aldridge is going to be rising up off the dribble and canning fadeaway three's like Dirk Nowitzki any time in the near future, but he showed glimpses of that ability yesterday.
Click to expand...
 
That's article sure made LMA sound very impressive. I'm in the minority but eventually think LMA might be our best player but that depends on Oden and how much he will develop in the next few years. It's going to be close but I think LMA and maybe Oden will be 1-2 with Roy being our 3rd best player IMO. I know there are a lot of LMA haters because of the soft tag people have put on him which I think he deserved but I think with his hard work will be tougher as he gets better.
 
I can see LMA becoming the top scorer because he'll never be doubled, but with Oden's impact on defense, I don't see LMA being the best Blazer.
 
I don't know that LMA will be the best, but I think he is going to be VERY good. What I like best about the group we have is that it presents trouble for teams on focusing on any given player (or two).

With Roy, LMA, Oden along with the supporting cast (and potentially a Manu-type game-changing player in Rudy), I think the Blazers are poised to give lots of teams fits. However, I don't necessarily expect that out-of-the-gate but as the year progresses I hope to see increasing cohesion and by next year, I hope we are the teams everyone fears to face. :devilwink:

Gramps...
 
This failed on BBF. Let me try this joke, again.

Aldridge, with the clear advantage in foot speed, beat Oden in a variety of ways by showing off a handle that I didn't even know he possessed. He'd go between the legs over and over, just getting in that cross-over rhythm, before eventually throwing a jab step to get Oden off-balance. Once that was accomplished, Aldridge would either pull up for the long-range jumper (which he hit over and over again) or drive baseline. Think And1 mix-tape, but without the extreme ankle-breaking, and with 6-11 versus 7-0. It's not like Oden was getting embarrassed, but you could tell Aldridge was just feeling it.

The highlight of the run was Aldridge crossing over Oden near the baseline, driving to the hoop, avoiding Travis Outlaw's block attempt, then finishing with the reverse layup. So pretty.
Click to expand...

Looks like our small forward quandary is solved.

So, who's our starting power forward, Frye or Diogu?
 
Minstrel said:
This failed on BBF. Let me try this joke, again.



Looks like our small forward quandary is solved.

So, who's our starting power forward, Frye or Diogu?
Click to expand...

Yeah, maybe you have something there. I still would want to see this for myself. I'm not 100% convinced for sure LMA has that good of handles.
 
As a Bulls fan, I'd like to officially offer you Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Kryhappa back for him.
 
Denny Crane said:
As a Bulls fan, I'd like to officially offer you Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Kryhappa back for him.
Click to expand...

Y'know, we'd surely accept that, except that we know you've let Khryapa go. So, no deal. Next time take better care of the toys we give you.

barfo
 
I remember some Bulls fans were happy with the trade....lol

I'm so excited for the upcoming season, With Aldridge being one of my favorite Blazers players (other is Bayless) I hope he has a fantastic year. So it's great to read this info about him.
 
LMA seems to have taken a back seat now that we have 3 new impressive Blazers in Oden, Fernandez, and Bayless. He hasn't made much news like Outlaw, Roy, or Lafrentz and he's been out of the spotlight.

It feels like he's been the forgotten gem all summer. He put up great numbers last year and I'm really excited to see what he'll be able to do with his jumper now that Oden will be commanding so much more attention than Przybilla.

He and Frye are going to have a field day out there.
 
Minstrel said:
This failed on BBF. Let me try this joke, again.



Looks like our small forward quandary is solved.

So, who's our starting power forward, Frye or Diogu?
Click to expand...

I would love to see a frontline against the Fake Show of LMA at the three, Frye at the four and GO at the five. You know that Aldridge freaking hates Odom. He has the same footspeed and more length. As for Frye being soft, he's practically Karl Malone compared to "La Puta Espanola".
 
SheedSoNasty said:
LMA seems to have taken a back seat now that we have 3 new impressive Blazers in Oden, Fernandez, and Bayless. He hasn't made much news like Outlaw, Roy, or Lafrentz and he's been out of the spotlight.

It feels like he's been the forgotten gem all summer. He put up great numbers last year and I'm really excited to see what he'll be able to do with his jumper now that Oden will be commanding so much more attention than Przybilla.

He and Frye are going to have a field day out there.
Click to expand...

My prediction has always been that LMA will be our best player in terms of stats. He's going to take a lot of offensive pressure off of GO, while he gets his share of blocks and rebounds.
 
Denny Crane said:
As a Bulls fan, I'd like to officially offer you Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Kryhappa back for him.
Click to expand...

LMA was the player I wanted from that draft, but I remember being angry that we traded Viktor. He was a fan favorite. He broke his foot in Summer League and lost that step that could have make him a good all around NBA utility player.
 
maxiep said:
LMA was the player I wanted from that draft, but I remember being angry that we traded Viktor. He was a fan favorite. He broke his foot in Summer League and lost that step that could have make him a good all around NBA utility player.
Click to expand...

I was annoyed that the Blazers traded Telfair for Roy (in effect).

Whoops.

I always keep that in mind when I think I know something.
 
Minstrel said:
I was annoyed that the Blazers traded Telfair for Roy (in effect).

Whoops.

I always keep that in mind when I think I know something.
Click to expand...

Get out of my head! I can remember ranting about how we were killing ourselves by making that trade...yep, that's why I'm just some dude posting on an anonymous forum and I'm not a GM.
 
I will say that one thing most of us don't get to do is spend time with the players. Roy seems to be an amazing guy, not just as a player but as a leader.

Telling Zbo to shut up and sit down?

Awesome.

So, Pritchard is the man but he has advantages when it comes to these things ya know?
 
I too posted a joke on BBF, but it was partly serious. He's got a nice outside jumper, he's developing an inside game. If Aldridge can learn how to take it to the hoop like Amare then he'll be the complete offensive PF.
 
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