The Truth about Aldridge

[Nikolokolus]

I read this post, and the name Oden kept popping into my mind.

Which might be true, but we haven't seen enough of Greg to say that (yet).

 

[Shooter]

So if we "know" what he is, why continue to complain about it?

Yeah, you're right. We shouldn't expect any development at all from our players. We shouldn't beg or plead with them to overcome their weaknesses or flaws--we should just let them be who they are and expect nothing more. After all, I'm sure the Portland coaches never take Aldridge aside and ask him to step up his game, or remind him that the team needs him in big games. I'm sure they just leave him alone and say, "That's LaMarcus. What can we do?"

 

[BGrantFan]

Which might be true, but we haven't seen enough of Greg to say that (yet).

Well, I think you and I have conversed about moving Aldridge if Oden isn't the answer, right? If that's the case, then I think we have similar views on LA's role on a title contender.

 

[RoyToy]

Yeah, you're right. We shouldn't expect any development at all from our players. We shouldn't beg or plead with them to overcome their weaknesses or flaws--we should just let them be who they are and expect nothing more. After all, I'm sure the Portland coaches never take Aldridge aside and ask him to step up his game, or remind him that the team needs him in big games. I'm sure they just leave him alone and say, "That's LaMarcus. What can we do?"

You're the one saying "this is what he is", not me.

 

[craigehlo]

LMA can pickup his paycheck with a ski mask on.

I'd trade him to the Knicks for cap space if they were stupid enough.

 

[Shooter]

You're the one saying "this is what he is", not me.

I'm griping about the player that he seems to be after 4 years in the league. I don't like it, I can't believe it's true, but it seems to be true. My reaction is pretty normal for a fan who is frustrated by a supremely talented player who isn't living up to his potential.

You, on the other hand, seem to be telling me, "Just accept it and live with it, and shut up." That's a pretty strange response from someone who calls himself a fan of this team.

 

[RoyToy]

I'm griping about the player that he seems to be after 4 years in the league. I don't like it, I can't believe it's true, but it seems to be true. My reaction is pretty normal for a fan who is frustrated by a supremely talented player who isn't living up to his potential.

You, on the other hand, seem to be telling me, "Just accept it and live with it, and shut up." That's a pretty strange response from someone who calls himself a fan of this team.

Of course I want Aldridge to keep getting better, but I don't expect that he's all of the sudden going to turn into this different player and flip the switch. Maybe I'm just more realistic and keep my expectations in check?

 

[craigehlo]

Just to make things clear, I'm not bagging on LaMarcus.

You should be. He's proving to be the worst Blazer contract since DMiles so far.

 

[craigehlo]

LMA is on 1080 right now. He's "disappointed" but not "frustrated." He's refusing to evaluate his play in this series.

What was KP thinking giving a huge contract to a finesse PF without a first step? Another check in the "Fire KP" column.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

LMA is on 1080 right now. He's "disappointed" but not "frustrated." He's refusing to evaluate his play in this series.

What was KP thinking giving a huge contract to a finesse PF without a first step? Another check in the "Fire KP" column.

I didn't hear tonights comments. But LA said that he thought he played fine in game 2. I was afraid that was a bad omen....and it seems that it was indeed.

 

[The Other Guys]

What would the Suns be like if we took Nash and Stoudemire (Our Greg and Roy) and put them on the bench? I know Stoudemire is more proven than Oden, but the fact that people are saying that we are a terrible team is ridiculous. We are missing two of our best players, and one of our other top players has been playing with a hurt shoulder for the year. I would love to see how the Suns would play if we had all of our players healthy and their top guys were out. If you don't want to deal with the losses and you only want to be a fan and wear you bandwagon blazer shirt when they win, go find a different team. The Suns destroyed us in the first half, and we made a big-time run in the second half. You can still find good in that game: LA actually showing some emotion and not letting Amare do whatever he wants, Dante showing some hustle, Martell and Rudy are playing with some heart. If we actually hit some free throws tonight, we probably would have cut the lead down to about 7 in the last minutes, and who knows how it goes from there.

Suck it up. We lost. Last time I checked, the Thunder are 2-1 as well and I know some people on here are dieing to become fans of them. If we lose we lose, but don't praise our team when we get a win on the road, and then decide that when we lose you must start saying why our team sucks and how screwed we are. If we win on Saturday, this whole board will be about how great Nate's adjustments were, and how we shut the Suns down, and how the series is ours. If you are going to be some whiny fan, go find LakersGround or some other forum and save some of the Rose Garden seats for people who actually want to support their team.

 

[Stevenson]

Because Sheed was someone who could carry a team by himself

But wouldn't, which was the whole problem.

LA can't, but would like to. That's the difference.

 

[jlprk]

You guys are unfair to Aldridge. All he needs is Roy, Oden, and 18 other guys to carry the load, and he'll be the perfect complement.

Aldridge lacks quickness in his mind. Sheed had the fire in his eyes. He would bend down and guard the dribbling PG 30 feet out. Then, like a convertible Corvette putting up its top, he would run into the paint, stand up tall, and body up the big men. Most great defenders are great only against their own position.

 

[Natebishop3]

What would the Suns be like if we took Nash and Stoudemire (Our Greg and Roy) and put them on the bench? I know Stoudemire is more proven than Oden, but the fact that people are saying that we are a terrible team is ridiculous. We are missing two of our best players, and one of our other top players has been playing with a hurt shoulder for the year. I would love to see how the Suns would play if we had all of our players healthy and their top guys were out. If you don't want to deal with the losses and you only want to be a fan and wear you bandwagon blazer shirt when they win, go find a different team. The Suns destroyed us in the first half, and we made a big-time run in the second half. You can still find good in that game: LA actually showing some emotion and not letting Amare do whatever he wants, Dante showing some hustle, Martell and Rudy are playing with some heart. If we actually hit some free throws tonight, we probably would have cut the lead down to about 7 in the last minutes, and who knows how it goes from there.

Suck it up. We lost. Last time I checked, the Thunder are 2-1 as well and I know some people on here are dieing to become fans of them. If we lose we lose, but don't praise our team when we get a win on the road, and then decide that when we lose you must start saying why our team sucks and how screwed we are. If we win on Saturday, this whole board will be about how great Nate's adjustments were, and how we shut the Suns down, and how the series is ours. If you are going to be some whiny fan, go find LakersGround or some other forum and save some of the Rose Garden seats for people who actually want to support their team.

I don't understand what your post has to do with Aldridge. We are discussing how Aldridge simply isn't a guy who can play well under pressure. Unfortunately, we are paying him like a guy who should be able to step up when his team needs him. That's really the gripe. I never expected him to be "the man" but it would be nice if he could be a little more consistent. This has nothing to do with the team, the injuries, or the fact that we lost. I'd still feel this way if we had won. Aldridge simply isn't coming to play.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well, this is just my opinion, and not "The Truth", as OP boldly claims, but would the Blazers have been better off drafting Morrison, Thomas, Bargnani, Williams, or Foye over Aldridge?

I don't think so. Then again, I'm not the holder of "The Truth", so I understand my opinion probably won't mean much.

Old school PapaG right there.... The only thing that was missing was a

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Old school PapaG right there.... The only thing that was missing was a

Is that you being "the truth guy", or just an opinion?

 

[craigehlo]

Just when KP though his job might be safe.

LaMarcus' Salary breakdown:

2009/10: $5,844,826

2010/11: $10,700,000

2011/12: $11,800,000

2012/13: $13,000,000

2013/14: $14,100,000

2014/15: $15,200,000

 

[oldguy]

LA is Cliff Robinson V-2. He's not going to carry the team, and he doesn't like to be put into pressure situations. It's just not who he is.

That said, the good news is that he's fine as a third option. With Brandon and Greg playing, LMA will do nicely.

Go Blazers

 

[mook]

LA is Cliff Robinson V-2. He's not going to carry the team, and he doesn't like to be put into pressure situations. It's just not who he is.

That said, the good news is that he's fine as a third option. With Brandon and Greg playing, LMA will do nicely.

Go Blazers

Yep. Aldridge is a mediocre second option, and a fantastic third option. But this series pretty well documents that he's a piss-poor first option.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Yep. Aldridge is a mediocre second option, and a fantastic third option. But this series pretty well documents that he's a piss-poor first option.

Exactly. Admitting this isn't an act of disloyalty.....it is just recognizing reality.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

LA is Cliff Robinson V-2. He's not going to carry the team, and he doesn't like to be put into pressure situations. It's just not who he is.

That said, the good news is that he's fine as a third option. With Brandon and Greg playing, LMA will do nicely.

Exactly. He can be our Lamar Odom.

But hey, isn't Amare supposed to be a superstar, and he's not exactly setting the world on fire, is he? Maybe, just maybe, an entire team gearing up to stop you will actually stop you.
That said, I'm wondering again if the Raptors would take Aldridge in a sign-and-trade for Bosh, if the alternative is losing him for nothing. And we'll throw in Rudy to keep Calderon company!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Yep. Aldridge is a mediocre second option, and a fantastic third option. But this series pretty well documents that he's a piss-poor first option.

Isn't Miller our first option?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Exactly. He can be our Lamar Odom.

But hey, isn't Amare supposed to be a superstar, and he's not exactly setting the world on fire, is he? Maybe, just maybe, an entire team gearing up to stop you will actually stop you.
That said, I'm wondering again if the Raptors would take Aldridge in a sign-and-trade for Bosh, if the alternative is losing him for nothing. And we'll throw in Rudy to keep Calderon company!

I'd love to see that deal, but I get the feeling a ton of teams are going to be lining up with far more tempting packages than that.

 

[hasoos]

That is the whole point I have been making. We are depending on Lamarcus Aldridge to be the #2 guy on this team. If you are going to compete at the highest level, your #2 guy has to be able to play like a #1 guy when the #1 guy is down. Lamarcus is an above average power forward. No more, no less. He is not a #2 scorer guy. He can't even score against a double team, and rarely tries. That is not even near the level of player you need to have at the #2 scorer spot on the team. I accept Aldridge for what he is. An above average power forward. But the team needs to quit acting like he is more than that and retool.

 

[LittleAlex]

LMA is on 1080 right now. He's "disappointed" but not "frustrated." He's refusing to evaluate his play in this series.

What was KP thinking giving a huge contract to a finesse PF without a first step? Another check in the "Fire KP" column.

He was thinking how nice LMA would look drawing his man outside while Oden works the interior.

Sadly Portland doesn't have that inside pressence so LMA is being forced to try and do something he is simply not capable of.

 

[hasoos]

Here is a quote from Lamarcus out of the Oregonian:

"I'm not the type of guy who is going to take shots over double teams, that's just not me," Aldridge said. "So I just have to keep trying to find the right pass."

1. Then why do you wait for the double team to come every time when you could make your move against single coverage.
2. Why are you so unaware of your defenders position that sometimes when you catch the ball int he post you aren't even aware you don't have coverage on you yet, but you wait for it to show up before doing anything.

 

[BGrantFan]

It still baffles me that Aldridge is being killed by fans for not being a #1 option, which nobody ever said he was or should be. I guess stating the obvious passes for analysis these days.

 

[jwhoops11]

It still baffles me that Aldridge is being killed by fans for not being a #1 option, which nobody ever said he was or should be. I guess stating the obvious passes for analysis these days.

Quite honestly, LaMarcus and Andre would look a hell of a lot better the last two games with a healthy Brandon on the floor. Aldridge looks tentative everytime he gets the ball, anticipating the double team even if it's not there. Usually that's Brandon entering that pass, which makes it hard to double on that side, also giving LaMarcus an outlet to give the ball back to if the double comes. At this point, he's passing to Rudy, who has no interest in shooting, Andre who can't and won't hit an outside jumper, or Nic and Martell in the far corner opposite side. He more than anyone needs Roy on the court to play off of, he's just not confident enough at this point to get his own shot.

 

[Natebishop3]

It still baffles me that Aldridge is being killed by fans for not being a #1 option, which nobody ever said he was or should be. I guess stating the obvious passes for analysis these days.

He is being paid like a #1 option, is he not? I'm not even necessarily talking about scoring, though his scoring has been almost non-existent. I'm talking about defense. I'm talking about rebounding. I'm talking about playing smart. He is playing like shit and it's because he doesn't have the mental fortitude to withstand the pressures of the playoffs.

 

[mook]

Isn't Miller our first option?

I don't think of him that way. He's supposed to by the distributor on this team. "First option" players, if they are the really good superstar type like Roy, can't be repeatedly shut down for more than a game.

Before Roy went out the vision was that Miller was our second or third scoring option.