The Truth about Aldridge

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Natebishop3 said:
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.
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His defense, at least on Stoudemire, has been solid. As for the rest, I disagree, because he played well in the playoffs last year with a healthy Roy being the #1 option.
 
Natebishop3 said:
He is being paid like a #1 option, is he not?
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How many playoff teams have a $60 mil or less player as the #1 option? Bobcats, Bucks and Bulls (and Rose is on a rookie deal so he really doesn't count.)

So I'd say no, he's not really paid like a #1 option.

He's paid like a high quality second option. He's actually a mediocre second option.
 
BGrantFan said:
His defense, at least on Stoudemire, has been solid. As for the rest, I disagree, because he played well in the playoffs last year with a healthy Roy being the #1 option.
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Camby's defense on Stoudemire has been solid. Aldridge has been guarding Collins, has he not?

mook said:
How many playoff teams have a $60 mil or less player as the #1 option? Bobcats, Bucks and Bulls (and Rose is on a rookie deal so he really doesn't count.)

So I'd say no, he's not really paid like a #1 option.

He's paid like a high quality second option. He's actually a mediocre second option.
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Duly noted.
 
I'd like to see a similar change in LMA, that we saw from Carmello Anthony this season.

Carmello, after a few years being fairly good, just came out looking like he finally got the NBA game. He looked stronger and had a mindset that no-one could stop him.
That change, and the added strength he seems to have, has made Mello nigh unstoppable.

If LaMarcus could knuckle down, improve on his talents, sort out his head and add some strength; I still believe he could become a much more dominant player, much the way Anthony stepped up his game.

The question for LMA remains, with his wallet now fat, does he want or even care to?
 
hasoos said:
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.
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Agreed and repped.

I want LA to remember this series whenever he starts his All-Star talk. IMO, an All-Star is someone that either throws the first punch or takes the punch, then doubles up to pound the other guy into the floor. Not only is LA not stepping up to fill the void, he is missing wide open looks and appeared to almost be in tears after Amare threw that elbow. I really hope Bosh believes in this team and Toronto cannot get a better offer.
 
craigehlo said:
Just when KP though his job might be safe.
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
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If we include an offer to pay his remaining salary Pritchard might unload him for Steve Francis, Channing Frye, and of course, Pritchard rarely forgets to give $3 million.

Or Aldridge could sit with a mystery injury for the remaining years and insurance could pay for it.
 
hasoos said:
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."
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I call B.S. on this one. A big part of my frustration with him has been his inability to find "the right pass", b/c he's too busy doing the turnaround baseline fade or the 18-foot jumper. Then again, maybe a cutter or two going down the lane (perish the thought) might help, or it might not. But he's bricked too many fadeaway jumpers over double teams for me to believe he's just "trying to find the right pass". He's been doubled a bunch this series, which speaks to his talent and PHX's recognition of it. He's still taking 15 shots a game, which is skewed a bit b/c he's been sitting with blowout trouble and foul trouble the last two games. But if he's getting double-teamed a bunch, and he's taking 15 shots a game, it's hard to say "I'm not a guy who takes shots over double-teams".
 
hasoos said:
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.
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No way. "Above Average"? He's a 2nd tier guy - below guys like Dirk, Bosh, Gasol, & Amare. Speaking of Amare, can we please remember that LA is matched up with perhaps the best PF in the game in this series? That's a tough match-up if Phoenix WASN'T doubling him. Mike & Mike nailed it, Phoenix has thoroughly confused LA offensively. He can't get too deep in the post or they front him. When he pops out to the wing, they let him receive the pass and they don't send the double until he starts dribbling. He picks up his dribble and there is nowhere to go. That's not all his fault though. There are no cutters and we don't have anybody else on the floor who can break down the defense so the Suns can overplay the passing lanes, and when they run out at our shooters (Rudy, Martel, Batum) They have no fear of one of those guys putting the ball on the floor. Lamarcus simply has nowhere to go. The Suns could never get away with doing this if Roy was out there, or anybody who could break down the defense. Andre Miller can do it for a game here and there, but as we've seen he can't do it for a series. and Bayless is so hit or miss - not only game to game, but possession to possession. We just don't have any playmakers out there. Too much is being made of LA's struggles. Don't make him the scapegoat.

And as for the comment that a #2 option should be able to be a #1 option when the #2 isn't available . . . how many teams have that luxary? Take away any team's #1 offensive weapon and how many of them have a #2 guy that can fill in and give similar production consistently? (for a whole series) LA IS a #2 option. Not a #3. Not a #4. And he's a good #2 when everybody is healthy. He's not dominant at anything, but he's solid in the post and his mid-range game is solid as well. He's not able to put the team on his back, but if we can get production from 'Dre, Bayless, & Batum (or Webster) like we did in Game 1, we can make this a series. For that matter, if somebody tells Rudy Fernandez that we made the playoffs and we're playing Game 4 tonight than that will help as well. Clearly, Lamarcus as our playmaking Point Forward isn't going to work. But that doesn't mean he can't be effective. It just has to be in the framework of an offense where our other guys are giving the Suns defense something to think about.
 
craigehlo said:
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
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So he'll be making less than $12M the next two years. That seems good to me. He'll start hitting his prime by 2012, right when his contract increases.

I'll take Aldridge at less than $11M next year than Zach Randolph at $17M. Yes, Randolph will be making more money than Roy next year. Ha, ha, ha.
 
RoyToy said:
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?
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being realistic isn't the norm for this chat community's collective psyche, manic is. Thats the truth.

Back in the 2006 draft I rated LA and Roy 1 & 2 in what I thought was a very weak draft. I guessed both had the ability to be above average starters and was very excited to add them to a piss poor roster. Obviously Roy has far exceeded this projection but Aldridge's play has pretty much been as I thought. I don't see why I should be upset with a player who hasn't morphed into an elite talent but is merely a quality player on both ends. It would be great if he had better quickness/was more explosive and could handle the ball like a guard, but oh well...

LA has been compared to a younger Sheed many times. A recent parallel is that he's being eviscerated for playing on a lessor team while his other talented teammates are sitting behind the bench. What a jerk he is :rolleyes2:

STOMP
 
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31 pts/11 reb/3 assists in the biggest game of the year. Way to go, LA! That's "The Truth"!
 
Nice to see such a comeback comeback performance ... now do it again.
 
If you're expecting 31/11 from Aldridge the next game, you're going to be disappointed. He won this game for us, though.
 
I guess you guys would prefer David Lee now, lol.

But in regards to Aldridge, I've always felt since he was drafted that he would not be in the upper echelon of power forwards. He reminded me a lot of Channing Frye during his rookie season - some potential to be solid, but definitely not a "superstar". From what I've watched, I always felt Aldridge was simply incapable of being that go-to player. He's a nice complimentary player, though.
 
Mr. J said:
I guess you guys would prefer David Lee now, lol.

But in regards to Aldridge, I've always felt since he was drafted that he would not be in the upper echelon of power forwards. He reminded me a lot of Channing Frye during his rookie season - some potential to be solid, but definitely not a "superstar". From what I've watched, I always felt Aldridge was simply incapable of being that go-to player. He's a nice complimentary player, though.
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Comparing Aldridge to Charmin Frye is hilarious. Seriously?
 
BGrantFan said:
Comparing Aldridge to Charmin Frye is hilarious. Seriously?
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They actually have several similarities: soft, like to shoot from midrange, similar physical build. They had very similar rookie campaigns as well and, at the time, were thought to have similar ceilings.
 
Mr. J said:
They actually have several similarities: soft, like to shoot from midrange, similar physical build. They had very similar rookie campaigns as well and, at the time, were thought to have similar ceilings.
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Yeah... it's too bad LMA won't ever his 170 three pointers in a season. WTF LMA?! :D
 
LaMarcus: On behalf of all fickle fans like myself: We love you. Until we don't.
 
BGrantFan said:
Charmin Frye is the new Matt Bullard. This Knick fan comparing Aldridge to Frye is good stuff!
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Reading comprehension is a beautiful thing.

Nowhere did I say or imply that Frye was as good as Aldridge or that they were on the same level. All I said was that I thought Frye, after his successful rookie campaign, would become the player that Aldridge currently is. So bringing up Frye's three-point shooting is quite irrelevant since I noted that I was referring to his rookie season.
 
I was being satirical, making a joke about our fans and how they always take the negative when comparing two similar players... so I took the negative (Frye's made more three pointers) in your comparison.

That said, LMA isn't nearly as soft as (a) Frye or (b) these fans think.
 
I was glad LA stepped up. If getting slammed in the press is all it takes, we should shower the court with Charmin when he gets called for pregame introductions.
 
BlazerCaravan said:
I was being satirical, making a joke about our fans and how they always take the negative when comparing two similar players... so I took the negative (Frye's made more three pointers) in your comparison.

That said, LMA isn't nearly as soft as (a) Frye or (b) these fans think.
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What that tells me is that he is either (a) generally unmotivated, or (b) ridiculously inconsistent.
 
BlazerCaravan said:
I was being satirical, making a joke about our fans and how they always take the negative when comparing two similar players... so I took the negative (Frye's made more three pointers) in your comparison.

That said, LMA isn't nearly as soft as (a) Frye or (b) these fans think.
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Who's more soft doesn't matter. The fact of the matter is that both players can be considered "soft".

But I know you meant what you said in jest. I was mainly referring to Brian Grant, who seems to have completely missed the point.
 
I think the entire premise of this thread - that we now know that Aldridge can't be a good #2 option because he was had trouble in this playoff series as a #1 option is flawed.

The test of a #2 option isn't how they perform as a #1 option. It's expected that the player won't be as good as a bona fide #1 option. That's to be expected.

That being said, I was disappointed with what we saw out of Aldridge in Games 2 and 3, but was really impressed with how he stepped up in Game 4.

Now, in Game 5, with Roy back, this will be the real test of how Aldridge is as a #2 option. Games on the line, the superstar is in the game, but you've got to play a big role to get a win.
 
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