Trail Blazers' list of concerns after Game 1 should include the future of LaMarcus Aldridge

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In Wookie's voice:

"Jason Quick....."
 
Oh good, now "realgm" has picked up this "story" and fans of other teams will treat it like the gospel for the next 2-3 months.
 
blue9 said:
The Blazers should be more concerned about how LMA is featured, rather than his future. He was just as much to blame for us digging ourselves a 19-point first half deficit as anyone.

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That's not to say he didn't play well at times (namely, when he played around the basket), but his penchant for taking jumpers has got to stop now that the Playoffs have started. Live in the post, kick out when he doesn't have a good shot, and if left open at the 3-point line then take it - that should be how LMA is featured in the offense. Shooting 34 times is not a recipe for success.

That's not to say LMA is to blame for the loss. (I know yous all think I just want to blame LMA for everything - I don't.) There was actually quite a bit to be encouraged about LMA's play last night - he rolled to the hoop on a few occasions, he fought for rebounds and put-backs, and at times played good defense. But he also played some terrible team defense and took terrible shots rather than trying to move the ball. The only time I remember him kicking out of the post actually lead to a wide open Meyers 3-pointer. Last season (season) a good portion of our offense was predicated on LMA passing out of the post, but that's been missing almost entirely this season.
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Personally I put a lot of the blame on Aldridge.
Last night he became a volume shooter. Yes he scored 32 points, and had 14 rebounds.. But it came on 34 shots, that's Westbrick level of shooting.
He even said himself he didn't play well in his post game presser.
Yes he had 7 offensive rebounds, and a lot of those were put backs. Showed good hustle out there.
However he let Z-bo off the hook defensively. Offensively he let Z-bo take it too often at the hoop without contests on his shot.(especially in the 2nd half).
I found myself yesterday saying far too often. "What kind of defense is that Aldridge?". I know Z-bo is quick jumping you, I know he's using his lower body to stop you from elevating and contesting. But come on. If I know it's coming, you should too.

I'm one of Aldridge's biggest supporters. But just like I was seasons ago I am one of his biggest critics also.
Especially when he plays like he did season ago, before he stopped showing just "flashes" of his potential.
Z-Bo took it at him in game 1, even if the numbers say otherwise.
I expect Aldridge to respond and play much better on both ends.

The only asterisk is that Aldridge didn't have a lot of help yesterday.. Especially in terms of defense.
Kaman/Batum were really only there for plays. Not for the entire game.
Where was Rolo's rim protection?
Where was cj's instant offense?
Where was Lillard?
Where was Blake?

Basically the entire team laid an egg.



Still doesn't change the fact of this article being a joke.
 
santeesioux said:
Oh good, now "realgm" has picked up this "story" and fans of other teams will treat it like the gospel for the next 2-3 months.
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CBS Sports has picked it up as well. "Report: Blazers worried LA will leave this summer".
 
BlazerCaravan said:
CBS Sports has picked it up as well. "Report: Blazers worried LA will leave this summer".
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The Oregonian is one of the most toxic, problematic aspects of Blazer basketball, the team should just shut them out like the Ducks have.
 
Well we all knew this would happen as soon as we started this big skid around Janaury

I don't know why people are shocked
 
BlazerCaravan said:
CBS Sports has picked it up as well. "Report: Blazers worried LA will leave this summer".
Click to expand...

Wow, congratulations to Jason Quick for getting himself exposure on national TV. Maybe he'll even get an interview or two on ESPN or something. What an unexpected boost to his career! It's almost like he planned it. :banghead2:
 
honkicracker said:
"What kind of defense is that Aldridge?"
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LMA's defense drives me crazy. He's surprisingly decent at man-defense, when he's guarding another PF. However, the way he plays it is the complete opposite of how a big man should play defense - he pokes and slaps at the ball like a guard, rather than keeping his hands up to protect the rim. He's got quick hands, so he's able to slap the ball fairly well but when it doesn't work he's basically conceding a lightly contested lay-up.
What makes Joel such a good defender? It's the fact that he bodies his man to keep him from getting to the spot he wants, and then when his man goes into a shooting motion Joel jumps straight up with his ARMS straight up, to affect the trajectory of the shot even if he doesn't block it. That's big-man defense 101 and LMA doesn't know how to play it. Don't even get me started on help-defense...
 
I don't want LaMarcus to leave. But he's earned the right to test the waters and feel like a prom queen.
 
LA will spend his entire career in Portland. I don't see him playing second fiddle to any big market superstar. This is his team
 
blue9 said:
LMA's defense drives me crazy. He's surprisingly decent at man-defense, when he's guarding another PF. However, the way he plays it is the complete opposite of how a big man should play defense - he pokes and slaps at the ball like a guard, rather than keeping his hands up to protect the rim. He's got quick hands, so he's able to slap the ball fairly well but when it doesn't work he's basically conceding a lightly contested lay-up.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree to a point.
Yes it's typically a guard who is going up, or down on a ball before the man can get it above their shoulders...
However it's still effective defense getting the ball or not.
It's very distracting to have someone going for the ball as you gather. Especially when you know they're going to do it.
Players who have good touch are more effected by the defender going for the ball as they gather.. Than contesting it at the rim.

To put it in perspective...
It's on the same level of a defender putting a hand in your face when contesting a shot, rather than trying to contest at the ball.
It doesn't work on guys who have excellent concentration like Dirk, but it does work vs the majority. The fundamentally sound players don't have this issue though because with solid fundamentals, slapping down/up doesn't work.
But there are only a handful of players in the nba that have those fundamentals anymore.

Aldridge is a very strong man on man post defender. His help side leaves something to be desired..
But there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of a player who isn't fundamentally sound... who is showing the ball as they go up.
 
In Portland ' s defense though, it has to be hard going from such a small market with a great owner like Paul Allen to say rock star Dallas where your owner is a bigger name than you are. Or say San Antonio, where your just another player. LaMarcus also has his legacy to think of. He is THE MAN here and will be worshiped if he stayed. Look at LeBron I Cleveland.
 
Trail Blazers list of next season concerns should start with getting Dame and Wes healthy.

Their immediate concern is winning a basketball game on Wednesday.
 
This thread is weird! Aldridge isn't leaving the Blazers! The question is after such an embarrassing show where the Blazers only sent a couple basketball players to the playoffs, What the hell they going to do?? We need to field a team of 5 competent competitive player with competent backup.

The only for sure keepers we have is Aldridge and Leonard. I would start Leonard at PF the next came and Aldridge at Center. Then bench the PG if he doesn't get Leonard 20 shots. Better give Batum and upper too. Oh, Kaman was an adequate backup center.
 
MarAzul said:
This thread is weird! Aldridge isn't leaving the Blazers! The question is after such an embarrassing show where the Blazers only sent a couple basketball players to the playoffs, What the hell they going to do?? We need to field a team of 5 competent competitive player with competent backup.

The only for sure keepers we have is Aldridge and Leonard. I would start Leonard at PF the next came and Aldridge at Center. Then bench the PG if he doesn't get Leonard 20 shots. Better give Batum and upper too.
Click to expand...

Aldridge doesn't like to play center.
 
All jocularity aside, this IS a critic issue for the Blazers' future. People are going to be wound up about it until his signature is on the contract. That's perfectly natural. It would worry me if people didn't care.
 
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