Wow. Aldridge may actually make the All Star team

[maxiep]

He also averaged 6 personal fouls per/36.

Greg still hasn't played a game in the NBA in true basketball shape. He's been recovering from injury and trying to work himself into shape; as such he's been a step slow. As he learns the game and plays, and the refs learn his game, that rate will go down dramatically.

 

[maxiep]

A lot of it has to do with he's just getting better as he reaches his prime. He's still only 25. He's still a year or two away from reaching said prime.

Exactly. It's not like he's 32. He's worked on his low post game and noticably bulked up in the offseason.

 

[PapaG]

Greg still hasn't played a game in the NBA in true basketball shape. He's been recovering from injury and trying to work himself into shape; as such he's been a step slow. As he learns the game and plays, and the refs learn his game, that rate will go down dramatically.

Hey, I know all of this. Instead of picking at Oden scabs, and guessing how the scar will look in a year, let's just appreciate LMA right now.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hey, I know all of this. Instead of picking at Oden scabs, and guessing how the scar will look in a year, let's just appreciate LMA right now.

This^^

 

[maxiep]

Hey, I know all of this. Instead of picking at Oden scabs, and guessing how the scar will look in a year, let's just appreciate LMA right now.

Fair enough. I am just sensitive to the idea that the Oden we've seen is the Oden we could have expected. The guy has all the tools to be a dominant pivot, except for health. I truly hope one day he finds a stretch where he's healthy, so he can show people the player he can be and shut up guys like Simmons.

 

[Pinwheel1]

That clutch shot he made to put us 3 with under a minute to go was the "new LMA". He just flicked in of the back board with ease. Those were the type of shots in the past that he would barely miss, and now they go in easily. The hook shot is also looking so much easier for him.

Funny the difference in the announcers from one game to the next. In Dallas the idiots were commenting that he should stick with the outside shot where he is more comfortable, and in Houston (where they saw him last week) were saying just the opposite.

 

[PapaG]

Fair enough. I am just sensitive to the idea that the Oden we've seen is the Oden we could have expected. The guy has all the tools to be a dominant pivot, except for health. I truly hope one day he finds a stretch where he's healthy, so he can show people the player he can be and shut up guys like Simmons.

Oden would have already been seen as a great NBA player, if healthy. I have no doubt in my mind about it. That said, the reality is that he simply has not stayed healthy, and guessing about what could have been with him is not a productive exercise.

I hope that the Blazers re-sign Greg whenever the lockout ends. I want him to succeed in Portland, but I'm far past the point of counting on him for anything in the future. He is the biggest enigma in Blazer history, and with that, the biggest wildcard. If he comes back and stays healthy, well...

 

[mgb]

We had gone 3.5 minutes into the third with no one scoring so Miller took a few shots and made them. Miller's fine. He shot 5 of 9 from the field. If your starting PG takes less than 9 shots and his name isn't Rondo, he is a liability. Miller didn't do anything wrong.

Exactly. We would have probably been down by 20 instead of 13 if it wasn't for Miller. When the team had problems scoring he came through with some baskest to keep us in it. Someone has to have a real agenda against Miller to critize him for that. If we only give the ball to LA every team is just going to pack it in on him that's basic basketball.

 

[Nikolokolus]

That clutch shot he made to put us 3 with under a minute to go was the "new LMA". He just flicked in of the back board with ease. Those were the type of shots in the past that he would barely miss, and now they go in easily. The hook shot is also looking so much easier for him.

Funny the difference in the announcers from one game to the next. In Dallas the idiots were commenting that he should stick with the outside shot where he is more comfortable, and in Houston (where they saw him last week) were saying just the opposite.

I think they're betraying a bias towards their own star big guys. The Mavs announcers have been conditioned to years of Dirk playing like he's a shooting guard, whereas the Houston announcers have been watching Yao beasting (when healthy) for the past seven years or so.

 

[PapaG]

Exactly. We would have probably been down by 20 instead of 13 if it wasn't for Miller. When the team had problems scoring he came through with some baskest to keep us in it. Someone has to have a real agenda against Miller to critize him for that. If we only give the ball to LA every team is just going to pack it in on him that's basic basketball.

I think an elite PG should be able to get some easy baskets for his team during that stretch, especially with LMA playing at an All-Star level and basically being unstoppable in the first half. If that is an agenda, so be it. I was happy when Nate benched Miller, and clearly that worked to get the Blazers back into the game in the 4th quarter.

 

[MickZagger]

I think an elite PG should be able to get some easy baskets for his team during that stretch, especially with LMA playing at an All-Star level and basically being unstoppable in the first half. If that is an agenda, so be it. I was happy when Nate benched Miller, and clearly that worked to get the Blazers back into the game in the 4th quarter.

Would you still rather have Blake?

 

[PapaG]

Would you still rather have Blake?

I'd rather have Camby than Blake.

 

[Minstrel]

I think an elite PG should be able to get some easy baskets for his team during that stretch

I've yet to see a point guard who is able to "get some easy baskets for his team" during every stretch of a ballgame. Such a point guard would average about 30-40 assists per game and be the single greatest player who ever played the game.

So, if that's your standard for Miller, I see why you've been so disappointed in him this last year and a half.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

It's hard to argue with the results of healthy Roy-led teams. As it is now, the Blazers are barely hanging on to an 8th seed. Plus, Camby last year told Healthy Roy to be more of a leader, so he at least had Marcus' respect.

Those Roy led teams had considerably more talent and depth than this LMA led team. However, in some ways I think this LMA led team is more of a team than the Roy teams were.

Also just because Camby told Roy to step up and be more of a leader doesn't mean Roy had Marcus' respect, all it shows is that Marcus recognized that Roy was the de facto leader and that he wasn't doing a very good job and hence the comment to be more of a leader.

Gramps...

 

[PapaG]

Those Roy led teams had considerably more talent and depth than this LMA led team. However, in some ways I think this LMA led team is more of a team than the Roy teams were.

Also just because Camby told Roy to step up and be more of a leader doesn't mean Roy had Marcus' respect, all it shows is that Marcus recognized that Roy was the de facto leader and that he wasn't doing a very good job and hence the comment to be more of a leader.

Gramps...

How so? Webster, Outlaw, and Blake are all performing worse than they did as Blazers. Miller and Camby are both established NBA players.

How does anybody know if LMA is actually being a leader?

 

[Hey]

Webster is playing well.

 

[PapaG]

PG -Blake
SG - Roy (rookie contract, 3rd year)
SF - Batum (rookie)
PF - LMA (rookie contract, 3rd year)
C - Pryz

B - Outlaw
B - Webster
B - Oden
B - Rudy
B - Sergio
B - Bayless
B - Frye

That team won 54 games.

How is the current roster worse in terms of talent?

 

[PapaG]

Webster is playing well.

Webster has a 13.5 PER over 11 games after a start that had him near 20 when in the first few games after he was activated to play.

 

[Minstrel]

PG -Blake
SG - Roy (rookie contract, 3rd year)
SF - Batum (rookie)
PF - LMA (rookie contract, 3rd year)
C - Pryz

B - Outlaw
B - Webster
B - Oden
B - Rudy
B - Sergio
B - Bayless
B - Frye

That team won 54 games.

How is the current roster worse in terms of talent?

The 54 win team had Oden and a healthy Roy. Miller being much superior to Blake helps the current team, but not enough to make up for that. Matthews and Camby also this team, but Fernandez was playing his best ball that year and Przybilla was healthy and significantly better than he is now.

 

[Nikolokolus]

How so? Webster, Outlaw, and Blake are all performing worse than they did as Blazers. Miller and Camby are both established NBA players.

How does anybody know if LMA is actually being a leader?

How do we know LMA is being a leader? The public gesture he made, honoring Dre' sacrificing his iron-man streak to send Blake Griffin into the stanchion comes to mind. Other than that I'd say he's doing it on the court by playing as hard as he is at both ends of the court. It may be difficult to fathom, but guys loafing on defense and saving themselves for their offense probably doesn't set the best example or endear a player to his teammates much.

Other than that there have been some stark differences in the way LMA and Roy carry themselves off the court and the kinds of comments that they make. Lately Roy's tended more to the foot-in-mouth variety, whereas LMA seems to deflect a lot of praise on to his teammates for putting him in a position to succeed. I think Roy when he was healthy was an incredible talent with a rare ability to tilt the outcome of a game in way that few players can, but it never made him a leader exactly.

 

[jlprk]

How does anybody know if LMA is actually being a leader?

Aldridge carries himself like a leader. You notice how he stands straight up, chin in, chest out? I respect that. Roy doesn't tuck in his chin.

 

[jlprk]

Canzano should write a column against all you slouchers and slackers. As we say in the South, "Move to Russia, Comrades. Shape up your chins."

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm convinced that Andre Miller has committed some kind of affront against PapaG. Maybe he cut him off in traffic (they both live in Tualatin) or maybe he was in front of him in line at the grocery store with more than the allotted items in the express lane (that bastard). Whatever it was, maybe if we could get Dre to apologize and offer to send Papa to his restaurant of choice, he would forgive him?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I'm convinced that Andre Miller has committed some kind of affront against PapaG. Maybe he cut him off in traffic (they both live in Tualatin) or maybe he was in front of him in line at the grocery store with more than the allotted items in the express lane (that bastard). Whatever it was, maybe if we could get Dre to apologize and offer to send Papa to his restaurant of choice, he would forgive him?

This just made me wonder if I have seen PapaG before. I probably have. Huh. Now everywhere I go I'll be looking at every middle aged(?) guy wondering if it's him.

 

[Natebishop3]

This just made me wonder if I have seen PapaG before. I probably have. Huh. Now everywhere I go I'll be looking at every middle aged(?) guy wondering if it's him.

He posted a picture a while back. I'm sure he would again if you asked him nicely

 

[MickZagger]

I'd rather have Camby than Blake.

One of the reasons Blake was dealt was because Miller had took his job.

 

[crowTrobot]

It will have to continue all the way up until the all-star break, though.

actually coaches vote towards the end of january so he only has about 8-9 more games to impress

lma COULD be the 12th man, but it is going to be very tough. my analysis -

voted in:

kobe paul durant & (probably) carmelo

fortunately yao is by far top voted center (lolz) otherwise bynum would be voted in

automatic coaches choices:

nowitzki
gasol
westbrook
deron
at least 2 of ginobili/parker/duncan
love (my impression is he is getting the hype he needs to overcome team record)

leaving 1 spot. this means LMA must beat out ALL of

the other of ginobili/parker/duncan
nash
martin
ellis
griffin
millsap
zebo
west
nene

he COULD be at the top of that list IF blazers to stay at least a few games above .500 and the rockets etc stay below. if the blazers drop below .500 he has no chance. obviously injury to peers increases his chances, but so far everyone is healthy.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yeah, I don't see it happening. Aldridge v. 3 top posts on top teams (Dirk, Duncan, Gasol)--all 3 get in before him. As for other candidates on lesser teams, Aldridge v ZBo, Blake, & Love--he comes in last here too, IMO. That's 6 PFs that all deserve a nod before LA, and that's not even counting the SFs getting voted in (Durant & Carmelo).

I'd be shocked if he made the squad this year.

 

[crowTrobot]

Yeah, I don't see it happening. Aldridge v. 3 top posts on top teams (Dirk, Duncan, Gasol)--all 3 get in before him. As for other candidates on lesser teams, Aldridge v ZBo, Blake, & Love--he comes in last here too, IMO. That's 6 PFs that all deserve a nod before LA, and that's not even counting the SFs getting voted in (Durant & Carmelo).

I'd be shocked if he made the squad this year.

tough yeah, but i don't think it would be shocking. it all depends on what goes down during the next 2 weeks or so. at current pace LMA's PER should be competetive with that group by the time the coaches vote.

as i said i think gasol and nowitzki are automatic, and i expect love to be in for 20/15 hype. but beyond that there is hope.

i'd guess LMA is well ahead of zebo RIGHT NOW because of team record and defensive reputation.

i'd also guess he's ahead of blake griffin due to team record and reluctance to vote in rookies. also coaches might consider griffin being in the slam comp enough of an honor for him at this point.

it might come down to LMA vs. duncan for the 12th spot, which should be a no-brainer for LMA because of PPG - unless the coaches choose to honor the spurs for their record. that's why it is vital the blazers stay above .500 for LMA to have a realistic shot. IF the blazers are above .500 LMA will be viewed as carrying the team to a winning record in Roy's absence, which might give him the boost he needs.

 

[illmatic99]

PPlatypus gave me an interesting idea. Take a look at this: http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=hrrS7