Wow. Aldridge may actually make the All Star team

[hasoos]

Houston's PBP announcer said he should be starting in the All Star Game. Glide (their color guy) didn't disagree.

What was even funnier was their lamentation at the end of the game. I have never heard announcers lament about how their team had no answer for Aldridge. They were in flat out disbelief about how he picked their team apart. The NBATV crew was giving him some love too, and actually did start to mention that they think he is emerging as a canidate. If the NBATV crew is noticing, he has a chance.

 

[Pinwheel1]

David Stern is the wild card. Doesn't he pick the replacements for injured players? Although LMA deserves to be on the team, Stern is all about Marketing. He will pick Blake since it is in LA. Unless he really wants to replace a center with a center.

But the coaches don't give a shit about all those stats. Who know what motivates their vote. (How long did it take Deron Williams to make it?) I bet Love doesn't make it though. Duncan shouldn't, but he will. LMA has a chance if he keeps playing this well.

 

[crowTrobot]

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

compare LMA over the last 11 games - 26/10 shooting 54%, PER 25+ (while deferring a ton of rebounds to camby).

 

[hasoos]

compare LMA over the last 11 games - 26/10 shooting 54%, PER 24+ (while deferring a ton of rebounds to camby).

The two starting front line players have been grabbing 20 to 30 rebounds a night. That is amazing, considering most teams don't get over 40 for a game. If you can somehow get the offensive efficiency up, this team starts winning, often.

 

[blazerboy30]

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?

Stay on topic, please.

 

[yenniedn]

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?

Lovely to see PapaG back.

Where did BGrantFan go? I miss his argumentative ways.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Interesting "LMA is awesomesauce" stat of the day:

When LMA shoots 3 or more FT's in a game ("Feed LaMonster down low!"), the Blazers are 18-9. They are 1-8 when he shoots 2 or less. FT% doesn't matter at all in this case; he just needs to get to the line, which shows his aggressiveness.

Imagine if LMA had Hulked Out before 12-15-2010...

 

[axs88]

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.

Well yeah, and don't forget coaches could vote in Gasol and Duncan as centers since Bynum's not really deserving. I think if Aldridge gets in before Griffin, Stern will send him, but if Blake is in with the coaches vote, then LMA would get the nod over ZBo for character reasons... but then there's Rudy Gay also, or some guard who was snubbed.

 

[hasoos]

I think wins and losses is going to play a big part of it, and that is where it gets sketchy since Portland is roughly .500'ish most of the season so far. But when you consider that the Clippers don't have that many wins, it hurts Griffin. The same could be said for Monta Ellis. Great stats. Few wins. Look at Zbo. Great stats. Memphis record? Not so good so far. (Pretty much the story of Zbo's career.)

 

[cnik4]

LaMarcus Aldridge an All-Star? He's making a strong case.

http://probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=1244

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think wins and losses is going to play a big part of it, and that is where it gets sketchy since Portland is roughly .500'ish most of the season so far. But when you consider that the Clippers don't have that many wins, it hurts Griffin. The same could be said for Monta Ellis. Great stats. Few wins. Look at Zbo. Great stats. Memphis record? Not so good so far. (Pretty much the story of Zbo's career.)

But, if you look at LMA's "Transform into Beast-mode" date (12-15) versus the Blazers' record, you get a much better slice: 7-4 (7-3 since Roy last played).

 

[MadeFromDust]

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.

Good things there's more to basketball than PER.

 

[e_blazer]

The Blazers' schedule between now and the end of month should help LaMarcus's chances a lot. The Blazers could likely be 8 to 9 games over .500 by then, which would be significantly better than the records of some his opposition's teams.

 

[Shooter]

If Roy is an "ISO" problem, then Miller is even worse of a problem, since he can't shoot the ball and bogs down the offense when he goes into "Miller Time".

Seriously? I don't see this at all. Miller loves to pass, and is always looking for the open man. He is the main reason why Aldridge is getting those lobs around the basket. Miller usually only makes a move on his man when everything else has broken down.

 

[Shooter]

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.

You actually think Oden is going to have a career? Good grief! Please let me know what crystal ball you've been peering into.

 

[mook]

I guess I wouldn't mind if he got to the All Star game. A few more superstar calls might go his way.

But it's really a win-win. If he doesn't make it, he'll be that much more motivated to continue dominating.

Anyway, I think his odds are improving with every game. Every coach now is getting a scouting report before playing us that they should ignore what they used to think about him and realize that LA is on a 25/10 tear. And then they see it with their own eyes. These aren't empty stats on a bad team, or inflated stats on a D'Antoni team. These are the real deal. Plus he gives you all that defense.

Without Aldridge where the fuck would this team be? Maybe a .300 or so record? That's the difference between Aldridge and guys like Boozer or Blake or Randolph.

 

[BBert]

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.

Exactly.

 

[hasoos]

Well I thought about this some, and here is the deal. I supported Aldridge in the beginning but after years of softyness I became bitter and grew tired of defending him. I literally gave up on him. I figured year 5, he is playing just like every other year, it's over, he is who he is. Then what happens? Aldridge nuts up and becomes the player I always dreamed he would. 25 and 10 every god damned night. Well what is the right thing to do? The right thing to do is, even though he won't win the vote, the right thing to do is to start going to the all star page and throwing him a vote every day, and so that is what I have started to do. His play deserves our support, and our support includes throwing some votes at him so he gets noticed more for the all star game.

 

[bluefrog]

Well I thought about this some, and here is the deal. I supported Aldridge in the beginning but after years of softyness I became bitter and grew tired of defending him. I literally gave up on him. I figured year 5, he is playing just like every other year, it's over, he is who he is. Then what happens? Aldridge nuts up and becomes the player I always dreamed he would. 25 and 10 every god damned night. Well what is the right thing to do? The right thing to do is, even though he won't win the vote, the right thing to do is to start going to the all star page and throwing him a vote every day, and so that is what I have started to do. His play deserves our support, and our support includes throwing some votes at him so he gets noticed more for the all star game.

I've been a LMA homer ever since we drafted him so it's nice to be right for once. This line up plays to his strengths very well.

LMA for All Star '11!

 

[MickZagger]

Well I thought about this some, and here is the deal. I supported Aldridge in the beginning but after years of softyness I became bitter and grew tired of defending him. I literally gave up on him. I figured year 5, he is playing just like every other year, it's over, he is who he is. Then what happens? Aldridge nuts up and becomes the player I always dreamed he would. 25 and 10 every god damned night. Well what is the right thing to do? The right thing to do is, even though he won't win the vote, the right thing to do is to start going to the all star page and throwing him a vote every day, and so that is what I have started to do. His play deserves our support, and our support includes throwing some votes at him so he gets noticed more for the all star game.

Basically sums up my feelings.

 

[PapaG]

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?

Hey, the one time I saw Miller in Haggen my youngest daughter had on a Roy jersey. She said hello to Andre, but he just ignored her!

Kidding. He was nice, smiled, and asked her name. That's when she clammed up and MIller and I laughed. I'm sure he's a solid guy, I just don't like him as a player.

 

[PapaG]

Basically sums up my feelings.

Now that is funny.

 

[PapaG]

Good things there's more to basketball than PER.

Well, wins are important as well. Webs is failing in that one, too.

 

[MickZagger]

Now that is funny.

Care to elaborate?

 

[PapaG]

Care to elaborate?

Just found it funny. Hasoos hasn't wasted near the time and energy denigrating LMA that you have wasted on him. If his feelings were your feelings, well, I haven't seen it in your posts the past few years.

 

[MickZagger]

Just found it funny. Hasoos hasn't wasted near the time and energy denigrating LMA that you have wasted on him. If his feelings were your feelings, well, I haven't seen it in your posts the past few years.

Aldridge had every right to be criticisized like he was. He's almost a 7 footer and his go to offensive move was the 18 foot jumper. He all too often disappeared in games. I loved Aldridge the first couple years as a Blazer and used to rave about him on the board and to friends. Fortunately for us, I was wrong, he wasn't the finished product that I thought he was and he's figured out his game.

I remember repeatedly posting that I hope I'm wrong after tearing into Aldridge for his lackluster performance. I'm not the only poster on this board that wasn't thrilled with his play. The nicknames that people came up with like Lamarshmellow, Lamarcia, Lamarginal have run rampant over the past year or so.

I'm glad he's playing like a man on a mission right now. I hope he keeps it up. I'd rather be wrong and the team succeed, than be right about a player and the team suffer.

 

[PapaG]

Aldridge had every right to be criticisized like he was. He's almost a 7 footer and his go to offensive move was the 18 foot jumper. He all too often disappeared in games. I loved Aldridge the first couple years as a Blazer and used to rave about him on the board and to friends. Fortunately for us, I was wrong, he wasn't the finished product that I thought he was and he's figured out his game.

I remember repeatedly posting that I hope I'm wrong after tearing into Aldridge for his lackluster performance. I'm not the only poster on this board that wasn't thrilled with his play. The nicknames that people came up with like Lamarshmellow, Lamarcia, Lamarginal have run rampant over the past year or so.

I'm glad he's playing like a man on a mission right now. I hope he keeps it up. I'd rather be wrong and the team succeed, than be right about a player and the team suffer.

My point has always been that he was fulfilling the role that was expected of him. Second (or even third when Oden was healthy) option offensively who was the high-post threat. The guy was very productive on 50-win teams, yet being clobbered as "LaMarshmellow", "LaSofty", etc. etc.

Now, everyone wants to jump on the LMA bandwagon after 10 great games. It's comical.

 

[B-Roy]

If the coaches haven't noticed, the Blazers are making sure they are informed. Each coach will be sent a "Send L.A. to L.A." promotional packet, highlighting Aldridge's statistics and impact on a Blazers team that lost two key players to injury.

Campaigning like they did with Roy eh?

 

[MickZagger]

Jumping on the bandwagon... Excited because he's finally playing great ball?



herrrrmmm

 

[PapaG]

Jumping on the bandwagon... Excited because he's finally playing great ball?



herrrrmmm

Yet, you were killing him when he was playing 18+ PER ball for a playoff team as a second, or even third, option. Yes, you've joined the bandwagon. You're the poster guy for it. Welcome aboard!