played atlanta yet. are you thinking of the heat?

Lamarcus needs to be more aggressive, but not by taking jumpers. He needs to be getting the ball deep in the post, something I remember him being capable of last season. I’m not sure if this is necessarily his fault as it seems we’re more interested in running pick and rolls and isos for Roy and Outlaw in the 4th. I cringe when LMA takes 3-pointers—shades of Uncle Cliffy and Rasheed. Unfortunately he’s not even as good of a longballer as those two. I think it’s actually a smart move on his part not to take those long jumpers he’s been taking in the first quarter in the fourth. We need to be getting high percentage shots at the rim (or kick it out to RELIABLE long range shooters) which is something we haven’t seen from Lamarcus much this season.

that he does satrt to drift at the end of the game. Surprisingly Melo was the worst player they exained.

http://www.realgm.com/src_beyondthearc/118/20080501/the_law_of_diminishing_marginal_returns/

It is due to the nature of big men, when the game gets tight (and it seems like all of our games to date are tight, much to our chagrin) teams will double immediately if the ball goes down into the post and there is a talanted big man down there. It also takes more time do set up a post play and less to just attack the basket on the perimiter.

So it does not have that much to do with LMA’s game so much as the flow of the game as pointed out by those stats.

…………………… Late in the game, Roy starts crashing to the rack (resulting in fouls or short rebounds) or they start kicking to the open perimeter shooters… Leaving LMA hovering in netherland, hitting the odd midrange jumper.

I think LMA is big enough to play low, it’s just not in his temperament. I reckon he can be coached into it though, that’s what’s missing from his game, for sure.

He has trouble creating a good shot for himself when the defense tightens up in the 4th quarter. The defense becomes too physical for LMA and takes away his post game. His face up game is not well developed to be counted on. He becomes another jump shooter on the floor. Usually there are four better jumpshooters on the floor with him, Roy, Blake, Outlaw, and Rudy. LMA would be the last option as a jump shooter. I’m glad he’s not taking all those shots in the 4th and concentrating on defense and rebounding. It’s just the limitation of his game.

With Oden playing in the 4th. LMA should get more opportunities to knock down that jumper. Oden will be a better option in the post because of his ability to draw fouls or defenders. Most centers won’t be able to guard him one on one.

A. He’s very long, with a good build, but lacks
    core strength that would allow him to slam
    many inside shots. He’s getting blocked at
    the rim on contested shots or turning his body
    to try to take the contact & finesse the shot.
    Neither is working.
B. Smooth has one of the most beautiful Top of
    the reach jumpers in the league. He’s $ when
    squared up from 20’ in and will continue to
    expand his range to the 3 pt. line as we’ve seen.
C. His low post game is good when he gets low lost
    position on the left block. This allows him to turn his
    shoulder and roll into the lane for the right hand hook,
    but the money shot could be the “Smooth Shake”. The
    fake to the right and spin back fadeaway to the baseline
    is good, but his lack of great CORE strength keeps him
    from consistant elevation and balance.
D. Smooth is one of the fastest bigs (PF/C) in the league and
    can leak out on occasion or just outrun the defender for
    secondary fast break buckets.

    In most cases these offensive strengths would make Smooth
a consistant 20 ppg scorer and All-Star. The problem is his lack
of CORE strength and semi passive attitude. He reminds me
a lot of Sheed (with a great attitude), in that it took Sheed 5-6
years in the league before he started asserting himself physically.
He played more on the perimeter, get long rebounds and weak
side blocks. Eventually as he got experience, he posted more
and was very tough on all three front court positions defensively.
Smooth has a great work ethic and attitude which will help him
to continue to improve. I think GO’s growing post emergence
will help, as will the return of 3M. They will both help spread the
floor which helps Smooth’s mid range shot. $$$$$$$

     COINCAST SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But a few games back they showed him on TV with a wrap around his neck, the next there were reports he couldn’t look up, and that made it hard to play.

BONNETS I SAY!!!

and I’m taking away the lolipop and giving him a pacifier.

I love Aldridge, but he can be so much more than he is and I wonder how long it’ll take for him to see that.