LMA's dribble penetration

by dukedee on Dec 17, 2008 12:58 PM PST

Do you remember reading during the preseason about how LMA had worked on his dribble penetration (see the article from the Casey's Center Court Blog)? I've watched the majority of games this season and I'm struggling to remember a single dribble penetration drive by LMA. What happened?

I don't think its due to a lack of opportunities. He gets multiple touches in a game both on top of the key and from 15 feet away on clear outs which should give him ample room to work some cross-over magic.

I don't want to knock the guy as he's definately improved his consistency and his back-to-the-basket game. But this is an element that I think could exponentially improve the Blazers as we are short on penetrators.

So what are your thoughts...what's going on w/ LMA? Am I expecting too much out of him?

BTW - one random note about Lamarcus. I saw him roll into the CHILI's in Lake Oswego (the one that just closed) in a sweet Mercedes. I was eating lunch w/ my wife and my grandparents but the sighting of this Blazer icon got me distracted. I was pointing out who it was to my family when my wife noticed that he was parked in the handicap spot. He came into the restaurant, apparently to get the take out he had ordered as he returned to his car w/in a minute of leaving it. Then he remained in the handicap parking spot for about 10mins more while chatting on his phone. Yes, I'm a stalker for watching his every move...I think this could be a faint pulse that the Jail Blazers era isn't over. Ok, I'm kidding about that, but I hope you liked the story.

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Well,

“liked the story” wouldn’t be exactly how I think about it. Hopefully someone will remind him kindly to make the teeny tiny effort to get a regular spot. The genuinely handicapped appreciate things like that. I’ll bet he would become a little thoughtful about the issue.

by oregonslee on Dec 17, 2008 1:07 PM PST reply actions

yeah

because all the other handicapped spots are ALWAYS full. its like a handicapped traffic jam these days. and I bet if a handicapped person had to park a few feet away in a regular spot and wheeled themselves up to his window to tap on the glass, I bet LA would have flipped him off, and continued chatting on this phone instead of moving his car. I knew these blazers were too good to be true!

I actually saw him do something similar at the california pizza kitchen in bridgeport. I was coming out and out of the corner of my eye I see a sweet looking range rover with texas plates parked alongside the red curb. he said whatsup as I passed him leaving the restaurant. I totally shoulda gone metermaid on him though. this is definitely a trend people. alert your local douche bag parking patrol guy!

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Dec 17, 2008 1:35 PM PST up reply actions

remember, these are nba players. almost ALL of them have a celebrity mindset. they are treated like royalty and act like it too often. this story doesnt surpirse me a bit.

by dario argento on Dec 17, 2008 1:19 PM PST reply actions

I remember someone writing about the work he had done on his handle too

even remember hearing some of his teammates after scrimmages ooh and aah about this. somehow, it hasn’t translated into a real game situation though. When I heard that sergio had been working on his jumpshot over the summer I called BS. I fully expected his jumper to be garbage again this year, but I gotta say, it looks markedly improved. Now his percentage may still suck (too lazy to look it up on espn) but I feel like he’s def come a long way. LA looks downright awkward when he’s facing the hoop unless he’s about to shoot a jumpshot. the one thing he has is his dribble-once-running-hook which is WAY too flat. I really wish he could develop some more ball control like you said though. If he could get that, he could be another kevin garnett—you know, minus the whole bastard thing though.

The Blazers as a whole are far more like my wife than like me in the sense of their physicality on defense.
-Dave

by chrischa on Dec 17, 2008 1:42 PM PST reply actions

Sergio's numbers are artificially low

since an unusually high proportion of his shots are desperation last second heaves at the end of quarters. Take away his last second prayers and his percentage is probably around 43% total, 37% from 3.

by howlingfantods on Dec 17, 2008 4:33 PM PST up reply actions

Sorry man,

I can’t understand a thing you’re saying. Is it cabin fever? Really, I mean really, he won’t be offended by a polite reminder. He’s a nice man so there’s no need to be afraid.

by oregonslee on Dec 17, 2008 1:49 PM PST reply actions

I can't lie

I will park in the handicapped spot if I know I’m just running in someplace for a minute.
It’s probably my celebrity ego, though.

-Shad

"If a doctor ever gives me six months to live, I want it in basketball time." - Marc Acito

by NBAstard on Dec 17, 2008 1:56 PM PST reply actions

I love their high toilets too

"There is a difference between having two guys banging down low and having two guys who can bang down low." - Blazin'

by tominhawaii on Dec 18, 2008 5:07 AM PST up reply actions

Arrrrgh!

by oregonslee on Dec 17, 2008 2:03 PM PST reply actions

This one can be explained easily

For a guy who should be able to take one dribble to the hoop, LMA can’t beat his man with a first step consistently. LMA is also a bad finisher in traffic, aptly demonstrated by Spencer Hawes sending back his weak attempts. On top of that, LMA doesn’t use his body to create space for shot attempts. He would rather contort his body to avoid contact instead of using his body to create contact. This results in awkward looking shots or swatted balls.

He’s a jumpshooter first and foremost. Rather than working on the weakest part of his game, I think he should work on his jumpshooting. LMA is shooting 40% on jumpers this season.

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO

by blzrfan on Dec 17, 2008 2:03 PM PST reply actions

Here's a comparison of LaMarcus Aldridge to Chris Bosh.

ALDRIDGE

40.7% eFG% On Jump Shots
66% Of His Field-Goal Attempts Are Jump Shots
61.1% eFG% On Inside Shots
34% Of His Field-Goal Attempts Are Inside Shots
49.5% TS%
9.0% Of His Field-Goal Attempts Draw A Foul

BOSH
44.5% eFG% On Jump Shots
64% Of His Field-Goal Attempts Are Jump Shots
66.7% eFG% On Inside Shots
36% Of His Field-Goal Attempts Are Inside Shots
59.6% TS%
19.8% Of His Field-Goal Attempts Draw A Foul

Aldridge would be lucky if Bosh let him sniff his used jockstrap.

by AK1984 on Dec 17, 2008 7:12 PM PST up reply actions

Seems like LMA has an inside game

when it comes to parking. Now, if he could just figure out how to apply that….

by Blazin' on Dec 17, 2008 2:07 PM PST reply actions

Zing!

I didn't mean to turn you on

by dukedee on Dec 17, 2008 2:14 PM PST up reply actions

I know what you mean.

Everytime I see LMA camped at the post, I always think he looks awkward. In my mind I predict he’ll somehow shoot a shot that fades away from the basket. And like bllzrfan noted, he does not have a quick first step thus not allowing him to have an opportunity for a good dribble. Contrast this with last night when I briefly tuned into the Knicks/ Lakers game, David Lee just posted up Bynum and blew by him and got a fouled. I rarely ever see LMA do this. Lee didn’t make it look that hard either.

Aldridge’s body seems lost of an identity. Too tall to play SF? Too lean to play typical PF game?

by Stryder9 on Dec 17, 2008 2:35 PM PST reply actions

No, he has to work on his handles a bit to be more dangerous in half-court sets

Dirk Nowitzki has greatly improved his penetration game over the years, now he draws a lot more fouls when going inside instead of just shooting jumpers especially when he feels confident in his overall game (Greg could also learn a thing or two from the way he usually holds the ball firm and up high while posting up). LaMarcus is more athletic than Dirk and should be able to drive to the hoop better (no pun intended) but so far he rarely does.

Also LaMarcus is another player who would benefit if the Blazers ran a few more transitions as he is very fast for a power forward straight down the court and could often be in position for a shot or dunk before his defender arrives. A coach like D’Antoni might really like Lee, but he would kill to have a big player like LMA to space the floor on quick plays.

by Norsktroll on Dec 17, 2008 3:12 PM PST up reply actions