L-Train at SF?

by Rip City Reign on Jul 9, 2009 10:35 AM PDT

The possible Millsap signing brings up the possibility of a minutes crunch and a possible loss of PT for Joel unless KP thinks that Aldridge can play 12-16 mpg at the SF spot.

Before anyone starts to flame on this post, consider for a moment that there are a bunch of SF/PF types playing the SF position now and most are the Blazers' main rivals:

Nuggets-Carmelo

Lakers-Artest/Odom

Magic- Lewis

Jazz-Kirilenko

Aldridge would match up quite well against any of these guys and could be an interesting matchup for LeBron if the Cavs meet the Blazers in the Finals.

Also, many fans are upset with L-Train's up and down rebounding numbers and his propensity for the outside jumper.

IIRC, the Spurs won a championship playing a front line of Robinson/Rose/Duncan and Robinson/Purdue/Duncan. Granted, that version of the Spurs was not exciting to watch, but they were very effective. Could the Blazers be looking to duplicate the Spurs' formula for success?

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Every player you mentioned has a legit 3

LMA has made exactly 8 3pts in his NBA career (with a 21% average). He doesn’t have the range to spread the floor like most modern SF’s.

by ninjasocks on Jul 9, 2009 10:42 AM PDT reply actions

I would love if this could work....

But it just cant.

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 9, 2009 10:53 AM PDT reply actions

Defensively it would work because LA is quick... it seemed he was the only one that could defend Brooks verse Houston

I am not sure what the offense would look like though. Maybe you need to play Bayless at that time. Someone who will create there own shot and charge at the hoop with their head down… lol. Also if Greg developed a legit offensive game (which seems to be a long way off) it would make it work better. I am all for trying LA at the SF though.

by Escrote on Jul 9, 2009 11:03 AM PDT reply actions

It's said that in basketball, "you are what you can defend".

Does this mean LMA is a point guard? No. He is a PF because he looks, plays, and acts like one.

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Jul 9, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions

i thought lamarcus was in san francisco

and i wanted to go meet up with him.

JAH

by abetterbomb on Jul 9, 2009 11:04 AM PDT reply actions

4 frontcourt players isn't bad

Aldridge can comfortably play center, and spot minutes at small forward depending on matchups. I have no problem with Joel getting a few less minutes in favor of a Millsap/Aldridge lineup. I think it works great. It will improve our offense and rebounding when Millsap will be playing in place of Outlaw.

by goblazer1 on Jul 9, 2009 11:04 AM PDT reply actions

I could see

combining LMA with someone that could play the 4 on defense and the 3 on offense (like Outlaw), but Aldridge really needs to be able to post up in order for his offensive game to be maximized. Without that, Aldridge is basically a jump shooter. He doesn’t have good enough handles to play out on the perimeter on O.

Millsap should be in the post as well. There’s the conflict. I’d take LMA in the post over Millsap if I had my choice. Millsap is good playing without the ball, but doesn’t have a great jumper, so most likely his man would double LMA a lot. Millsap couldn’t really take advantage by cutting ot the hoop because both Aldridge and Przybilla / Oden would be there. So the spacing on O would be messed up unless you take LMA strictly outside, which could work OK but LMA is better than that.

by ranma on Jul 9, 2009 11:06 AM PDT reply actions

He could play a few minutes at the 3 on offense, but couldn’t defend it. He’s quick upcourt, but would get beat on the first step of any of those players.

by Heizer on Jul 9, 2009 11:06 AM PDT reply actions

I can see a front line of

Millsaps, LaMarcus, and Oden/Przybilla working against a lot of teams.

Millsaps can guard bigger “hybrid” SFs, like Artest, Odom, Lewis, Outlaw, Hedo, etc.

As long as those three are paired with shooters on offense, I don’t see a problem offensively. Maybe it’s not ideal, but it’s more workable than the Gregzilla line-up. I think LaMarcus has the range to hit the corner three and Millsaps and Oden/Prz would gobble up offense rebounds. Might only get 8 minutes out of that front court a game, but that’s enough to alleviate some of the minute crunch issues (assuming Travis is traded).

It be worth experimenting with anyway. I probably wouldn’t make a trade based on the assumption that it would work, but I can definitely see Nate trying it out now and again.

by PoliSam on Jul 9, 2009 11:40 AM PDT reply actions

Just six minutes per half: LMA can play the 3, Millsap the 4, and Joel/Greg the 5

then, all 4 bigs will have enough minutes (36 for LMA, 26 for Millsap, Greg/Joel split 48)

Can LMA guard SFs on the perimeter? Sure, he has length to sag off of them and still challenge their shot. (If he can entice them to shoot a 20 footer with a hand in their face? I consider that to be a “good” defensive posession, even if the ball goes in) LMA probably offers the best perimeter defense at the forward position after Batum, depending on how Webster recovers from surgery. LMA a better defender than Outlaw at the 3? you betcha

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 9, 2009 12:16 PM PDT reply actions

LMA

Is Damn near 7 ft. He’s got a good post up game when he decides he doesn’t want to shoot from the perimeter. He’s not a SF.

"Oh yeah? You can Derelique my balls."

"I can Shavlick my own balls."

by Terry Gamble on Jul 9, 2009 12:37 PM PDT reply actions

LaMarcus could play any position on OFFENSE, but not defense.

Can shoot over any 1, 2, or 3 and can post up a 4 or a 5.Aldridge even played some point in high school, but it may be hard for him to guard anyone outside of a 4 or a 5.

by philthebballplayer on Jul 9, 2009 1:03 PM PDT reply actions

LMA at SF makes just about as much sense as.....

Brandon at PG. Make your own conclusions.

Gimmicks don't make dynasties

by WarEaglePDX on Jul 9, 2009 1:15 PM PDT reply actions

You don't move your best players

to a different position to fit in other players. LMA is a power forward and BRoy is a shooting guard. Its that simple.

by lrh86 on Jul 9, 2009 1:35 PM PDT reply actions

I disagree...

The Blazers played well with Roy and Rudy on the court together and also quite well with Aldridge at Center and Outlaw at PF.

http://basketballvalue.com/teamunits.php?sortnumber=17&sortorder=DESC&team=POR&year=2008-2009

by PoliSam on Jul 9, 2009 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I think part of the problem lies in...

assuming that a successful basketball team must consist of a stereotypical point guard (short, quick, good handles , playmaking and passing), a shooting guard ( a little taller, able to shoot and finish at the rim, can score points), a small forward (taller still, quick, shooter or dunker), a power forward (usually a banger, rebounder) and a center (tallest of all, “pivot man”); rather than just putting the best 5 players on the floor.

The comment above “you are what you can defend” is probably the most accurate way to look at it, but you also need a guy who can at least get the ball over the half-court line.

by superfly05 on Jul 9, 2009 1:48 PM PDT reply actions

Could be better than it sounds

At first glance, it seems like it wouldn’t work, but Nate had LaMarcus playing perimiter D this year and it seemed to work well. Didn’t he guard Chris Paul for an entire game and shut him down last season? He definitely has the skills defensively, and the quicks, and can hit the outside J, though the 3? Not so sure, but Rasheed Wallace added that to his rep over the course of one summer so I think Aldridge could do the same if he wanted to.

by odendidurmom on Jul 9, 2009 6:53 PM PDT reply actions

Didn’t he guard Chris Paul for an entire game and shut him down last season?

No, LMA was switched off onto CP3 (and other PGs) last year because the Blazer’s PGs didn’t fight through screens. He didn’t get blown by. He’d sag off the ballhandler and dare them to shoot over the top. If he does happen to get beat he can follow the penetrator and make a play on the ball from behind

There a lot of worse things that Nate could do then play LMA for 6 minutes a half against the opponent’s 2nd string SF to get 25+ minutes/game out of Millsap

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 9, 2009 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Your first paragraph explains exactly why the Portland Trail Blazers need a point guard who can ...

fight through screens — which neither Steve Blake nor Jerryd Bayless are even serviceable at doing — so there’s reason #173,953 that Kirk Hinrich should be a Blazer as of yesterday.

by AK1984 on Jul 9, 2009 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions