By the Skin of Their Teeth
by damonrayhymer on Mar 12, 2010 11:12 AM PST
Email
Print
That nearly ended up being a disaster, playing rat ball without an offensive post presence to speak of. What good is it being tall, if don't know how to be tall? The Blazers, even in victory, were totally exposed. What's it gonna take, and how much time, before LaMarcus learns how to play at the rim. He should have killed those guys from start to finish. He's not a rookie, not even close. When he extended for 6 years, demanding, as he did, the big money, it also gave fans the right to demand, to demand more. LA has not delivered. Moreover, he should be taking Rudy and Brandon out for dinner, saving his face the way they did. Shameful.
Brandon was great, and it was nice to see that again. It has been a while since he was last able to demonstrate such greatness. It's also been a while since he played against seventh graders, so we'll have to wait and see if he's truly back to form.
The question that requires the most attention is why the road team, that road team, they of 17 or so wins, was dictating tempo. Embarrassing. The Blazers are a veteran team. Someone please explain where their patience went. Where was the leadership? Andre Miller? Nate McMillan?
There's a reason the Blazers are so successful. They're efficient. They walk the ball up and work for the best opportunity. This naturally slows the game for the much younger and less wily opponent. The young, they drift off. They think about the ladies, or video games. They worry about their 10 day contracts. The young often fall prey to mental lapses. There is, after all, a reason why you don't run down the hill. You walk down the hill and....
23 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Growing Up Is Hard To Do
A few days ago I insisted that LaMarcus had the advantage over Carl Landry. Rather than accept that I was perhaps, well, wrong, misguided, or simply a love drunk homer, I lay this insistence at Aldridge;‘s feet. I formally and humbly request that he nurture and expand his game, vindicate his contract, and foremost, make me look like I actually watch the occasional game. LaMarcus, son, you are tall, very tall. The rim is your friend. Go to him. Use your remarkable athleticism, befriend him. and crush all those who endeavor to soil this budding relationship. Your jumper has been a reliable road dog during this, your NBA ascension. You know him. You trust him. He helped get you where you are. But time has come to acquire more mature, adult companions, more suitable to your new station. Don’t think you’re turning your back on your posse, but rather branching out, broadening your horizons, learning new things. No one will grudge you, son. Indeed, we will support you, as we, sitting in our mom’s respective basements, know how hard it is to make new friends.
To be fair, Carl Landry is an excellent post defensive player, despite his typical size disadvantage.
Given LMA’s propensity to be a high post big, this doesn’t help anything. I wouldn’t argue that LMA has any advantage on Carly Landry.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
Time to call a spade a spade.
Aldridge is not who we thought he would be. He’s a soft, jump-shooting power forward who gets pushed around not only by bigger and stronger players, but by energy players who want it more. His defense and rebounding continue to be sore spots for me. How many times do smaller players have to rebound over and around him for him to get a clue?
I once thought that if LMA could really put it together, Oden would just have to be good to give us a championship. I now believe Oden will have to be fantastic if we are going to win anything …
"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez
by bfan on Mar 12, 2010 11:24 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I would seriously like a list of the PTB players who you think are injury prone (not dependable)
or are under performing (slackers), or are not going to pan out (losers). Seriously, and who are the keepers?
Roy has had injury problems. Nic was hurt last year as well as this year, and the same for Rudy? Bayless is not a point guard. Miller is old. Camby is old. Joel may never come back. And apparently with this “Yup” you have thrown LMA under the bus along with Oden (given your many Oden injury comments along with today’s Oden post).
I am really asking this question in earnest. I would like to get a broader perspective on who you think we should keep and who you think we should trade. It would do me good to know who you are not ashamed to root for (without criticising or making excuses).
This would help me to put your criticisms of our players in perspective.
21 + 52=
Well this was brought up in a post not too long ago
But I think the viewpoint is valid here.
First off - Yall get down on Aldridge way to easy. His numbers look pretty good at the moment, one of the most consistent of the Blazers… Second off he is improving and perhaps that has some to do with the veteran presence of Camby. I don’t see why Aldridge can’t be a similar player to Camby, but that what it is going to take for Aldridge is lots of playing time. Unfortunately he does not seem to be the type of player to light the NBA on fire while young, but he does seem like the type of player to put together a VERY respectable career -- the type that is intelligent enough to get better with age. He also is not a small guy, and not lacking in the athletic department so the long term potential of Aldridge is huge.
That said he wont ever bring the pure “banger-ness” of a player like Boozer or Garnett or such. What he will bring you (eventually) is a much smarter player who can read situations very well and be a good inside passer, allowing us to do quick pass’s to top of the key. If we don’t resign Aldridge at the end of his current deal we probably wont see the best of him, but the last 2 years of his contract will be so much better than the first two.
Garnett is in no way shape or form a “banger”. Never was. At least if we are talking offensively. In fact, in his MVP season, 75% of Garnett’s FGA were on jumpshots with a eFG% of 44.8%.
Boozer on the other hand, attempts 50% of his FGs on jumpshots. Nowitzki, in his MVP season, attempted 81% of his FGs on jumpshots with a 51.3eFG%. That’s only matched by Rashard Lewis last season attempting 81% of his FGs on 52eFG%.
Interestingly enough, Rasheed Wallace attempted 80% of his FGs on jumpshots in 2002-2003 with a 47eFG%, his last full season as a Trail Blazer.
Now, where does Aldridge land on this scale? Aldridge attempts 66% of his FGs on jumpshots.
Founder of the "Crash Batumcoot" Movement.
Addendum
I forgot to add LaMarcus’ eFG%. He is shooting 44eFG%. The season before LaMarcus shot 66% of his FGA on jumpshots, with a 41eFG%.
I looked up Tim Duncan’s numbers over the years, some interesting bits:
2002-2003 (MVP): 60% of his FGA were on jumpshots, shooting 41eFG%
2003-2004: 56% of his FGA were on jumpshots, shooting 38eFG%
2004-2005: 58% of his FGA were on jumpshots, shooting 41eFG%
2005-2006: 56% of his FGA were on jumpshots, shooting 35eFG%
2006-2007: 51% of his FGA were on jumpshots, shooting 43.7eFG%
Just some interesting numbers I wanted to throw out there. Not that I am comparing LaMarcus to any of these players, because I think their styles of play are all inherently different, but it just surprised me how certain players have a perception of being low-post players but the stats say most of their FGA are on jumpshots. There is definitely a balance and difference between attempting 50% of your field goals on jumpshots like Duncan and Boozer do, versus 75% and up as the case may be with Garnett, Nowitzki, and Rasheed.
It seems that LaMarcus is squarely somewhere inbetween one type of Power Forward and the next.
Founder of the "Crash Batumcoot" Movement.
I'm not too sure LA could be a similar player to Camby
they’re almost complete opposites of each other. LA is all offense and Camby all is all defense. If we could just somehow combine the two of them into one player… then we’d have Kevin Garnett.
by In Walks Rudy on Mar 12, 2010 12:21 PM PST up reply actions
They're both high post players, though.
So in that way, yes, they are pretty similar. Except… Camby’s shot looks beyond broken.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
Here is what worries me
in the Playoffs Refs do not call as many fouls, and it seems to me our team seems to rely on getting to the foul line alot of the time.
"Get three superstars and then fill the roster with guys willing to go through a wall to win." - KP
On the plus side
If we get Oden back he will shine.
Disclaimer: everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazersedge.
LA's contract extension will start next year
So maybe next year the fans can start demanding things from him.
what's being overlooked in this critique of LMA
is that he actually came through down the stretch in the 4th quarter last night, making plays at the basket and sinking key FTs. He didn’t let his frustrations (with the calls on Maggette earlier in the game, etc) get into his head take him completely out of the game. (Corey was the guy who fouled out this time, at home)
Is LMA a beast of a PF? No. Will he “need” to be once Oden returns? De nada. The Blazers decided he was worth extending…deal with it…he’s going to be in red/black for years to come
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Doesn't "de nada" mean "you're welcome" in Spanish?
I’m not sure how that fits in your usage of it.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
Or "it's nothing" when literally translated, but still applies.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
thanks for the language lesson
I should’ve just stuck with “nada”
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
There needs to be a change in where he gets the ball.
If LaMarcus doesn’t get position under the basket, Roy or Andre shouldn’t pass it to him until he’s in a deep post position.
Most of the time when the team is coming back down the court on offense he stops near the free throw line, or even further out and the defense doesn’t even have to work to push him out of the post. When he turns towards the basket, he either simply goes sideways or takes a fade away jumper, but he hardly ever makes it to the rim unless it is on a fast break.
Its frustrating to me to see him really not even make the effort to get to the post, especially against teams like Golden State who really don’t have the guys to defend the post well and don’t have the size to get in the way. He can finish around the rim, what is the problem?
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
I disagree!..
In February LMA averaged 20.5 pts, 8.5 rebs, 2.5 assists and shot just over 53% from the field. He’s averaging 8.1 rebs for the season compared to our leader last year (Pryz) at 8.7.
It seems that some people…including the author of this post… can’t accept that LaMarcus is NOT Kareem or Shaq or Dwight Howard. He is a slick shooting, extremely athletic, 24 year old player who has spent most of the season playing with a greatly weakened front line. He is NOT a banger or an eraser and while he has many years to improve in these areas he will most likely never be a Maurice Lucas / Boozer type PF.
Without LMA’s 4th Q effort against GS it very likely wouldn’t have been a narrow victory… but a painful loss.
Also, while the Warriors are far from being a team of defensive stoppers I assure you that there are no 7th graders playing for them or any NBA teams. Why the desire to lessen Brandons effort?
Another solid win tonight against Sac…. and another step closer to the post-season… again.
GO BLAZERS!!!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
