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LaMarcus and the 3 Point shot




The more the league has embraced the 3 point shot, the more I cringe when LA steps out to stroke his patented midrange jumper. Aldridge reportedly was working on his long ball last summer, but we haven't seen it much this year. And I don't think we will ever see it without the encouragement of Stotts. My theory as to why? Aldridge has been hammered by the media and fans alike for being too soft and settling for jumpers instead of being a "real big man" and taking it into the post. The more he posts up, the quieter the critics. Psychologically, Blazer fans also don't want to see their PF shooting threes. In many ways, LA has followed in the lineage of past Portland PFs Clifford Robinson and Rasheed Wallace , two lean and long limbed players who often drifted out to the 3 point line, much to the chagrin of local hoop purists. If LA were to follow in there footsteps and start jacking threes, he will have completed the cycle of "disappointment" that Sheed and Cliffy set as precedents.

But the game has changed, or at least our perception of it. The 3 is now a primary weapon of most NBA offenses. Imagine LaMarcus as a "super stretch 4," able to score from anywhere a la Dirk and Kevin Love. I do believe he is capable of shooting the 3 at at least 35% ( although I have no statistical evidence to back that up). He is just such a reliable jump shooter that I find it hard to believe that if given the green light and confidence in himself he could do it.