How about Aldridge?!

TradeMachine · Post #1 » by **TradeMachine** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:52 am

Last three games:

-29pts, 6rbs
-22pts, 10rbs
-25pts, 10rbs

all with a concerted effort to get inside. He also actually rolled to the hoop of picks instead of settling for the jumper. If he continues this development and starts to read double teams better, he's gonna be a beast.

J~Rush · Post #2 » by **J~Rush** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:56 am

TradeMachine wrote:Last three games:

-29pts, 6rbs
-22pts, 10rbs
-25pts, 10rbs

all with a concerted effort to get inside. He also actually rolled to the hoop of picks instead of settling for the jumper. If he continues this development and starts to read double teams better, he's gonna be a beast.

I agree.

Anyone think we can call up Timmy for some tutoring in the offseason?

PDXKnight · Post #3 » by **PDXKnight** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:57 am

I've been very happy with what I've seen out of LA lately. He's exhibited a wide array of offensive skills which has allowed him to score better on offense and has been respectable on defense. He has a long way to go in his development but it's clear that KP made the right decision drafting him at #2 in 06'

541Blaza · Post #4 » by **541Blaza** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:00 am

Love what I'm seeing from Aldridge, offensively but also defensively. Aldridge is developing the post moves to make him a serious player in this league. He's already a great shooter, and when he bulks up, he'll be a pretty good rebounder. I've been catching him getting some great offensive tapouts to give us second opportunities the last couple games, as well as some other good rebounds.

That being said, LaMarcus could have had 35 tonight if we would have looked for him more. :roll:

Nate

TradeMachine · Post #5 » by **TradeMachine** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:02 am

Cavs did a good job of doubling Aldridge in the second half tonight, and LA couldn't respond by making a quick move. It will come with time, but he's certainly well on his way to becoming a dominant force.

541Blaza · Post #6 » by **541Blaza** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:07 am

TradeMachine wrote:Cavs did a good job of doubling Aldridge in the second half tonight, and LA couldn't respond by making a quick move. It will come with time, but he's certainly well on his way to becoming a dominant force.

I agree but if we had any other offensive threats it wouldn't be quite so simple doubling and shutting down Aldridge. I also didn't see ANY movement when Aldridge got doubled, you've got to get open, cut to the basket, do ANYTHING to take advantage of that double team and then the Cavs will be forced to stop doubling and LMA would continue his dominance. Everyone was just standing around. You can't always rely on swinging the ball to the corner for the 3 because it really needs to be executed quickly and perfectly for it to work. I often see the Blazers relying on that and it not working out because the other team recovers, then there's 10 seconds on the shot clock and we're screwed.

Oden will help next season because if you leave him open you'll have the ball down your throat.

Post #7 » by **Mr Odd** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:19 am

The best part is hes not just doing
it in the 1st half like in the past.. .

Post #8 » by **Manhattan Project** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:23 am

Considering the fact that Aldridge is still developing his low post moves and is a much more refined jump shooter. The thing im posing is that why would teams develop him as a perimeter shooter? Aldridge needs to work on his low post moves no doubt, though with Oden next year he will be so much more valuable on the perimeter.

Post #9 » by **BlackMamba** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:49 am

well, i'm liking this streak he is having. i hope it's not a streak and that he continues like this, roy needs someone who supports him and aldridge is supposed to do that.

Dogmont · Post #10 » by **Dogmont** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:43 am

LaMarcus will definately be an all-star next year. I wonder if they will let 3 players from the same team start? ...Roy, Aldridge, Oden...

pdxblazers92087 · Post #11 » by **pdxblazers92087** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:56 am

semi OT but no way oden is a all star for a while. With Yao getting all the votes from China he could be 55yrs old with no legs and still get voted in.

Yadadimean · Post #12 » by **Yadadimean** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:25 am

^^^He very well could be an AS next year. All he has to do is play better than Chandler and he should be backing Yao up.

Yadadimean · Post #13 » by **Yadadimean** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:29 am

TradeMachine wrote:Last three games:

-29pts, 6rbs
-22pts, 10rbs
-25pts, 10rbs

all with a concerted effort to get inside. He also actually rolled to the hoop of picks instead of settling for the jumper. If he continues this development and starts to read double teams better, he's gonna be a beast.

And yes I agree. It took him (or Nate or both) a long time to find out how effective he could be if he wouldn't settle for jumpers all the time, but its coming and we are watching a young guy develop into what could end up being one of the premier 4's in the league for a long time. He has been playing exactly like I have been thinking he should play lately. Do your work in the post and shoot the jumper if its there, but focus on the paint. He's been blocking a lot of shots lately too. He's overall just starting to come around. he should be a beast next year after an offseason of strength training to give him a little weight to throw around down low. Kevin Garnett will be kissing his ass in the not too distant future.

Post #14 » by **Mr Odd** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:36 am

Dogmont wrote:LaMarcus will definately be an all-star next year. I wonder if they will let 3 players from the same team start? ...Roy, Aldridge, Oden...

I wish you were right but I think there are
just to many better forwards in the West.. .

Lets hope im wrong!!

Telfaire · Post #15 » by **Telfaire** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:47 am

Yadadimean wrote:^^^He very well could be an AS next year. All he has to do is play better than Chandler and he should be backing Yao up.

Why? Chandler wasn't backing up Yao this year...Oden will be sent to the rookies game. Also, not sure if LMA will make it to the AS with Duncan, Boozer, Nowitzky, Brand, West and Amare as bigmen options...

Yadadimean · Post #16 » by **Yadadimean** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:36 am

Telfaire wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Why? Chandler wasn't backing up Yao this year...Oden will be sent to the rookies game. Also, not sure if LMA will make it to the AS with Duncan, Boozer, Nowitzky, Brand, West and Amare as bigmen options...

I think this helps my point out more than it hurts it. I cant think of anyone who would be all that deserving after Yao outside of Chandler or Camby. I think Oden can be at least as good as them and probably better even in his rookie year. And LMA is a future AS. Maybe not next year but he is going to be very good for years to come. Even though Roy was ROY, I think Aldridge will prove to be the best out of that class when its all said and done.

breaker91 · Post #17 » by **breaker91** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:06 pm

Telfaire wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
, not sure if LMA will make it to the AS with Duncan, Boozer, Nowitzky, Brand, West and Amare as bigmen options...

I'd say he has a good shot to be voted in at the last minute. Heck Okur made it last year and he was putting up the same numbers (17 and 7) as LMA is now.

87BlazerMan · Post #18 » by **87BlazerMan** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:07 pm

Aldridge has been an absolute stud lately. What needs to happen now is the team needs to GET HIM THE BALL. He isn't guard, he can't go get it at the 3-point line and go to work like Roy. The guards need to know when he is hot, and need to give it to him repeatedly.

His game reminds me so much of Rasheed and KG's games. He has all the tools that those guys have, he just needs to develop them. The other areas where he seems to be light years behind those two is in his competitive fire. KG and Sheed are two of the most intense and competitive guys in the L and it shows in their play. I want some of that to rub off on LMA. He needs to let out a yell now and then, or throw down a monster dunk, or even get T'd up periodically. I love that fact that he is a nice, happy-go-lucky dude, but he can leave that part of his personality in the locker room for all I care.

Red Robot · Post #19 » by **Red Robot** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:14 pm

Anyone notice how Aldridge has been getting assists all of a sudden? He's averaging almost twice as many post all-star as he was before the break. I was a little worried at the beginning of the season when he averaged less than an assist per game for almost two months. I wonder what's responsible for such dramatic improvement in the stat.

listerine · Post #20 » by **listerine** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:17 pm

The impressive thing about Aldridge's game lately is that (with the exception of the Cavs game) the Blazers on the whole are scoring as well.

For most of the season, a good offensive game by Aldridge seemed to mean a horrid game by everyone else. There was something about going inside to LA that cast some sort of "Pass to Randolph; stand and watch" spell over the team.

It's strange but some of our best games seem to have occurred when Aldridge had quiet nights. I think part of it is that he's just not a good passer yet, and he's not quick at reading the defenses.

Hopefully he learns a lot in this final month.