I was very concerned for the mental state of Aldridge after the Sac game last Monday. His shot wasn't falling, he was second guessing himself, and was very gun-shy. His shots were not just off, but he wasn't even close on a lot of his attempts. He was banging shots off the side of the backboard, missing the rim, and just bricking almost every jumper. It was embarrassing and you could tell by the way Lamarcus carried himself on the court that his head wasn't in the game. During an 8 game stretch he shot: 39-105 37% For a guy that looked so silky smooth in the preseason, you'd figure he'd eventually turn it around. And the last two games he has. 15-23 65% I'm glad to see Aldridge is back. We need his ability to pull the defense out and make those signature 17-20 footers. If he's hitting those, we're going to be very tough to beat.
Yeah, he has been playing well the last 2 games. When Roy and Aldridge both play well, we are really tough to beat... I really like LA's game. He was dunking and gettin' some off. rebounds and putbacks... thats what I like to see.
All it was, was a slump, shit happens. Thats why I was laughing at everyone who thought the sky was falling.
I didnt' get to see either of the last two games, so he was gettin most of his points off workin in the paint? Or was his jumper falling too?
I guess I'm a "sky is falling" guy. The trouble with LMA's "$hit happens" slump is that he didn't do anything to get out of it other than keep shooting bricks until they turned into swishes. 8 games' worth. Watch Bosh every once in a while, or Garnett, or Boozer, or any other top-level PF. If the shot's not falling, they go to the hole, or become fierce rebounders, or tighten the D up or something. LMA showed (in a small sample size, so I'm not trying to extrapolate a career here) that he's still very much a one-trick pony. BTW, that was from last February. http://www.columbian.com/article/20080227/BLOGS05/311616164/-1/blazerbanterarchive Has much changed? If you don't think that players on our team should be criticized, you're not gonna like this post. He played a good game last night, getting half his FGs from inside the paint. That was fun. I find it difficult to believe you were happy that he just kept shooting jumpers in the midst of a big slump. If you're going to tout him as part of the "Big Three", as an All-Star candidate, and as an untouchable, 8-game slumps where you don't change your game isn't going to shut up the people who don't like to accept bad play from the team I'm paying to watch.
His jumper has been goin' for him. But his overall game for the last 2 has been vastly improved on offense. When Nate went in the film room and showed him some tape of what he was doing, I think that really helped him. Huh? during his slump we was really active on the defensive end. he really picked up his energy on that end. He took open shots during his slump. He forced some, but alot of the time he had an open jumper and he took it and missed. You are right that he still shoots a lot of jump shots... but that is part of his game. His shots down in the post and his post moves weren't working for him during the slump either.
What kind of player does Aldridge want to be? I would actually be okay with him being Sheed: somebody who has the skills to take over the odd game (when he's pissed off) but who is content to be role player on offense most games, while always bringing it on defense. Does he always bring it on defense, though? I'm not sure. He did have a very good game against West, though, and I bet it's because there's no love lost there. He was taking him inside successfully - and West is a tough guy, but just couldn't stop him. If Aldridge was NOT happy not being "the man", or didn't play a team game, or didn't play great defense, then he would be the one of the "big three" I'd consider shopping. Particularly as part of a package for Chris Bosh.
