Lost in the Brandon Roy avalanche last night was the continued impressive play of LaMarcus. He was tormenting anyone guarding him in the first on offense (and had that great putback dunk off an Outlaw miss), but probably his most important contributions are on defense. He was often guarding Nash or other speedy guard and doing a very creditable job. I don't think it's any accident that he's usually the Blazers' leader in +/-. And in fact, by "adjusted +/-" he is one of the top players in the league. (Try to ignore how highly Matt Bonner rates.) For a while there I was dreaming of trading him and change for Chris Bosh. But, while Bosh is a great player, I don't know if he's as versatile or would be as important to our defense. And the knock on Aldridge has been his lacklustre rebounding, but I don't think we're hurting there this season...
Yeah lots of people were bemoaning the fact that Blake and LMA would switch on Nash, but the fact is that LMA's long arms and sound fundamentals did a lot to disrupt his passing lanes at times and forced him to make some bad passes. LMA will probably never be a 10 rebounds a game kind of guy, but I think he really does have more than a little Rasheed (minus the crazy) in him. Whenever I hear "let's trade LaMarcus for player X" I instantly envision him playing against us and hassling the hell out of our point guard(s) or pulling Greg outside of the paint with his mid-range game; he doesn't get nearly enough credit for his two-way play this year.
I thought to myself that he looked distinctly NOT soft last night several times (yes, that's what she said). Pushing Amare. Going to the boards. Playing with his back to the basket. A very promising game at both ends of the floor, indeed. Ed O.
LaMarcus is going to be a great complement to Brandon over the next 10-15 years. It's exciting to see these two grow and mature together to be our cornerstones.
I'd be thrilled to see them both make it to 30 as Blazers... not as thrilled for them still to be suiting up in Red and Black at 37 & 38 just to throw a couple of my favorite comparisons out for LA... Horace Grant on D and McHale on Offense. STOMP
All right.. the next 10 years then. Even so, if Brandon keeps it up, he deserves to play as long as he wants in a Trail Blazer uniform in my book. The guy is on a path of legendary status in Portland, and will have this town in the palm of his hand -- something Rasheed could've had, but didn't want.
I'm not sure if you are serious or not, but it almost looked like he was aiming at a bank shot. Could just be my rose colored glasses though.
I THOUGHT HE DID! I said to my wife, "I think he called bank." It was just such a difficult bank it was hard to believe he actually called it. That makes it even sweeter. I believe some of the suns players called it a prayer, but he called it! Nice.
Been cool if the media would've asked him about it afterward. See him telling everyone that he called it. I may have to watch that play again.
