He is who they thought he would be...

NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft Stock Watch (Sweet Sixteen, Thursday games)
March 24, 2006

Aldridge started the game by asserting his position in the paint and making a beautiful pass to an open PJ Tucker for the layup. He continued by putting on a mid-range shooting clinic, making a variety of impressive jump shots from about 15 feet out both on the move or from static positions. Some of these shots were off balance turnarounds where Aldridge just sensed where the defense was and turned and shot the other way.


NCAA Tournament: NBA Draft Stock Watch (Elite Eight, Saturday Games)
March 26, 2006


For the second time in the NCAA tournament, Aldridge followed a dominant performance with a no-show, playing very tentatively against the much bigger Glen Davis and the super-athletic Tyrus Thomas. Aldridge proved that he will need to continue to add bulk to his frame, as Davis took him out of position with his width and strength the entire game. His shot wasn’t falling either, and rather than attacking the basket to try and draw contact, he settled for fadeways and turnaround jumpers throughout the entire game.

DraftExpress All-Summer League: First Team
July 23, 2007

At times Aldridge has a tendency to settle for nonsense—difficult shots from tough angles with a defender draped all over him. His feel for knowing what he can and can’t do will have to improve as he continues to mature and gain experience. He still has a tendency to avoid contact at times and not finish all that strong, but to his credit, this looked like much less of an issue than it was when he was in college a year ago.



NBA Scouting Reports: LaMarcus Aldridge
September 4, 2009

Overview: One of the NBA’s most gifted young big men. A near 7-footer with a near 7-5 wingspan. Not just tall, but relatively well built too. Has added some bulk to his frame since appearing on the NBA radar. Shows good mobility, but is more smooth than explosive as an athlete. Long strides make him a factor in transition... Lacks a certain degree of toughness, which manifests itself on the defensive end primarily at times.

Offense: Exceptionally talented big man who maintains an outstanding level of efficiency across the board. Gets almost half of his possessions in one-on-one situations, whether they come in the high or low-post. Also sees a significant number of touches in spot situations, off of pick and rolls, and working without the ball.

Very capable ball handler for a near 7-footer. Almost never turns the ball over in relation to most players near his high usage level. Doesn’t get to the line at a very high rate for his skill level, since he makes most of his moves going away from his defender.

Runs the court well and uses his mobility very well on the pick and pop. Seldom rolls to the basket after setting a screen.

Defense: Capable defender who gives an effort if nothing else. Displays the anticipation to use his length to come up with some steals and block some shots. Not a standout in either area, but is a threat to make some plays. Blocks most of his shots on the ball, though one of his biggest weaknesses revolves around his lack of tenacity when defending the ball one-on-one around the basket.

Will let himself get beaten with aggressive drop steps and allows himself to get pushed around more than he should.

Doesn’t use leverage terribly well. Not a bad defender, but his lack of great energy coupled with some issues with his fundamentals limit him.

Has some problems committing to hedging screens, not showing a great sense of urgency recovering to his man and giving up some open looks that he’s often still able to get a hand up on by using his length.

Does a decent job defending penetration in that he takes away the lane, but tends to be content with defending his matchup from the side when they look to attack the rim, instead of beating him to the spot.

Doesn’t prove to be a very good defensive rebounder.

Is also caused by a lack of aggressiveness when boxing out.

Overall, Aldridge plays a position based brand of defense that doesn’t sell out his teammates, but he’s capable of being more active in the midrange and tougher on the block.


This is who LMA is. I don't know why people think he's something else. It does bother me that he hasn't added anymore weapons and he hasn't improved any of the areas that he's weak but I think some of that has to be coaching. Bayno is good but at times LMA could really use Lucas.

 

I keep reading about how LMA is going back to the way he used to play. That's funny. Every player has strengths and weaknesses to their game. It's up to the coach to bring out the strengths and minimize the weaknesses.

As much as I would love to see it happen LMA is never going to be a Lucas or Buck Williams type of back to the basket, post up, hard nosed pf. Not going to happen. What's fucked up is that here is LMA in the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row and he doesn't know how to get a shot off of when he's double teamed. Doesn't know where to look for the player cutting to the basket because we don't send the open players cutting to the basket. That's coaching or better yet a lack of coaching.

 

Nah, lots of teams would love LMA. Very tradeable.

But I'd rather see he get some intensive coaching this summer before we ever consider trading him. He has so much raw talent. He still could be pretty damn special.