LMA = 18.9 PER, 3.1 WS (0.133 WS/48) Over the last 6 games (since 12/12 at 1AM), he's averaged a 28.5 PER; this includes two mediocre outings before the 4-game streak, mind.
Two causes of his decreased inside shot percentage--he's taking a lot more of them in the new faster system, and he's the focus of the defense--have a common source. He replaced Roy as the main man. A third source is McMillan's inability, as follows: Throughout the McMillan years we've asked for a faster style, and this year we've gotten it. It involves who the target of passes is--the safe vs. the risky target. Passers make it happen. Thank Andre Miller and the new assistant coaches, as I said. Aldridge benefits. Alley-ooping is his most visible benefit, but not the only one. If McMillan knew how to manage this, he'd be yelling about which situations for Aldridge to avoid, where his percentages are low. But Miller is behind it, and I bet it's the assistants who are teaching the habits to the pass receivers in practices, not McMillan. He doesn't know how.
What a concept.... As soon as Aldridge starts banging in the paint more and initiating offense from inside 10ft his play improves.... I pointed this out last year in the playoffs...that Aldridge was too tentative\passed up shots in crunch time and that his shot selection skewed far too heavily on outside jumpers.... Good for him, I seriously hope that he continues this style of play...Roy's injury may have a golden lining here in freeing Aldridge from that 2nd fiddle status\complex he had, and sahowing POR mgmt that maybe thier best player was Aldridge all along....
I know sarcasm is hip and cool (see, even I use it!), but his recent play should not be downplayed as simply "playing inside more"; the last four games aren't just an improvement; they are play at a level well beyond even his previous best. There may be something else at play beyond strength and inside touches. Like you said elsewhere, he may be seeing himself as the Number One option for the first time ever.
It is not just playing inside more, but it is a big part of it...it is also an uptempo offense that is running a little more...nice screen passes with him rolling to the basket....and yes, being that #1 option instead of the dump off jump shooter when Roy needs a bail out or the here you take the ball, when he is tired.... I am curious to see if he can keep this style of play up or if he will revert to more passive/jumpshot/deferring shots that he has been doing while playing with Roy.... I hope that Nate continues to use him as the #1 option....if he keeps producing like he has, then Nate would be crazy not to...
LMA reminds me of James Worthy. He had the talent to be a decent #1 option, but he was happy to defer to Magic and Kareem. LMA doesn't have that luxury. In some ways, LMA is facing as big a psychological transition as Roy.
Worthy moved more quickly than Aldridge. He was in a hurry more. Worthy played like Amare, totally dependent on the passer. He couldn't do much without receiving a good pass. He was overrated because national reporters live in LA, NY, and Washington.
LMA has a very passive attitude and I think it was clear he was very comfortable being the #2 guy behind Roy. Now that those days are over it will be interesting to see what happens. Coming out of college most people viewed LMA as one of the most talented players in the class. He is 25 and has more to offer as a #1 guy. Let's all hope he does see himself as the main man now, and let's hope he continues to blossom. In the long run it might turn out better than having Roy as the #1 simply because you get more inside touches.
I still think LMA is the Sheed we always wanted to see develop. I can accept that Sheed was a better defender, but I think LMA is better on the offensive end. In addition he has a much better overall attitude and approach to being prepared. Sheed could have been a top 10 player with the right attitude and work ethic. I think LMA has that chance, but he needs to get after it every game.
Neither Aldridge nor Worthy should ever be mentioned anywhere within 20 minutes of Sheed. Like Muhammed Ali, Sheed was so good he could rebel against authority and still be the greatest. When you're that good, you aren't beholden to the structures you inherit. A great writer can bend the rules of grammar and invent new words. Just look at El Presidente, for example.
Greatest at what? In 15 NBA seasons, Sheed never averaged more than 19.3 PPG or 8.2 RPG. He never came within 10 PPG of leading the league in scoring and was a very weak rebounder for his size. His FG% steadily declined over the latter half of his career. Yeah, and all his rebelling against authority got him was the league record for technical fouls, ejected from many games and suspended when his team needed him. The guy had the talent, but not the brains or desire, to be one of the greatest ever. BNM
Even if all that is true, Sheed still > Aldridge or Worthy. You could say the same about Ali. Ali was constantly criticized for the same things in the 60s. He clowned around during fights and took way too many rounds to finish fights. Like Sheed, he loved to play defense to the detriment of his offense, prolonging the struggle. Instead of real KOs, he won usually by TKO, despite having the talent to KO. All his rebelling against authority got him was a 3-year ban at the height of his career, banned from practicing his trade in various states, a near-prison term, and widespread hatred for his religiosity. But the world has many rebels. Ali became universally popular for his anti-Vietnam War martyrdom, and eventually his establishment critics shut up. 500 years from now, when Ali is in the history books as the greatest athlete of the 20th Century, and Sheed of the 21st, people won't know of their struggles for what is right, and good, and free.
He's been terrible the last three games as a starter. Hopefully coming back home will get him out of his recent rut.
Maybe. Or maybe he's just had a few bad games. It is quite possible that teams that figured out the TEAM without Roy playing.
Basketball Reference 1 LaMarcus Aldridge 20.7 2 Andre Miller 19.0 3 Marcus Camby 16.3 4 Wesley Matthews 15.1 5 Brandon Roy 14.9 6 Nicolas Batum 14.4 7 Rudy Fernandez 13.8 8 Patrick Mills 13.3 9 Dante Cunningham 8.7 10 Armon Johnson 8.6 11 Joel Przybilla 8.2 12 Sean Marks 4.6 13 Fabricio Oberto 0.8 14 Luke Babbitt 21 13 68 0.0 http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2011.html Roy has gone from 15.1 to 14.9 without playing a game. Hollinger's are basically the same but aren't updated through last night.
