At one of the Meet and Greets that the practice facility I was talking to some of the assistant coaches and specifically asked them about LMA's 3pt shooting. It was right after Channing Frye went to the Suns and started shooting threes. They said after practice Frye and LMA would have 3pt shooting contests and LMA would regularly beat him. I only say this because the 3pt shot isn't something new LMA has been working on. He can shoot them. I think Stotts wants him to shoot them a little more but LMA knows it's only one of a vast array of shots he's able to use.
I don't have any doubt that Aldridge can hit the 3 at a good rate. I just hope he doesn't fall in love with the shot. I don't want another Sheed-like player that has all the skills to dominate down low, but tends to drift on the three because it's an easier score.
I'd like to see him launch one or two 3pt shots and when he starts getting doubled teamed out there throw the ball to a cutting Lillard or Batum.
"Follow up question...Did the coaching staff agreeing to let LaMarcus shoot more threes contribute to him backing off his trade demands? The fans want to know."
"Is LaMarcus upset that you brought in so many shooters, thus cutting down on his 3-point attempts? Is that why he asked for a trade?"
If the press want to get back at Olshey, instead of writing petulent pieces protesting Olshey's provocative pronouncement, they should just keep asking him these types of questions every chance they get. The fans want the show.
With any luck Robinson will be the "garbage man" doing all the dirty work around the rim, leading mgmt to view him as a better, cheaper, younger PF to build around.
and neither is the opponent's best Bigs defender, who is also likely their best rebounder. What happens when the cat is away? STOMP
Well, I suppose. Because he's over doubling Lillard. But he has a clear path to the hoop to get the rebound - once he sees Lillard passing the ball he's hedging back towards the hoop.
I actually think it's a good move if Aldridge can hit them at a 38% skid. The best defender on the other team will have a tough time. I expect more zone from the beginning, then have to get up on Aldridge when he's wide open and draining threes.
Last year LMA shot 510 shots from 16' to 23', (6.9 per game) making 41.8% of them. The next highest total was Demar DeRozan (457, or 5.6 per game) and then Steph Curry and K*be at 384 (5.0 per game). So even if LMA just maintained being as voluminous a chucker as Steph/K*be/DeRozan, and took those extra 2 shots per game from 3pt land instead of where he does, he would only have to shoot 27.9% on them to be more effective (and help the team more). If he was at, say, 33% instead of 28%, then he scores 30+ more per year (about half a point per game). And that's IF HE STILL CHUCKS AS MUCH AS K*BE AND STEPH CURRY! Now, LMA isn't the only big who likes the long jumper. KG, Bosh, Melo, Horford and Scola are all in the 300's (about 4 shots per game) from there. But they all shoot better than LMA does. KG and Scola shoot 45 and 46%. Bosh shoots 52% on his mid-range shots. If LMA was able to curtail his 16-23' to KG/Bosh levels, and mix 2 more shots inside and 2 outside, it would be great. Assuming his career percentages (and adding in a 34% 3pt%, which personally I think is low), he would trade 7 16'-23' shots per game with a 41.8% clip (netting 5.8 ppg, on average) for 2 shots 0-15 feet (53.6%), 3 (16'-23') at 41.8%, and 2 3pters at 34%, those 7 shots would go up to 6.8 ppg. I'm not talking about turning him into a low post player, or getting any better at shooting than he already is. If he just took a step back twice a game, and a step in twice a game, he (and therefore, the Blazers) score 0.9 ppg more.
