We need to find a way to make Aldridge part of the machine. Not our MVP or focal point or go to guy, just a part of the system. He has amazing talent but when he or the team starts thinking we're built around him we start losing.
We aren't gonna win shit without LA. But Dame is noticeably more passive when LA plays, and that's not a good thing. To an extent it's kinda similar to what we saw when Westbrook returned and Durant's killer instinct briefly went away.
Aldridge is extremely effective when he mixes up his offensive game, and takes the ball to the rim. He's got great moves around the hoop, and almost always gets off a good shot. The problem occurs when he settles for jump shot after jump shot, which forces the rest of our players to stop running and watch. I wouldn't mind trading him for a couple of tough young forward/centers who like to bang. I think that would actually give us a stronger lineup.
There are ways to feature Aldridge that don't involve him backing down his man. You can get the ball to him on picks, on pick-and-rolls, and on drives to the hoop. By definition, a motion offense does not involve anyone backing down their man for five seconds while everyone else watches. That's the opposite of "motion."
This is the dumbest thing I've read here this week. Yes, turn LMA into an off-the-ball slasher. Just a brilliant post. Congrats.
Totally agree with the first half of your statement. However, playoff basketball slows the pace, at which point a piece like LMA that can command a double team becomes extremely valuable. Much more-so than a couple tough players "who like to bang."
How many times this year has LMA passed out of a double-team, and Batum/Matthews/Lillard swing it to the other side for an open 3? I can't be the only one who has watched this happen repeatedly this season. Also, the 3-man weave, er, motion offense isn't going to win an NBA title, ever. Historically, you don't win NBA titles without an elite offensive player who demands double-teams on the post, or attracts double-teams/traps on the perimeter. Of, if it's LeBron James, both.
So, getting the ball to Aldridge on the pick-and-roll--as contrasted with the pick-and-pop on which he presently often receives the ball--is a bad idea?
Recently there were a few games in which our backup center was Claver and we were playing some bad teams... It's no surprise the game was so wide open. Exciting at times, maybe. Better than with Aldridge, hell no. How soon some of you've forgotten how unselfish and fluid the team was for the 1st 40 or so games. That all happened WITH Aldridge, you idiots. And come playoff time the value of a guy like Aldridge becomes magnified.
This, kind of. We held all of our opponents under 100 points during our 5 game win streak. I thought our defense was more disruptive when Aldridge was out, however, I think that was more a side effect of us being undersized than Aldridge being sucky. We had 4 guys on the floor who could switch amongst each other and we wouldn't have too big of a mismatch. This led to quicker rotations, quicker double teams, and more steals/deflections because our defense became more aggressive to try to mask the lack of size. I think it made us tougher to read. We played a style of defense more similar to Miami. With Aldridge back in, we play much more conservatively because he can't guard anyone but his man. We don't want him leaving his man, and of course Lopez has to stay on a big. That leaves our 3 perimeter players to cover the entire 3 point line where Stotts tells them to stay on shooters. So we are back to the "strategy" of having everyone stand and watch someone else get beat off the dribble or a ball screen, and hope the offensive player misses because we can't leave our man for fear he might get a 3 point shot... TL;DR I thought our D was better without Aldridge because we changed our style, not because Aldridge is a terrible defender.
The Hawks scored 24 points below their average tonight. LMA was a +21 tonight, 3rd on the team, even with his crappy shooting.
Good post, I probably sounded harsh, it does drive me nuts when Lopez gets a block and the other team rebounds because aldride wasn't boxing out. But Aldridge is a decent defender especially 1on1. But he never seems to help right, could be the system or maybe he's the reason for the system.
I've seen flashes of good help D with LMA... But, it's like the same with Batum... he kind of has to get motivated or "told" to do it... and then once he does, he's actually pretty good. Same with offense, when everyone has to tell him to go to the paint more... when he does, he's almost unstoppable.
It actually has me excited for playoffs. I think our entire starting unit save Lopez is bored of season already and post season will excite them.
I was thinking about this watching the replay of the Hawks game. Like, you could see they were pissed... but also, they just want to get to the good stuff. LMA, though, still needs to get in his rhythm and get pissed off and have a couple 30/15's or something.... Because he doesn't look ready for the playoffs.
They play better pissed. I hope we get warriors and we can channel anger on the opposition rather than refs like at start of season.
