LA doesn't really dissapear until the teams decide to prevent him from getting the ball and make our guards try and win the game. Guys aren't making shots in the clutch and since we only have 1 reliable target when he is covered in the paint he can't do anything. LA is double teamed leaving 1 guy open, that is EXTREMELY valuable but only if our guys will take and make those clutch shots, which they aren't. Bigs can't create there own shots in the clutch when there double covered so I don't get all the LA hate in the 4th, we need a guard who can reliably create there own shot so teams can stop taking LA out of the game. Garnett/Howard/Shaq/Duncan can't create there own shot at the end of the game but you give it to them down in the post, they have to get doubled because if they don't there scoring, double them though and they were forced to kick it out. Teams waited for them to get the ball before double covering on them because they couldn't risk leaving one of there shooters open, with us its the opposite. Teams make sure LA won't beat them and make our guards which don't. My only real knock on LA in the 4th is not attempting to O rebound more often.
I answered that. To repeat: We once had a guard who could do that, Roy, and Aldridge disappeared even more then than now. So getting a new Roy wouldn't help Aldridge in the 4th, it would make him invisible even more than now.
You gave the example of Roy but his definition of 4th quarter play was just take over the game. EVERYONE disappeared when Roy decided to take over the game not just LA. The blazers just stood around as Roy did his thing waiting for the kick out. We won't really know if LA actually disappears or not tell our team starts hitting some clutch shots in the 4th and he is stopped being double teamed. If he can move around without the ball and get deep post position on single coverage then thats what we need. If he just sits there with getting pushed out to above the foul line and just watch's everyone else then i'd agree. You can point out that he usually isn't there when we make a run but he fights for position down low and we just ignore him when trying for a come back. Fall in love with the three when were down needs to stop. LA does need to be more assertive in those times but at the end of the game when teams change there strategy I stick with my previous statement.
I know you are against the Nash idea because you think we are better set to get players via draft. Personally I don't have a lot of confidence in our management to find a diamond in the rough. Nash is a sure thing. We know exactly what to expect and know he is a proven leader, shooter and distributor. If we have any shot at making it to the finals; I suspect you will see a much different Nash.
I had no criticism of Aldridge in the late minutes of regulation tonight. He played like a man right to the end. McMillan has not designed any end-of-game plays that ever work, but it wasn't Aldridge's fault.
From Quick tonight: You can only develop that to an extent. Some of that clutch ability is innate. You either have it or you don't.
I honestly never have thought of LA as a down the stretch kinda' clutch player. Not his fault, he's a perfect #2.
I see he was a 24.34 before tonights game. Behind only- 'Bron 32.82 Durant 26.91 CP3 25.91 Kobe 25.78 Rose 25.62 Love 25.57 Millsap? 25.19 D12 24.52 MILLSAP?
Late in games, perimeter players always have an advantage, but one guy I want LA to emulate is Dirk. Early in his career, he was much maligned for choking in the clutch. But failing enough times and developing some essential skills (ball handling, dead-eye shooting from the outside, and passing out of double teams) sorta mitigated any concerns of not being clutch.
A perfect #2 who is 5th in the ENTIRE LEAGUE in scoring? #2 to whom?! LA is our franchise cornerstone - what's it going to take for people to get that?
He could be a #1 but our spacing is preventing that because he's surrounded by streaky (at best) shooters.
Yup. BRoy cast some huge shadows and is leaving behind a huge clutch legacy that won't be easy to match. LA is fine for about 40 mins, but with this supporting cast, and his current skills, he can only get so far.
