For the LMA-lovers - food for thought.

lma scores 20+/nobody else cracks 15/blazers lose

lma scores 20+/batum scores 25 blazers win

what a concept

 

How is LMA our 3rd best player when he is likely an all-star this year while the other two don't have a realistic chance?

 

Just my opinion.
I think he's a very good 3rd best player but with Batum's emergence offensively and Lillard having games like tonight's LMA becomes our Chris Bosh or James Harden (with the Thunder) - our very good 3rd best player

 

More food for thought. LMA is averaging 19 points a game ... so ... I guess that means most nights he scores 20 plus or minus a couple of points. Nic is averaging about 16 ... so he's not scoring as much, but when he does break 20 it's also likely that LaMarcus scores his around his average. So maybe the real lesson is that if Nic and LaMarcus combine for 40 points the Blazers win a lot and when they don't ... they don't.

Earth shattering stuff I'm sure.

 

That is certainly the goal in time but that is not the case currently.

 

Also, who's our 6th man? Claver? Who's that leader of the 2nd unit and/or the sparkplug off the bench?

 

Whether you like it or not, LMA is this team's best player. Remove him from the lineup and I doubt they have ten wins.

 

This is quite interesting. Interesting that you think it's interesting. Seeing as it's not interesting.

Even though Aldridge scores more, rebounds more, draws more attention from opposing teams, and shoots a higher percentage than the other two? Yeah that's totally Bosh... Great analogy.

 

That's a good point, Aldridge is our All-Star so he has to deal with more attention. I agree that he isn't Chris Bosh (also that Batum and Lillard are still not Lebron and Wade) but for us to take it to the next level we have to deal with reality and teams scouting us and Lillard and Batum getting more attention.
What's so good about this team is that we have a great starting five where you can't really double anyone and Lamarcus is a great passer of the double-team, I would like to see Hickson pass more. especially after offensive rebounds that aren't tip-ins.

 

Hickson is probably never going to be a great passer. He gets pretty severe tunnel vision when he gets the ball.

 

Even though I like LA, I appreciate the statistical analysis.

 

Is it LMA's fault Batum's scoring cannot be relied upon?

 

You certainly brought down the wrath of the forum with that post, Blue!

 

We have lost 7 times when LMA has scored 20 or more points. Versus Detroit, Dame and Nic were a combined 6 of 27 shooting. No other player scored over 20. Against LA, no other player scored over 11, Dame shot 4-17 that game. Against Boston, nobody else scored over 11. Nic shot 2-11. Against OKC, we got an ok performance from Dame, but, again, Nic shot 1-11, which killed us. Against Sacramento, Nic second leading scorer with 17, but he shot 4-12. And finally against Dallas, Wes also scored 20. But we had Dame and JJ shoot 5-23. The OKC loss was the only loss for him scoring over 20 where he shot less than 46%, so it's no tlike you can even make the argument that his scoring was coming at the detriment of our team, that he was taking shots away from guys.

 

thank you, i was sure that was the case without even looking

common sense, some people dont have it

 

People used to say the same thing about Zach.

 

This forum have a lot of number crunchers. They know their shit. If blue thinks he can pull olive trolling on Aldridge; he better come with stronger shit than the weak sauce he just posted.

 

So, what you're trying to say is when Aldridge has to carry the load alone, we're 10 and 7 and when he has help we're better? Genius.

 

This. LMA is our most consistent scorer. He generally scores well through good and bad. To win, we need him to score, and to get help from someone else. That's where Batum comes in. I think Batum has gotten more consistent this year though.