If I was LA I would be buying Lopez and Stotts a new car and here's why: Thanks to Portland's much improved pace and Lopez's willingness to box out LA collects more uncontested rebounds than probably anyone in the NBA. Lopez and teams increased pace are the primary reasons why LA is averaging a career high in rebounds. In fact if you look at the numbers LA's ORB% is the worst of his career. On the offensive side of the ball Stotts has been force feeding LA, which has lead to a league high FGA per game and a career best scoring average for LA. LA's improved PPG and REB combined with the Blazers great early record resulted in LA being ridiculously included in the MVP discussion. While LA's numbers look good on the surface if you dig a little deeper red flags begin to emerge. LA is shooting a career worst from the field, his FG%, TS%, and EFG% are all a career worst. Additionally, is FTr that is the percentage of FT he takes per FGA is the second lowest of his career just slightly above his rookie season. Not to say LA has been all bad he has improved his passing and cut down on his turnovers, he is also posting a career best DRating despite his block percentage being one of the worst of his career. Portland is winning and that is what really matters but if I am LA and I get a single vote for MVP I am buying Lopez and Stotts a new car.
So you are saying LMA is not really that good? Perhaps, rather than LaMarcus being shoehorned into a system which was not designed for him (the best player on the team), Stotts has now developed a system that takes advantage of his skills. Nate took advantage of Roy's skills - often to the detriment of the rest of the team. Stotts is taking advantage of LMA's skills to the advantage of the entire team. Perhaps LMA having a real center next to him for the first time in several years has helped him improve in rebounds and in other ways. That is part of being a team, when players work together to make each other better. You make it sound like Lopez's presence is a one-way advantage to LMA. Lopez is posting career numbers as well. Perhaps it is Lopez who owes LMA a car. You're selling but I'm not buying. As long as we're selling things, I have this nice vacation/retreat home in Japan I'm looking to sell. I'll make you a good deal. It is a nice area with virtually nobody around - difficult to get in Japan. I'll sell it at a discount as well. Go check it out if you want, it is in Fukushima. Gramps...
Lopez is posting a career high in rebounds, his FG%, PPG are down from last year, his scoring is pretty close because Robin works his ass off to get 4 ORB per game. His other numbers are pretty similar to his career percentages only his MPG have increased significantly. If LA is now in a system designed for him why is it that he is posting career worst percentages across the board offensively? Funny how logic just evaporated from your argument.
Career worst percentages? More points per game. More free throw attempts. His percentages may have gone down but now that he has become the undisputed central figure of the team other teams are also focusing more on him. For years, posters complained that he was LaMarshmellow and wished for the occasional LaMonster that would show up. He has been a consistent LaMonster this year. If having LaMonster means he shoots a slightly lower FG%, I can live with that as compared to him playing a safer, more conservative game which would also likely result in fewer Blazer victories. I'll take the unexpected success of the Blazers this year along with an improved LMA rather than having the old LMA back and a worse record. From your posts, it sounds as though you would rather the Blazers had a worse record. Gramps...
I don't see where you're getting that from his posts. I mean, he even said, "Portland is winning and that is what really matters." Nobody on this board wishes the Blazers had a worse record. It appears that the OP is based on the following three points: Lamarcus is playing at a less efficient, but more statistically significant level overall than in the past The statistical and wins increase are why LA is getting MVP talk. Stotts and Lopez deserve a lot of credit for that I don't see how you can argue with any of these statements.
Saying "troll on" is more aimed at the post or a behavior than calling someone a troll. But nice try. Just sayin'.
What a whorid question to ask. Absolutely whorable. I think it's whorific that you continually post so whorably.
