Trail Blazers' list of concerns after Game 1 should include the future of LaMarcus Aldridge

SHOCKER. Bet he's had this article prepped for a month.

 

I felt the same way as you guys for most of the year. Why would he leave? Then as soon as the season turned ugly around Janaury and Lillard playing like Brandon Jennings (not a good thing) I relaized LA is going to be gone ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute? His "promise" from last year don't mean shit..

 

You just basically quoted what Quick said in a reply to someone.

Jason Quick | The Oregonian/OregonLive20 minutes ago
@The Feltdown I felt the same way as you for most of the year. Then I started hearing more and more things that make me wonder ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute?

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I don't know if you're trolling or not....

 

Well he has a point

 

He only has a point if you take it at face value.. Not logically...
Especially when it comes to TEAM USA.

 

If Aldridge does go the only player I would resign would be Wes. Rolo and Afflalo could go to so we can develop CJ and Meyers more. Sadly, Aldridge may force our hand and we may try to resign those guys to appease him and it still may not be enough. He may still leave and that would be the nightmare situation.

 

If it was certain, I would go for draft picks and an up and coming star

 

He did quote it almost to a "T". Makes you wonder??????

 

On the one hand: it would set us back a bunch.
On the other: are we really going to contend anyway?
Also: where's he going to go? New York? Have fun with that. Portland is BUILT round him - if he wants to become Chris Bosh, then I wish him well.

 

LA Lakers is my nightmare scenario. He lives down here.

 

If Aldridge leaves I would WELCOME this S&T. And so would you.

 

Not a total nightmare. I'd plug Meyers into LA's spot and let him go to town. Give him 20 touches a night and try to have fun with it. His post game isn't much worse than rookie LA's, and his outside game is better.

 

Jason Quick is so predictable... in fact, isn't this basically a recycled article from 3 or 4 years ago? Remember that article he wrote that got picked up by the AP and LaMarcus got so fed up with all the questions he said, "This is why I hate Portland" (meaning the pot stirring media up here not the fans or the city).

He's got a legacy here, he is going to go down as one of the greatest players in Blazer history, it's important to him. A championship is almost as much about luck with match ups and injuries (or lack of) as it is with players/talent (look at OKC, they're in the lottery). LA isn't stupid, he can see how bad the injuries hit us and Neil and Mr. Allen have shown him they want him here and they are getting players out here to help him. I just can't stand Jason Quick, this is a distraction that should've waiting until after the play offs.

On a side note, I know we are not the Spurs BUT... they lost worse than we did yesterday - so are they a guaranteed out in the 1 round now like people think the Blazers are? It was ONE GAME people!!!

 

Whether its true or not why in the world would any decent or rational person release it during the playoffs and add a distraction like that? Nevermind, I just answered my own question.

 

The Blazers should be more concerned about how LMA is featured, rather than his future. He was just as much to blame for us digging ourselves a 19-point first half deficit as anyone.



That's not to say he didn't play well at times (namely, when he played around the basket), but his penchant for taking jumpers has got to stop now that the Playoffs have started. Live in the post, kick out when he doesn't have a good shot, and if left open at the 3-point line then take it - that should be how LMA is featured in the offense. Shooting 34 times is not a recipe for success.

That's not to say LMA is to blame for the loss. (I know yous all think I just want to blame LMA for everything - I don't.) There was actually quite a bit to be encouraged about LMA's play last night - he rolled to the hoop on a few occasions, he fought for rebounds and put-backs, and at times played good defense. But he also played some terrible team defense and took terrible shots rather than trying to move the ball. The only time I remember him kicking out of the post actually lead to a wide open Meyers 3-pointer. Last season (season) a good portion of our offense was predicated on LMA passing out of the post, but that's been missing almost entirely this season.

The blame for our inept play falls squarely at the feet of Stotts. I can't blame LMA (too much) for taking bad shots and long jumpers because Stotts is the one letting him take those shots. Likewise, Dame has been relegated to "has-been" status and Stotts hasn't done anything to change how we operate in order to put Lillard in better positions. Dame hasn't helped matters by forcing things, but he can only do so much with a broken offense. I think it's all safe to say that we all expected Stotts to make some changes before Game 1, but we played the same jack-em-up ball from the tip. What was it, our first 5 shots were long jumpers? And aside from the very first shot (CJ's missed 3) it didn't look like any of the shots came off of designed plays. Then LMA finally ran a pick/roll and we got a high-percentage shot, only to go right back to taking long jumpers.

All in all, the style of play and the result weren't all that surprising.

 

Shit stirring Shit writes shit.

 

"50/50," lol...

 

I wouldn't trade Dorrell Wright for Kevin Love.

 

I would. Then I'd flip him for a draft pick.