Which individual player needs to step up the most while LMA is sidelined?

This is answer that MaxieP contributed to weekly Running The Break feature on the Blazers website. Since not all of his answer could be posted there I'm including it in it's entirety here.


It’s now been two-and-a-half games since Aldridge has played, and it’s clear that our offense has really struggled in his absence. It’s not just the production, but the flow. We’ve had absolutely no rhythm. Of course, we have to replace 23.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, which is almost impossible to do with one player. That being said, we could make up for his absence in the aggregate. That doesn’t mean, however, that there isn’t one player that needs to step up more than any other: Son nom est Nicolas Batum.

Batum is really the only player talented enough on our roster who is capable of replicating the defensive focus Aldridge demands. Of the remaining players, only Nico has the ability to up his scoring average above 20 ppg with his talent (I would argue Matthews is maximizing every ounce of his talent). To do that, however, he needs to bring his shots per game from his season average of 9.7 way up to 15-25. For this development to occur, we need to not only run more plays for him, but he also needs to have a different mentality than he’s shown in the past.

Is he aggressive enough to become the stand-in #2 scorer this offense needs? The evidence, so far, states not just “no”, but “hell, no”. Sure, he’s had the flu, which has affected his energy. Regardless, he’s failed completely. If anything, his game has become even more invisible since Aldridge has been out. He hasn’t looked for his shot, he hasn’t moved without the ball to get open, he hasn’t changed his game the way the team needs.

Without Batum stepping up his game and threatening offenses with his ability both to shoot jumpers and take players off the dribble, he doesn’t demand any help defense. Instead, defenses have been able to focus on Lillard and even Matthews. The bigs have been able to stay on their men, which makes our ability to get offensive rebounds even harder. Without those easy shooting opportunities Aldridge’s presence caused on offense and the second chance point opportunities

There’s a reason Aldridge was an All Star and a legitimate MVP candidate. That being said, we’ve missed him more than other teams with those kinds of players, for two reasons. First, the dropoff from our starters to our bench is more drastic than most other teams. Second—and this one is on Nico—we don’t have a player with both the talent and the scoring mentality to pick up the slack.

As this answer is being written, we’re getting our doors blown off in the second quarter by a significantly less talented Minnesota team playing the second night of a back-to-back on the road. Batum started off quickly, and we were only down by a little. Then, as he is wont to do, he disappeared. Unsurprisingly, the Minnesota lead mushroomed. If this trend by Batum continues, and all evidence states that it will, then Lillard will have to score 30+ ppg for us to even have a chance against even the sub .500 opponents we have upcoming on the schedule. Against the above .500 opponents, we have no chance.

Bottom line, this team needs a more aggressive and assertive Nicolas Batum. An assertive Batum means pressure is taken off of Lillard and Matthews, leaving them more lanes to drive. Right now, their defenders can play tight on them knowing there will be a big to cover them if they drive. And an aggressive Batum means guys like Robinson and Lopez can attack the boards much more easily as one of their defenders needs to at least pay attention to Batum.

Batum called himself the second best SF in the West. With LA out, he has had every opportunity to back up his words. With his play as of late, however, he may not even be the second best SF in the Northwest Division.

*This postscript is added after the Minnesota game. To me, this game reinforces my point about the importance of Batum. Thank goodness he finally stepped up; this team really needed him. He scored a quick eight points and we were in the game. He disappeared, and we dropped down 18 to the Wolves. We see the aggressive Batum and we completely turn the game around. Can we put all of it on Batum? Of course not. Robinson played the best game of his Blazer career. However, an effective and energetic Nico opens up opportunities for so many other players. It wasn't just his scoring, it was his rebounding, his passing and the threat of him being active. It changes the way teams defend us. What was also great to see was Claver playing the "glue" role Batum usually plays while Batum was looking for his own shot.

Hopefully, this game marks a turnaround for Batum. He has so much talent; his problem is being selfish enough to fully harness it."[FONT=&quot][/FONT]