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Blazers Improvement '10: How can LaMarcus Aldridge improve during the summer?
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  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6481

    Posted 05/18/2010 12:35 PM

    Here is a new series of posts I'm trying out to gauge what each player can do during the offseason to come back to Portland in the fall a better, more polished player.

    For Aldridge, I posted in my blog here, that he could work on his face-up game by putting the ball on the floor to put the defense on their heels as well as a go-to move down low in the post.

    Here's a snippet:
    Standing 6'11", weighing 240 lbs, and the agility of a guard, there is not much physically the L-Train can't do. His feathery mid-range jump shot has become a staple of the Trail Blazers offense and his quickness from end line to end line has made him a lethal weapon for Portland to exploit on the fast break. Defensively, he is as versatile as they come from the power forward position, strong enough to defend bigger forwards down on the blocks yet agile enough to stick with nearly anybody on the perimeter. He is a big reason why Coach McMillan is a firm believer in switching on defense, because he has the skill level to hold his own out top if a switch occurs on a pick and roll. Like all players, there is always something to improve on during the offseason and here's what LMA should be doing to prepare for his All-Star campaign in 2011.
    1. Face Up Game:

      2. What separates the likes of Nowitzki, Bosh, Gasol, and Amare from the rest of the pack? They each have the ability to not only play with their back to the basket but also take their man outside, turn and face them up, and work out of the triple threat position by either shooting the jump shot, finding the open man, or dribbling hard to the hole. Now, LaMarcus is two-thirds of the way there. He has better than average court vision for a man of his size and doesn't hesitate to knock down the 15 ft. jumper, but to be the complete power forward and earn those multiple All-Star appearances, he'll need to work on his ball-handling this summer. He has the quick first step and agility to pull it off. Continue Reading>>>
    So what do you guys think? How can LA take his game to the next level?

    I am a fan of
  1. ClydeFrog
    ClydeFrog
    Posts: 975

    Posted 05/18/2010 1:23 PM

    Pretty spot on. I'd like to see him work on his free throw shooting, just because it looked liked he missed quite a few down the stretch of the season.
    I am a fan of Watching Elliot Williams Take Flight!
  1. EthanMoney
    EthanMoney
    Posts: 301

    Posted 05/18/2010 2:28 PM

    L.A. is my boy! id really like to see him crash the boards harder and get more physical though. He plays pretty soft.
    I am a fan of
  1. ClydeFrog
    ClydeFrog
    Posts: 975

    Posted 05/19/2010 11:37 AM

    I think his rebounding is fine. He plays along side 3 of the best rebounders in the game, Oden, Joel, and Camby, so his job is to push his man out of the way so the others can secure the boards.
    Again, I wouldn't call him soft either. I think he just lacks a killer instinct and honestly, I'm not sure that is something that can be taught, esp this late in his life. He was chosen over Randolph because he is the perfect 3rd fiddle to Roy and Oden and compliments Greg to a tee, but if Greg can't come back, we may need to look in another direction for a Robin to Roy's Batman, which is why so many people are high on an Aldridge for Bosh swap.
    I am a fan of Watching Elliot Williams Take Flight!
  1. Kim~
    Kim~
    Posts: 1137

    Posted 05/19/2010 2:01 PM

     I saw glimpses of him using Sheeds move and bumping the defender down with his backside. More please !
    I am a fan of scrapping !
  1. Kim~
    Kim~
    Posts: 1137

    Posted 05/19/2010 2:01 PM

    More back to the basket offense to clarify.
    I am a fan of scrapping !
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