2. Greg Oden needs to assume LaMarcus’ traditional role as the guy who gets established offensively early in games and quarters.
Oden is a bona fide low post presence who can pass. He gives us a different wrinkle than anybody else on the team. With his physical presence and his high shooting percentage he potentially creates the inside-out game that is the key to success in the halfcourt. LaMarcus, for all his skill, does not change the game that way, nor does he create the same kind of mismatches, nor the same kind of space on the floor for his teammates. We’ve softened the blow by giving LaMarcus alternate scoring opportunities that his fellow stars won’t have. But Greg needs to be the initial offensive option in the game. Make or miss, he’s going to create better opportunities for others.
via Figuring It Out – Blazersedge.
HUGE, GIGANTIC, GINORMOUS PREFACE: In article quoted above, nowhere does Dave suggest what I’m suggesting, and in fact, he heartily supports LAldridge and his “special gifts.” So just so no one thinks I’m misinterpreting what he’s saying, I get totally what he’s selling. I’m just taking it a step further.
Dave from BlazersEdge covers the ins and outs of what plan should be taken by the Blazers during this challenging time. There’s no need to panic, no need to readjust the roster, no massive overhaul that needs to take place. This is the “Let’s get back to the root of our business” memo. Or, alternatively, the “Come to Moses” talk. Lots of interesting stuff in there, but number two immediately stuck out to me.
When Greg Oden was drafted, it was assumed that he would be the savior. The amazing inside counterpart to Brandon Roy. When LaMarcus Aldridge was drafted, and for the first few years in the league, he was largely considered an afterthought. But he just kept improving. And improving. And becoming a bigger and bigger part of the offense. 17 and 7 with a block. When Oden struggled last year in his “first” year in the league, Aldridge carried them. And still, there was always the same refrain from the Blazer faithful. “Just wait till we get Oden!”
The problem is, and this has been evident for quite some time, that there may not room for both of them. The immediate impact of Oden’s ascension this season has been mild. Aldridge’s rebound numbers are actually up, while his points and PER have dropped. Last year was optimum, where he was playing his most efficient ball, while having a lower usage than in the previous year. Now his usage is at the lowest its been since 07, but he’s not shooting as well.
You’d assume part of this would be Oden pushing Aldridge out, moving him further towards the perimeter. But he’s attempting fewer 16-23 foot, 11-15 foot, and three point jumpers than he has since ’07. He’s just also shooting fewer shots over all. His attempts are up at less than ten feet, but his percentages are down at the rim and between 11 and 15 feet. He’s adapting, focusing on using the distraction of Oden to set up his long-range jumper (in tune with what we’ve seen from power forwards), and attacking at the rim.
So why is his production down? Because Oden is a high-usage player. He needs the ball. Dave’s exactly right that Oden needs to be activated early, involved. It not only gets his blood warmed up, but forces the defense to adjust to that for the remainder of the game. It’s vital that he take up his fair share of possessions. But the thing is, Portland, for all its attempts at running and gunning, is still last in the league in PACE, with 90.2 possessions per 48 minutes. Every possession is precious, and there’s not that many to go around.
Now, from a basketball standpoint, maybe this will all be fine. There are comparisons about Aldridge being likened to Rashard Lewis or Rasheed Wallace. But perhaps a better comparison is Lamar Odom, with a reverse hype trajectory. Odom manages a moderate level of usage, plugs in above average but not stellar PER, makes the most of his opportunities, and uses his versatility, while flowing around the dominant abilities of his All-World small guard and dominant big man Gasol. So by the same model, couldn’t Aldridge fit that model? The answer: definitely. The second question is if he wants to.
Aldridge is notoriously sensitive. I won’t recite the Brandon Roy dinner story because you’ve all likely heard about it and if not, go do some googling, it’s not hard to find in ESPN THE MAGAZINE. He was just given this massive contract extension by the Blazers which you would think would make him grateful and committed, but so often it just means to the players “Hey, I’m the one you paid. Let me do my job.”
You could see this becoming an issue as Oden develops and needs more and more touches, while Roy keeps ascending and Rudy becomes the clutch shooter and the rest of the roster fills out. Where does LaMarcus fit in? Is he really going to go from floor leader and second top weapon to role player third fiddle, especially given his weak passing skills? I’m sure Aldridge is committed to Portland at this point of time and can’t imagine going anywhere else. But given how the franchise has hyped Oden every second from the second he was drafted while treating Aldridge as a “nice suprise,” you have to wonder if eventually that’s going to get old. After all, you put the cart before the horse and the horse starts to wonder what it is that you’re doing.
