For sure we won despite LMA. West looked much better. Lamarcus has been streaky and this game wasn't his best defensive effort either. He couldn't exploit Love and was afraid to shoot over LeBron (frankly I thought he was afraid of a TO against LeBron). He just didn't have it last night. Hoping he gets ready for Draymond.
It was actually a gusty win against the Cavs with bad LMA and bad Diaw showing up, plus icy hot getting torched early and being icy, plus Manu bad shooting night, plus Kawhi/Td also rough shooting night until the second half. Tony came through big time.
Sigh... if only Spurs focused on signing Draymond over Aldridge. That would have guaranteed the championship. Just so disappointed.
Aldridge was playing scared. Max player passing on the opportunity to post up a much smaller Lebron. What a wuss! 40 year old Duncan would have relished the opportunity.
Draymond was staying put with GSW. Going after him would have meant coming away with neither guy and we needed someone.
That someone isn't the Lamarcus Aldrige that we got. Right now the Spurs have a $20m/year boat anchor that they are hoping and praying shows up against the more aggressive and talented teams.
Green's RFA status has been explained to you repeatedly. Pursuing him would have been futile and monumentally stupid. Much as repeating the same debunked notion is.
Hypothetical, but would you not agree that Draymond Green would have been a better sign up than LMA?
Sure he would. That doesn't change the fact that it would've been foolish of the Spurs to spend all their time pursuing him rather than going after a realistic target like LMA.
I don't do alternate realities. You have clearly stated that the Spurs should have pursued Green in this reality. That would have been monumentally stupid. Thank goodness PATFO is way too smart to engage in fantasies. They made the best signing possible in the real world.
To be honest, in hindsight he would have been better. Not only would Spurs have a better player, it would remove a primary player away from GSW.
So far, LMA hasn't been shown to be worth it. Until proven otherwise.
Last edited by ceperez; 01-15-2016 at 11:26 AM.
What part of RFA don't you understand? GS could've (and almost certainly would've) matched any offer the Spurs threw at him. There was never a remotely realistic chance that they could land Draymond. If you want to argue that Draymond is better than LMA and that he fits SA better, that's fine. I even agree with you. But arguing that the Spurs should've pursued Draymond instead of Aldridge is beyond stupid and a different argument entirely.
Aldridge hasn't played up to his contract so far, but:
1) He's steadily improved as the season has gone on, and there's a good chance he'll continue to do so as he gets more accustomed to playing here
2) He hasn't been nearly as bad as you're making him out to be
If he's still playing like come April and is a no-show in the playoffs, fine, criticize the move all you want. But doing so now (when anyone with half a brain could've told you he'd likely have some growing pains as he struggles to adjust to a new playing style), and to the extent you're showing, is just ridiculous.
Don't be down on LMA. He's had bad games mixed with good games, but overall, he's been positive and he is still adjusting to the Spurs system. He had one of the biggest plays of the game last night when he got the offensive rebound off of Tony Parker's 2nd missed free throw, which would have opened the door for the Cavs. Then he stepped up at the line to put the game out of reach. I predict by midseason, he'll be balling, but it does seem he is willing to defer in big games, though that may change as he gets more comfortable in the system. It's easy to play lax when you are winning home games by 20 points. This was a close game with good defense and that can mess with confidence.
Really? He's still playing like against the elite teams.
I would love to be proven wrong, but the current status is that you could put any 6'11" D-league stiff and they would have played just as well.
Last edited by ceperez; 01-15-2016 at 11:27 AM.
So #ceperez.
Mid season is 9 games from now. Spurs will play Mavs, Warriors, Rockets, Cavs, Mavs and Heat. Fingers cross that he show up or whittles away.
Aldridge is a huge part of the Spurs' success, especially with his contribution to the team defensive systm. The change has been dramatic year-over-year. No question. He's been worth his contract (NBA relative measurement values) considering the small 40 game sample size.
Even on an off night, he bails his team out, clinging to a 4-point lead with Kyrie warming up, and 12 seconds remaining when TP missed both FTs. Cleveland had 1 (20-second) timeout remaining when Aldridge did a nice swim move on Tristan Thompson to get the rebound on Tony's 2nd FT, draw the foul, then make two clutch FTs. He's been a difference maker.
L's RBs are worth at least a point each.
eg: getting the ORB with 12 secs left off Tony's SECOND choked FT.
but, yes, LMA does seem a bit soft, except snagging rebounds is not a soft job, and he has played some tough low-block D, and he's pretty damn good at it.
And despite making a "mistake" signing LMA, the Spurs are 35-6 with him. Even last nights off game he still had 8 rebounds in 29 minutes. Thought his defense was better in the second half.
Last night was his first game as a Spur against really serious championship compe ion. I wonder what was going through his mind. LMA had gradually (if inconsistently) become more comfortable and somewhat more aggressive against the Spurs' soft schedule to date. But because of its intensity this game represented a reset of sorts. LMA seems to have reverted to early season form - passive, hesitant and deferential. As a member of the Blazers he was not in these kind of regular season games very often - certainly not with 3 or 4 potential HOFers in the lineup, veterans of championship wars, and Pop on the bench. I just wonder what the guy thought about the entire experience, especially in contrast to his entire NBA experience in a very different environment - without HOF teammates or coach. No doubt his Spurs teammates and coaches conducted themselves in a very different way from his former Blazers counterparts. All this on top of the fact that he was not being called on to carry the team.
Huh? We have played 41 games in an 82-game season...
Somwhen Kawhi had 7pts and 5 boards against Detroit, did you think a $94 million dollar man shouldn't get a pass either?
Has to be a dabom troll. He's the only one on this board with that level of incompetence.
So Spurs are on pace for their 1st 70 win season & their defence improved immensely & he's not worth it. Ok. This coming from someone who's never really loved LMA either.
In some ways I was impressed with him last night. Not having a great offensive game, not getting touches, but still getting in there and grabbing boards.
Yeah you are right. It already is mid season and Aldridge is still stinking up the joint.
I'll be easy, he's got 9 games to prove himself.
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