http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/01/a_changed_aldridge.html LaMarcus Aldridge was in the midst of a comfortable night on Jan. 9 when his cell phone rang. With his television tuned to the Cleveland-Boston basketball game, Aldridge was extended on his couch, his feet outstretched on an ottoman, when he looked at who was calling. PRIVATE NUMBER, the phone flashed. "That can mean one of two people," Aldridge said. "Jay Jensen or Coach." As he reached for the phone, he was certain it was going to be Jensen, the Trail Blazers' athletic trainer. Instead, it was Nate McMillan, the team's coach, who this season had made a habit of initiating spur-of-the-moment conversations with his third-year power forward. Much like his other talks with Aldridge, usually done in one-on-one film sessions, McMillan's phone conversation that night included a visual aide. The prop was the television and the Cavaliers-Celtics game. The point was how Aldridge could dominate a game like Cleveland star LeBron James was that night, when he excelled at both ends of the floor. He asked Aldridge if he was watching the game, which was early in the fourth quarter. "Yeah, I'm watching it," Aldridge said. "Nah, are you really watching it?" both recall McMillan saying. "Yeah," Aldridge said. "LeBron is killing them for 30points." "Well, you aren't really watching it, then," McMillan said. Aldridge was confused. He asked McMillan what he meant. That's when McMillan -- who spent the past three summers harping defense to James while serving as an assistant with the U.S. Olympic team -- drove home his point. He pointed out to Aldridge how James was impacting the game both offensively and defensively. Yes, everyone would notice his 38 points scored that night, but equally important were his seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks. A light bulb might as well have popped above Aldridge's head. "I told him, 'You are right, I wasn't watching it that way,'" Aldridge said. For the rest of the game, Aldridge watched differently. He became just as impressed with how James challenged shots as he was how James challenged the rim on offense. "LeBron was making every play -- whether blocking a shot, making a steal, rotating over and making a guy take a tough shot," Aldridge said. "He was everywhere on the defensive end. He made plays every time." McMillan has long held the belief that because of Aldridge's unique blend of height (6-foot-11), length and speed, he can be an All-Star, one of the few players who impacts the game on both ends. Aldridge, 23, has yet to dominate on both ends and has yet to make an All-Star team. But he is starting to change from an average defender to a good defender, while maintaining his reputation as one of the most gifted and versatile young big men in the league. This season, he is tied with Joel Przybilla for the team lead in blocked shots (42) and is tied with Brandon Roy for second on the team in steals (39). And during stretches when the Blazers have lost starters Roy and Steve Blake to injuries, Aldridge has emerged as the team's anchor, averaging 18.6 points in December and 19.2 points through January's first nine games. The question is, has anyone outside of Portland noticed? During a stop in New Jersey during the Blazers' four-game trip back East last week, Roy was pinned in a corner of the team's locker room by a horde of New York writers. Done with the All-Star, the group shuffled across the room to rookie Greg Oden. In the middle of the cattle drive was Aldridge, who was never asked one question. The lack of attention has become common for Aldridge, who for the most part is left alone following games. After Monday's victory against Milwaukee, when Aldridge had 22 points and nine rebounds, he seemed taken aback by a flood of cameras and microphones. There was a time when Aldridge said the lack of recognition and awards fueled his motivation. But that bitterness has passed as he has become more comfortable with himself, his game and his place on the Blazers. "If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win." Aldridge an All-Star? At the same time, an All-Star selection would mean the world to Aldridge. He was tickled that the Blazers went out of their way to launch an All-Star campaign for him, complete with a fancy flip-camera and a compact disc entitled "The L.A. Story." The disc includes highlights and testimonials from Blazers coaches and players, and was sent to coaches around the league, who vote for All-Star reserves. The coaches probably don't need a CD or camera to realize what kind of player Aldridge has become. After Aldridge torched Milwaukee on Monday with jump shot after jump shot, Bucks guard Michael Redd said all the focus on Roy might have been misleading. "Pfft. (Aldridge) may be the biggest key to that team," Redd said. "A guy 6-foot-11 who can shoot the mid-range jumper and post up? That's a tough matchup, man. That's a talented kid." A subpar first month of the season, when Aldridge went through the worst shooting slump of his career, will hurt his All-Star chances, but he has recovered nicely to average 17.5points, 6.9rebounds and 1.0block. Among Western Conference power forwards, he is seventh in scoring and 10th in rebounding. "Everybody gets their dues in due time, you can't rush it," Aldridge said. "Everybody gets the spotlight at different times in their career and their life." McMillan backs off Tonight, when James and the Cavaliers play at the Rose Garden, it wouldn't be unlike McMillan to remind Aldridge of their Jan.9 phone conversation. "I want to push him," McMillan said. "I want to get everything we can out of him because I think there is a lot of potential there." Aldridge said he was considered a defensive player in college at Texas, and that mindset is slowly coming back to him. But more than anything, Aldridge said he has entered the best comfort zone of his career. He said he feels "fluid" and "in a rhythm." That rhythm and flow has coincided with McMillan admitting he has recently "backed off" Aldridge. Usually, McMillan would constantly remind Aldridge to establish an inside presence instead of relying solely on his 18-foot jumper. "The last couple of games, I've just let him play as opposed to harping about pounding the ball inside," McMillan said. As a result, Aldridge has gone back to his bread-and-butter, shooting the mid-range jumper out of the pick-and-pop. He is shooting 57.4 percent (27 of 47) in his last three games, most of his baskets coming on his trademark high-release jumper. Now, McMillan would like to see that consistency on the defensive end. He said Aldridge has expanded his defensive repertoire this year to include guarding big centers like Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming. "He has kept them off the block and defended them as well as Joel (Przybilla) and Greg (Oden)," McMillan said. "And with smaller guys, he's learning how to give them a cushion and guard them." One day, McMillan envisions seeing Aldridge doing what James so often does today -- winning games with both his offense and defense. Rest assured, when Aldridge sees PRIVATE NUMBER, he will remember Jan.9, LeBron James, and McMillan. "I told him that night, 'Look, there's only a few in our league who can do what (LeBron) is doing, and you will get there,'" McMillan said. "And as long as I'm here, I'm going to be on him about dominating on both ends of the floor." Aldridge ascends After a subpar start to the season, Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been showing improvement. A look at Aldridge's statistics month-by-month: Oct./Nov. Points: 15.8 Rebounds: 6.7 FG %: .454 Dec. Points: 18.6 Rebounds: 6.6 FG %: .498 Jan. Points: 19.2 Rebounds: 7.8 FG %: .517 Total Points: 17.5 Rebounds: 6.9 FG %: .484 --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 221.169.172.177