I remember a game in Aldridge's rookie year when he got 30 points, mainly by going to the basket. I thought it was a sign of things to come, but he went back to his jump-shooting ways and seldom dominated a game that way again. So I'm also very happy to see him finally playing the way he should have been all along. He had these skills in his rookie year, and now he's finally maximizing them.
The people who said LMA was playing soft or not up to his potential were correct. The people who said LMA would always be soft, could never be a #1 option, etc. were wrong. It's that simple
31/14 tonight. It was the first time I can recall Aldridge owning Bosh. Historically, it had been the other way around, IIRC.
Also 7 assists, which would have been more if a few more long range shots had gone in. We shoot 47%, and he probably gets a triple double.
I freely admit I thought he had peaked - a perenially good but not great player who might be adequate as a third option on a contender but certainly nobody you'd ever structure your team around.
I'll admit that the only reason he hadn't blown up was because him being the 2nd or 3rd option. I didn't think he would put these kind of #'s up! Had his back since day 1!!!
I think I proposed a trade once when Bosch was approaching free agency, it was basically Aldridge for Bosch; I would not even think about that now. As I stated after we played Utah I would not consider Jefferson AND Milsap for Aldridge, and after playing Minnesota would not consider Love for Aldridge (no matter what his statistics are).