Simple question: LaMarcus Aldridge...

One thing I've noticed about Aldridge: he gets better as the season goes along. He did most notably in his rookie year (he wasn't even included in the rookie game at the AS break, but was first-team all-rookie by the end) and this year. If he'd've played like he's been playing for the past couple of months from day one, there's no way he would've been left off the AS team.

 

I think Aldridge is "kind of" a franchise player. He's a franchise player when his teammates and his coach want him to be. He'll be a true franchise player when he demands it.

 

Two out of three of those guys haven't lead a team to a title yet. Those guys are all wing players. They're splashy players that the league and media love to highlight, but IMHO, the way Aldridge is playing he's more of a franchise player in the Duncan mold. Not flashy, but very, very effective and perhaps more of a key ingredient to winning a title than a flashy wing player. Kobe couldn't do squat until the Lakers got Gasol. If Aldridge can play like he has the past few months consistently, and I think he's shown that he can, he's definitely a franchise player in my book.

 

What is all this talk of him being a franchise player when he isn't even an all star?????

Sheesh.

/Sarcasm

Gramps...

 

I was thinking about this, too. Everyone was excited to pair LA and Oden because they seemed like good compliments (Oden inside, LA outside). With the new and improved LA who lives down low, I bet Oden will thrive as an offensive rebounder (punishing teams if they double team LA) and he'll get used a lot like Joel to set picks for the shooters (we really need a big wide man who sets good picks...Camby and LA just don't have the knack).

Of course, this has an * next to it...

*Pending a healthy season for the big fella

 

off the top of my head, I'd think that cases could be made for Derrick Rose, Kevin Love and Dorrell Wright for MIP too.

Regardless, besides Finals MVP, the award I want to see LA win this year is a spot on one of the All NBA Teams

STOMP

 

Love winning MIP would be a joke. Not to say he hasn't improved because he has, but what has he lead his team to record wise? Yup, that ends that. I could see Rose winning it if he weren't most likely going to be MVP so I doubt he takes both, but who knows. Aldridge should get it over Wright really.

 

Rose should probably win MIP and MVP. Also, don't forget Wesley Matthews. And to think we thought Nic would be competing for the award.

Also, I have no problem with Love winning the award. It's not MVP which centers on team success. It's an individual award and he has earned serious consideration.

 

Hey e, usually agree with your posts, but you think Lebron is a splashy player that is hyped by league and media? Lebron led a team to the best record in the NBA and then when he left that team they became the worst team in the NBA. And I sort of see the argument with Durant, but fourth year in the league and leading the NBA in scoring (he is only get get better). And Kobe did win three championships without Gasol, which is more than squat.

 

The season after Shaq was traded, Kobe couldn't even get the Lakers into the playoffs. And then in 06 & 07, couldn't get out of the first round (despite having 3-1 lead in '06). Kobe can't do squat without a skilled big man in the post. Jordan won 6 titles without any offensive post player as good as Shaq or Pau. But I digress....

 

Jordan never won a title without Pippen and Kobe never played with a wing player as good as Pippen.

I won't argue that Kobe needs a big man to be effective, but you have to admit Kobe goes from not being able to do squat without a big man to Kobe is able to dominate and win multiple championships including back to back championships with all star type big man (like LA )

If Kobe or Lebron aren't current franchise players in the NBA, I don't know who is?

 

I actually watched quite a bit of the minnesota game tonight as I saw that they were playing the lakers tough. And even though his stats again were decent, i still can't believe Love made the allstar team. He is a really good role player. Hits the boards, good passer, good outside shot. But is useless down the stretch of ball games. He has no go-to move at all. And he is so slow on defense. If they sign him to a huge contract they will regret it. Again he is a really good role player.

On another note they should suspend Bynum for a game after that cheap shot on Beasley. No excuse for it. He could have seriously ended the dudes career.

 

Yeah...Nic has no handle and average coordination. If he could somehow improve those things, he'd be a star. But I don't think that's something you can just teach yourself...