Since it seems that now even the national media is starting to criticize LaMarcus Aldridge and his supposed lack of rebounding, I thought it would be interesting to see who was the 2nd-leading rebounder on teams that had one player average over 10 rpg last season. So, here goes: 1) Dwight Howard 13.2 (Matt Barnes 5.5) 2) Marcus Camby 12.8 (LaMarcus Aldridge 8.0) 3) Zach Randolph 11.7 (Marc Gasol 9.3) 4) David Lee 11.7 (Al Harrington 5.6) 5) Carlos Boozer 11.2 (Paul Millsap 6.8) 6) Chris Bosh 10.8 (Andrei Bargnani 6.2) 7) Troy Murphy 10.2 (Roy Hibbert 5.7) 8) Tim Duncan 10.1 (DeJuan Blair 6.4) 9) Gerald Wallace 10.0 (Tyson Chandler 6.3) Now, I do realize that a player like DeJuan Blair is a much better rebounder than Aldridge, but he also clearly lacks other skills at this point that keep him off of the court for extended periods of time. The same could be said for Paul Millsap, except I expect him to contend in leading Utah in rebounding, so that makes either Millsap or Al Jefferson the second rebounder. Also, the Blazers were 6th in rebound % last season, while teams like the Knicks, the Pacers, and the Raptors all were under .500 in that category.
and Camby played how many games here last year to base those numbers off of? So can you explain why every time Lamarcus gets criticized for not rebounding in the public forum he comes back with a huge rebounding game or two and then reverts to his old self? The problem is motor. He can rebound better than he has, but he isn't, he is making excuses. Listen folks, did we draft him #2 to be an above average scoring PF, or did we draft him at #2 to be an elite level player? How do you expect other players on the team to make an effort if one of the team leaders isn't making that effort himself?
It also puzzles me how Aldridge is not a "legit" 2nd scorer when he ended up 31st in the league in points per game last year for a team that plays with the slowest pace in the league. Last I checked, there are only 30 teams in the NBA, yet the 31st highest scorer isn't a good second option? It makes no sense.
Hey, I only offered statistics. Do what you will with them. I disagree with your opinion, but that's fine.
How many "elite" level players do you expect one team to have? Roy, Oden, and Aldridge? I think the team drafted Aldridge to be a productive NBA PF on a playoff team, which he is, and hopefully a championship team, which I hope he becomes. Would you rather have Bargnani or Tyrus Thomas instead?
same thing, except using rebounds per 48min. Blair-16.9 Chandler-13.2 Millsap-11.8 Gasol- 12.4 Hibbert- 10.9 Barnes - 10.3 LA- 10.3 Harrington-8.9 Bargnani- 8.5
We didn't draft him #2! We drafted a fucking scrub and traded said scrub for a PF that gives us 18/8!
Did you miss this part of my original post? Rebounds/48 are great over a season, but on a nightly basis, Aldridge got more rebounds than all but one of those guys. Plus, he played defense and was the 23rd-highest scorer in the league.
I suspect that when he was drafted as a #2 in a class that Bargnani went #1 - it was far from clear that he would be a runaway elite player, he was labeled a project - and so far, has proved to be a very good player if not elite, yet. There is one player that is clearly beter than him from this draft class (Roy) and one questionable but likely better (Rondo). Overall, let's just be happy it did not end up like Marvin Williams over CP3/Deron or Darko over Melo, Bosh, Wade....
My concerns with LMA have always been that a) I think he takes a disproportionate amount of his shots in the least-efficient way possible: the long two-point jumper. He shoots it at 41% (for an really inefficient .83 pps) and is rarely fouled while doing it; b) his rebounding rate is not close to what an all-star level PF or C gets (consistently 13% TRR); c) his defensive play. When he came out of college he was the Big 12 DPoY. My expectations (subject to ridicule) were that he was a project player offensively but his defense would get him on the court with ZBo. But can anyone here say that LMA is even a "plus" defender? He's hovering around a 107-108 Drtg his entire career. Additionally, he struggles with setting hard picks and generally doesn't take a large number of shots from "close in". He's actually quite efficient when he does, but it doesn't happen often. All of these concerns could be summed up (if you wanted to) by saying that LMA doesn't like or initiate contact (legally, not like Mahorn or Oakley). He doesn't set good picks, he doesn't box out well, he generally doesn't go into the paint (though he's efficient while there) and he doesn't do well bodying someone up on defense. I guess I wouldn't say he's "terrible" at rebounding or scoring. I wouldn't even say he's a "bad" second option. But as I said in the Roy thread, they need to get more efficient with HOW they're scoring, and plus up on the defensive side.
There is no mystery to winning in the NBA. If you have an efficient offense and outrebound your opponent you will win most of your games. Period. Steals are nice and all, but the best way to get extra possessions is to rebound. Rebound, Rebound, and then rebound some more. You aren't going to get the steals every night. But rebounds is something you can control, and with that, control your teams destiny.
No, I didn't. The original post made me curious enough to look it up, so I figured I would post what I found. LMA is definitely a better player than those guys, but some of them are just much better rebounders.
Portland was #1 in rebounding % in 2008-09, and #6 last year playing 25 games or so with Juwan Howard at center. If, by some miracle, Oden can stay healthy, and Joel gets some spot minutes, I fully expect Aldridge's rebounding numbers to go down, but for the Blazers to be an even better rebounding team. Camby, Oden, Przy? That's nuts out of the center spot in terms of rebounding.
After Camby joined the team, Aldridge averaged 7.3 rebounds in about 40 mpg. And between losing Przybilla and trading for Camby, he averaged 9.1 rebounds in similar minutes. Yes, he is a poor rebounder. Not that I think it matters THAT much.
I think that #1 is more than valid - he needs to continue and use the jumper - but mix it up more with other ways to score, especially on the low block. #2 is valid, he is an OK rebounder, not a good one, not a terrible one. Would be nice if he was better - but it should be remember that on defense he is often the one leaking out to run the court - so maybe it is more a "by design" than a real criticism, finally - defense, while I think he can get better, I actually think that his DRTG does not really measure his defensive abilities - imho, LMA is a better defender than people give him credit, especially with the switch heavy defense this team played in previous years.
