I wanted to find out just how good does Aldridge stack up to the other PFs in the game. Here is LaMonster's stats: LaMonster: 23.7 points, 8.6 RPG, 0.8 Block, 51% FG, 24.64 PER Let's just look at their head to heads: Blake Griffin vs. Aldridge: Blake Griffin: 21.2 points, 10.9 RPG, 1 Block, 54% FG, 22.69 PER Blake Griffin doesn't have a powerhouse rebounder like Camby next to him and he is only averaging 2 more rebound a game. Also Blake has CP3 giving him the ball in sweat spots too. I couldn't imagine how much better Aldridge would be if we just swapped PF with Clips. I bet Blake's numbers would go down and Aldridge would go way up. -------------------------------------------------- Carlos Boozer vs. Aldridge: Carlos Boozer: 15 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 0.5 Blocks, 52% FG, 20.48 PER It's pretty obvious that Boozer has a great rebounder (Noah) playing next to him. I see Boozer's situation in Chicago similar to Aldridge because Chicago has a good rebounding SF and Center. Ironically they have the same amount of rebounds. The funny thing is when Boozer was in Utah, he was getting 10-11 boards. So in this scenario; I think Aldridge has the edge. -------------------------------------------------- Chris Bosh vs. Aldridge: Chris Bosh: 19.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 0.8 Blocks, 51% FG, 20.06 PER Now these two have some very similar numbers; with Aldridge having an slight edge on rebounding and PPG. The key difference is the PER. Aldridge has a +4 per on Bosh. That says a lot. Even on the best times of Bosh's career; he has never had a 24.6 PER. -------------------------------------------------- Kevin Love vs. Aldridge: Kevin Love: 25 PPG, 13.7 RPG, 0.5 Blocks, 45% FG, 25.48 PER Okay this is probably the only player I can concede being better than Aldridge. He is a better rebounder, has a higher PER and scores more points. He, like Aldridge, has range too. The only difference between the two is Aldridge is a better defender. Also, I wonder if the stats would be the same if they switched places? -------------------------------------------------- Paul Millsap vs. Aldridge: Paul Millsap: 16.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 0.8 Blocks, 51.8% FG, 24.23 PER Aldridge is a better scorer than Millsap, but I think Millsap plays more at the rim than Aldridge. It's close, but I still give the edge to Aldridge because I believe Aldridge is a better defender, especially help D.
Defense is pretty important at the PF spot. LMA's defense is stellar, he can literally guard positions 1-5, and it's effect is extremely undervalued.
Lord knows if you put Kevin Love out top guarding Durant on the game's final play, Durant wouldn't get the game-tying shot blocked.
Remember years ago when we dreaded him switching on the pick and taking the PG instead of the PF/C? We don't hate that now. He's improved so much with experience.
He has the complete package. My only knock on Aldridge is demanding the ball when our team needs him. He needs to work on that. Everything else is pretty damn solid!
I think that's on our guards and coach to have unique plays in the fourth to keep the defenders from packing it in on LMA, and to be better at the inbounds pass to him. He did pretty well in the clutch against OKC (even hit all his FTs!). Maybe if we were more okay with the pick and pop in the fourth, he'd score more in the fourth.
I'd say another knock on him is that he sets pretty crummy screens. When was the last time he knocked a guard to the floor? Ever? This isn't 230 pound rookie Aldridge anymore. He's got some beef, and if he wanted to he could use it a lot more. It's a small thing, but when you consider how often he settles for the pick-and-pop instead of the roll, you can look at the quality of his screens. Maybe having to play so many minutes factors into his willingness to do that, though.
Shit I forgot about that. I'm gonna be honest; that shit pisses me off. I scream at the T.V. "Why do you even try to set a pick?" Is it some rhythm thing?
You're right, his screens are pretty horrible ... then again almost everyone who has come up under McMillan sets a fucking god-awful screen. I don't know how to split the blame, but I put a portion of it on lack of coaching (or lack of accountability from coaches?)
In the last 5 years we have had 2 good screen setters joel and kurt thomas. Wtf mcmillian your the coach its your job to teach that Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
