Hickson definitely plays better without Aldridge

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Natebishop3, Oct 22, 2012.

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  1. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    That's not true

    Aldridge plays on the perimeter. Hickson plays mostly in the paint. He's also a better rebounder.
     
    RoyToy, Oct 23, 2012
    #21
  2. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Hickson is shorter and weighs less. There are lots of C's who played on the perimeter. Bob McAdoo did it in the 1970s, Laimbeer did it in the 90s, Okur did it in the 2000s. And so on.
     
    Denny Crane, Oct 23, 2012
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  3. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    Doesn't change the fact that Hickson is the one that plays in the paint where as Aldridge plays mostly on the perimeter.

    It amazes me that this Aldridge is a C talk will never end. He doesn't play nor rebound like one.
     
    RoyToy, Oct 23, 2012
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  4. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Like I said, lots of C's played on the perimeter. If one of the two is more likely to be pushed around by "true" centers, it's going to be the shorter/lighter one.

    And Michael Jordan played almost exclusively in the post his last seasons with the Bulls. Was he or Longley the C?
     
    Denny Crane, Oct 23, 2012
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  5. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    I don't get your fixation on height and weight.

    Chuck Hayes is/was considered one of the best post defenders in the NBA and has started many games at C in his career. He's 6-6 250.

    You're not looking enough at how these players play. Aldridge doesn't play like a C. He doesn't even rebound like one. He's not a guy that lives in the paint and is a perimeter player. That's not a center.

    Aldridge can play it in stretches as part of creating a more versatile lineup. But regularly? Not his position at all.
     
    RoyToy, Oct 23, 2012
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  6. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    6'6" 250 is heavier than JJ is, too.

    There are lots of Cs who grabbed 8 RPG. And how the guy plays on offense doesn't determine if he's a C or not.
     
    Denny Crane, Oct 23, 2012
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  7. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    JJ Hickson has a big body. He handles himself just fine in the paint.

    Lots of Cs who grabbed 8RPG in 38min per game? That's not that great, btw. He doesn't block shots, either.

    Aldridge doesn't live in the paint like you would expect your center too. Once again, he's not a center. It's fine because he's a mighty fine PF.
     
    RoyToy, Oct 23, 2012
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  8. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    He is a mighty fine PF, but he's suited to play C. I'm clearly not the only one who sees it. For all the years Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry were teamed up together, "they" said Chandler was too thin to play C. Now he's DPOY, getting votes for best defender by the GM survey, etc. At C.

    Maybe in previous eras LMA wouldn't be fit to play C. But today, there are so few actual C's and most guys playing "C" are really PFs anyway.

    Here's a PF who's similar enough to LMA and who's now playing C.
     
    Denny Crane, Oct 23, 2012
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  9. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    Chandler is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, listed a 7-1 and doesn't really have an offense game. Sounds like a center to me?

    It's also the opposite of what Aldridge is. Again, Tyson owns the paint, Aldridge doesn't.

    It helps when LeBron is your PF. Him and Wade can score in the paint at will, and they've one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Plus it sounds like neither player are exactly thrilled about playing their new position.

    You put Aldridge at center you still need a banger to rebound and get the majority of his points in the paint because of the type of player Aldridge is. He also needs to be able to protect the basket.

    Now Hickson certainly isn't the ideal candidate, but he's still more of a center than Aldridge to me. Hopefully Leonard develops into that player.
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2012
    RoyToy, Oct 23, 2012
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  10. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Rodman was a center too? No offensive game, great rebounder....

    Aldridge doesn't need to own the paint, he just needs to stand tall and make people think twice about driving (which he does). You have a PF next to him that can bang for the boards.

    It helps LMA play C when the C he has to guard is Bosh.
     
    Denny Crane, Oct 23, 2012
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  11. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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    Wait, This all sounds so similar. Remember when we both had Rasheed and ZBo together and then it was ZBo and Aldridge together. if history repeats it self we will trade Aldridge and then we will bitch about Hickson becoming a jump shooting PF.:tsktsk:
     
    BigGameDamian, Oct 23, 2012
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  12. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

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    Aldridge doesn't really intimidate anyone when it comes to altering shots. There's really not a huge threat there, which is a shame considering his length and height.

    And Aldridge and Bosh neither want to play C, nor do I think he would guard Bosh. These days coaches try to avoid that to keep their guy out of foul trouble.
     
    RoyToy, Oct 23, 2012
    #32
  13. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Haha, nah, I don't think Hickson will ever be a jump shooting PF. That's not his game at all. Sheed and Aldridge, on the other hand, have been jump shooters since the beginning.
     
    Natebishop3, Oct 23, 2012
    #33
  14. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    In 2 of Hickson's 3 Cleveland years, his coach was Mike Brown, who knows all his moves and taught him many. The Laker coach will tip Dwight Howard on how best to play Hickson.
     
    jlprk, Oct 24, 2012
    #34
  15. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    pretty small sample size to jump to this conclusion, especially when some of the sample shows they can produce together.

    http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201204090POR.html

    http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201203270POR.html

    http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201204040POR.html

    that said, increased opportunities often equals increased production. For instance, when Brandon Roy went out LA's numbers jumped. I don't think it follows that they weren't a better team with both healthy and on the court together. The offense will rightfully continue to run through a healthy LA leaving JJ as mostly a low block garbage man... he's pretty good at that

    STOMP
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2012
    STOMP, Oct 24, 2012
    #35
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