S.I.'s Top 100 NBA Players of 2015

LaMarcus Aldridge #12 (ahead of #18 Bosh)

For Aldridge, the self-cast Rodney Dangerfield of the NBA’s deep group of elite power forwards, 2013-14 marked the most fulfilling and gratifying season of his eight-year career. Stuck in the lottery for two seasons as Blazers management attempted to move on from Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, Aldridge began venting some frustrations last summer. It was one thing for Aldridge to feel snubbed in comparison to higher-profile peers like Kevin Love or Blake Griffin; it was far worse to feel like his team wasn't capable of putting him on a big enough stage to stake his claim to the awards and adulation.

The arrival of Robin Lopez, a big-bodied center, not only allowed Aldridge to play his preferred power forward position full-time, but it also gave Portland just enough defense to support its free-flowing offense. Throw in some nice progress from All-Star guard Damian Lillard, and the result was a surprising 54-win season, the Blazers’ first playoff series victory since 2000, and a new national appreciation for Aldridge, who briefly earned some buzz as an MVP candidate while taking home All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors. His eye-popping coming out party occurred early in Portland’s first-round series against Houston: Aldridge tallied 43 points and 18 rebounds in Game 1 and then dropped 43 points and eight rebounds in Game 2, as the Blazers took both games on the road before finishing out the series in six games. Over a span of four days, Aldridge had succeeded in rewriting Portland’s postseason record books.

The other shoe dropped against the Spurs in the conference semifinals, as Aldridge’s torrid shooting cooled off considerably and the Blazers were sent packing in five games. For years, the biggest knock on the 6-foot-11 Aldridge has been that he is over-reliant on his jumper and that he is too willing to launch long twos. It’s a fair criticism, but one that requires the full picture: Aldridge was the No. 1 option on the league’s No. 5 offense, he rarely turns the ball over, he poses a very real threat to defenses every time he goes to the left block, his placement away from the hoop draws defenders from the basket and creates space inside, he has made big strides as a passer and is therefore able to avoid “settling” more often than his critics might think, and he rarely takes a truly bad look because he has a high release point and is a proficient shooter from just about everywhere inside the arc. Even with those many strengths acknowledged, Aldridge’s volume shooting can have a damaging effect because, unlike Love or Chris Bosh, he hasn’t yet extended his range behind the arc. Last season, Aldridge attempted the third-most shots in the league and yet his effective field goal percentage ranked 18th among the top 20 scorers (besting only DeMar DeRozan and Josh Smith). All of those empty possessions were bound to catch up eventually, and that’s exactly what happened against the Spurs’ finely-tuned machine.

Big picture, the 29-year-old Aldridge is cresting through his prime right on schedule. He posted career-highs in both points and rebounds last season – joining Love as the only players to average 23/11 -- and his advanced numbers (+3.7 RAPM, +7.1 net rating) reflect his standing as one of the NBA’s most indispensable players. Set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, Aldridge’s 2013 emo mumblings have given way to a public commitment to remain in Portland, and the Blazers in turn have expressed their willingness to re-sign him to a max contract. With Love now riding shotgun to LeBron James in Cleveland, Griffin continuing to shine in Los Angeles, and Anthony Davis rising like a meteor, it’s fair to wonder whether Aldridge will ever be universally hailed as the NBA’s best power forward. As long as the Blazers keep winning, though, he can’t be left out of the conversation. — B.G.

 

SI is wrong. Aldridge scored 46 points in game 1.

 

I just don't understand why Aldridge isn't a top 10 player. I'd take la over griffin any day of the week.

 

I'd take LA for a couple more years but if Griffin develops a decent shot, then he will be better. I'm counting on him doing so.

 

#12 is totally a cutesy ranking to match his number. The top 15 basically encompasses the best player or so on the better teams in the NBA. So they all have a case to make for being top 10.

 

Lol at Harden's ranking.

 

Ben Golliver literally put Russell Bustbrook at 4.

 

I think you mean "figuratively."

 

Is Mathews still a top ten shooting guard?

 

Dwight Howard will never win a championship. Good skill, mental midget...

 

That phrase is cringe-inducingly bad.

 

By that last he sure is.