Aldridge: Power Forward or Center

Kevin Love at PF?

 

Does it matter? If he continues to operate from the post - call him a PG and solve the PGotF conundrum once and for all for all I care...

 

+1. I don't get the obsession with placing specific titles / positions on a player.

 

God damnit, stop it! We need to label him. NOW! I second him as PGotF.

 

The only thing this affects is how he's announced in the starting lineups; that said, it'd be cool to have our big star be a center.

 

I say that if Greg Oden can return to form - or even 80-90% of form - you take him - because he is such a huge force on defense - that you play Aldridge next to him - and just move Greg a bit out to give Aldridge the space in the post on offense. It's not as if Camby or Joel playing next to LMA are great offensive threats - so playing Oden on D and Aldridge on offense, with Oden being there to rebound on offense is good enough.

As for what to do if Oden is not available - imho, you keep it KP simple. Best player you can get. If this happens to be a more finesse PF (say, Anthony Randolph) - you plat LMA mostly at C, if it is a more bruising kind - you place him at PF.
Does not really matter, imho.

 

How so? I also don't think the label matters. We want a complimentary big on offense...that's true whether he's a center or power forward. Defensive match-ups can be determined game by game.

I've never considered positions to be all that meaningful. You want the right balance of scoring, passing, rebounding, etc, but it doesn't really matter where it comes from or how you name the players. The only thing that matters is that you can match up defensively. Since Aldridge can match up defensively with a center or power forward, defensive issues really shouldn't bear on what big man the team pairs with Aldridge.

 

I agree with the above post that we just look best player available. If you find yourself in position to sign, say, Kendrick Perkins or Marc Gasol somehow, he's a PF. But, ideally, a PF that plays the game he is playing lately, not the stand 20 feet outside. If you get a chance to draft a Jared Sulinger, or trade for, I dunno, Josh Smith, then he's a C. I want him playing priamrily on the block, as he has, with the ability if needed to hit an open jumper when called upon. He can defend opposing PFs or Cs, depending on who he is playing alongside. If he is in there with a weaker defender, he covers the better post player. I don't think position necessarily determines who covers who. It's generally your best post defender covers their best post scorer. You mix and match on matchups. I don't think, with Oden's health, we are in a position to pigeon hole him into a spot, and focus primarily on one position or the other.

 

Yes who plays next to him is most important. A bruising PF needs to be under the basket (not good for LMA to be able to operate) A finesse PF better be able to hit the outside shot. (Not a strong suit for A.Randolph) Yes Love would be perfect. But that is not going to happen.

 

Looking long-term (no Camby or Pryz) and on the possibility that Oden will never be a full-time starter for the Blazers (even if still here);

I can't say what position.

LaMarcus can play well, on both sides of the court, from either position.

Rather than look for a Center or PF, I say the team should get the best big they can possibly find that is strong where LaMarcus is weak: Rebounding, blocking shots, setting screens.

Might be a "center". Might be a "PF". But, good bigs are so hard to get, don't be choosy about position.

As an alternative, a scoring power forward (like David Lee who we almost had on the tea) would be a good match with LaMacus on a running team.

 

No it doesn't. It could mean you have someone shorter and stronger. Like a Kevin Love, Karl Malone, or a Blake Griffin. How many Howard's are out there? Not many.

 

He's basically playing the Tim Duncan position. Back to basket post up player we run the offense through. Quality defender you aren't afraid to put on the other team's best 4/5, although you tend not to do that all the time to protect him from foul trouble.

If Oden is done, I'd like to have him listed at C to make him more likely to get in All Star games. Although that point is moot next year if he continues to play like he has.

 

Good comparison. You move him on a guy when needed(not that Aldridge is an elite defender or anything, but he's a better man defender than Camby is), but not always, to save energy and foul trouble. kind of what you do with elite wings. Kobe never covered Roy, except for late game,or late half situations. Otherwise, you throw someone else on him most of the game, and switch at the end. Obviously, pre-Artest.

 

That depends. Do you want a power forward who actually plays defense?

 

I wish Buck Williams were 20 years younger right now... or Dante had 20lbs more muscle.

 

Center since he now pretty much lives in the post.

But like many here, I don't really care as long as they don't try to play him at point or wing.

 

We seem to play well when LMA, err Dante starts at C. LMA creates speed/quickness problems versus traditional centers, and size/power problems versus slight centers, while Dante and Batum together seem to be a really good perimeter D tandem, making up for any difficulties LMA would have on defense.

82games refutes the above when we start Miller and Matthews (who I think is overrated on D, personally); the lineup I like best is the speed demon lineup: Mills-Fernandez-Batum-Cunningham-Aldridge. Our front line can play D and switch up on picks without losing the ability to defend, while Mills, Fernandez, and Batum are all pesky and generate steals. Lots of fast breaking opportunities without the typical bang-em defensive scheme. I wouldn't start this lineup (lol), but it plays well together, and if Mills/Fernandez are the first subs, it plays early against the other team's first sub round.