LMA: 16.4 PER Roy: 16.5 PER It's obvious why Roy's PER took a nose dive this season but what the hell is up with LaMarcus? LaMarcus' WS went from 8.8 to 1.8. The season is early but it looks like someone is sandbagging it and it's not Rudy Fernandez!
LaMarcus Aldridge's eFG% by type of shot: Last year: Jumpshots: 42% Close shots: 57% Dunks: 97% Inside: 64% This year: Jump shots: 40% Close shots: 48% Dunks: 83% Inside shots: 50% This is the first time I've actually taken a look at the stats, but I could tell from watching that Aldridge just wasn't making as many shots as last year - from anywhere.
I'm with you on LMA playing pretty awfully this year, but comparing his WS from a 78 game season to 23 games isn't a very accurate dig. WS/48 still shows a marked decline, from .145 to .100, and accounts for the difference in in games played.
Another thing I found interesting was that when Aldridge takes a shot when there are between 16 and 20 seconds in the shot clock, he only makes that shot 29% of the time. To me, this means he is terribly inefficient when we go to him at the beginning of the possession. Last year, he shot 46% on those shots. Maybe it's just my interpretation though.
Its certainly telling. I'm sure certain posters are going to find away to deflect the warranted criticism of Aldridge and make excuses. Fact is, Aldridge has not been good this year. I think we need to look in a different direction when it comes to using him as one of the pillars of the franchise. Miller has a PER of 19.5 While Matthews has a PER of 16.9 and rising.
The obvious reason is that Aldridge is the main guy the opponent team plans to guard, not Roy anymore.
I will give Aldridge this. He is TRYING to take it to the basket. A few less pick and pops, a few less fadeaways, and a few more head down barrel into the lane for a score close to the basket. His shot from there and everywhere else has been off so far this season, no doubt. BUT right now, he is all we got. He's our only big man with a post game. For better or worse, he is one of our most valuable players. Without him, the whole season falls apart.
I agree - he does seem to be trying to take it to the hoop more. If he continues to work on that, the shots will start falling, and I'll be content with him.
Win shares are a cumulative stat...of course win shares will be wildly different when you're comparing 1.5 months of it to an entire season. Chris Paul's win shares have "fallen" from 7.3 last season to 4.5 this season. At his current pace, Aldridge would end up with about 8.5 win shares for the season.
I've said this a bazillion times now. Lamarcus is an above average PF, no more, no less. If you don't expect more out of him then that, you won't be disappointed.
Funny: it seems to me that Aldridge is a much more essential player to us this year than last. Which of course goes with the observation that he's the focus of the defense this year. One thing I noticed: Aldridge is in the top ten in the league in offensive rebounds. I don't think that's ever been true before, has it? Another thing: his alley-oop dunks in the halfcourt are a regular feature of games this year, and they're another thing I don't remember happening before. It seems to me he's a good deal less soft than he used to be.
I'd agree with all of that, unfortunately he's also a good deal less efficient and accurate with his close in stuff this year than he has been in years past. Maybe he's due for getting hot like he usually does as the season wears on.
I think that Aldridge is probably the player who has the most to adjust to with Roy no longer being the franchise player. I could see where that would slow him in the early-going.
I'd be curious to see Armon Johnson's PER after today's San Antonio game. Think he was on pace for a 50 pt / 20 rebound game if he had played starters minutes.
The alley-oop dunks are one thing I like; however, 8% of Aldridge's shot attempts last year were dunks, and only 4% this year. He is also taking just as many outside jumpers.
Thank you, the same to you, and Merry Christmas. You make many good points. Thank Andre Miller and the new assistant coaches for those plays.
