LMA #17 Aldridge is the only player to average at least 21 points and eight rebounds per game each of the past three seasons. No other player has done so more than once in that span. -- ESPN Stats & Information
Here's how the players have changed from last year to this summer: LaMarcus Aldridge: 2012=20, 2013=17, improvement = +3Damian Lillard: 2012=211, 2013=30, improvement = +181Nicolas Batum: 2012=63, 2013=57, improvement = +6Robin Lopez: 2012=169, 2013=128, improvement = +41Wesley Matthews: 2012=109, 2013=130, improvement = -21Mo Williams: 2012=125, 2013=169, improvement = -44Dorrell Wright: 2012=182, 2013=200, improvement = -18 Thomas Robinson: 2012=215, 2013=204, improvement = +11Meyers Leonard: 2012=330, 2013=255, improvement = +75
ESPN projects LeMarcus as essentially an average 1st man in the league. The interesting question this begs is "what is a superstar"? Does average 1st man qualify? The 200+ ESPN collective thinks the Blazers have above average starters and a well above average bench. The average team would be the 15.5th team and as we are above that we should be 15th or better. Considering the high bench score, it should more realistically be about the 13th best team in the league. Realistically, this means that the ESPN collective thinks we will make the playoffs, and depending on the actual rankings of the other teams, higher than the #8 seed. Here is the final data: Big 3 Average: +0.35/position Starter Average: +0.09/position Bench Average: +.74/position 3rd Stringers Average: -.98/position Final Update (There is more analysis to be done and I may do it): Blazer's 1st man: 0.57, Average 1st man: 0.52 >>>>> Net: -.05 Blazer's 2nd man: 1.0, Average 2nd man: 1.5 >>>>> Net: +0.5 Blazer's 3rd man: 1.9, Average 3rd man: 2.5 >>>>> Net: +0.6 Blazer's 4th man: 4.3, Average 4th man: 3.5 >>>>> Net: -0.8 Blazer's 5th man: 4.3, Average 5th man: 4.5 >>>>> Net: +0.2 ------- Blazer's 6th man: 5.6, Average 6th man: 5.5 >>>>> Net: -0.1 Blazer's 7th man: 6.2, Average 7th man: 6.5 >>>>> Net: +0.3 Blazer's 8th man: 6.7, Average 8th man: 7.5 >>>>> Net: +0.8 Blazer's 9th man: 6.8, Average 9th man: 8.5 >>>>> Net: +1.7 Blazer's 10th man: 8.5, Average 10th man: 9.5 >>>>> Net: +1.0 ------- Blazer's 11th man: 12.3, Average 11th man: 10.5 >>>>> Net: -1.8 Blazer's 12th man: 12.6, Average 12th man: 11.5 >>>>> Net: -1.1 Blazer's 13th man: 13.7, Average 13th man: 12.5 >>>>> Net: -1.2 Blazer's 14th man: 14.1, Average 14th man: 13.5 >>>>> Net: -0.6 Blazer's 15th man: 14.7, Average 15th man: 14.5 >>>>> Net: -0.2 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1st man LaMarcus Aldridge (17) is ranked as 0.57th man 2nd man Damian Lillard (30) is ranked as 1.0th man 3rd man Nicolas Batum (57) is ranked as 1.9th man 4th man Robin Lopez (128) is ranked as 4.3rd man 5th man Wes Matthews (130) is ranked as 4.3rd man ------- 6th man Mo Williams (169) is ranked as a 5.6th man 7th man C. J. McCollum (185) is ranked as 6.2th man 8th man Dorrell Wright (200) is ranked as 6.7th man 9th man Thomas Robinson (204) is ranked as 6.8th man 10th man Leonard (255) is ranked as 8.5th man ------- 11th man Watson (370) is ranked as a 12.3rd man 12th man Barton (379) is ranked as a 12.6th man 13th man Crabbe (412) is ranked as a 13.7th man 14th man Claver (422) is ranked as a 14.1st man 15th man Freeland (441) is ranked as a 14.7th man
Rose was 5th in last year's rankings. I doubt if he'l move into the top 4 after missing an entire season due to injury. Other players coming off injuries have seen their rankings drop significantly. BNM
This year, recovering from an Achilles? That sounds about right. He'll start off the year #100 and end up #5.
Griffin at #14 Twitter hate: @ESPNNBA @blakegriffin32 Shown ability to get pushed around & not make mid-range jumper, cannot be ahead of Duncan, Aldridge, Dirk #NBArank - Pavle Kisin-Rajlic (@Gambitguru77) October 18, 2013 @ESPNNBA @blakegriffin32 Bit high for a two-trick pony (PTS, REB). But can't deny his constant presence on highlight reels #NBArank -DK (@electriclight41) October 18, 2013
I'm thinkin' this year were gonna see some serious beast-moding out of Aldridge. He is at the stage in his career that he knows who he is and he knows how to get his. Plus I can't imagine it makes him happy knowing there are people who think fucking Blake Griffin is better than him. He's not. K-Love, perhaps. Not Griffin.
