Aldridge among the best post workers in the NBA?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by B-Roy, Jan 23, 2011.

  1. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,996
    Trophy Points:
    113
    We've all witnessed Aldridge's transition this year. At least from my eyes, he seems to be one of the best post players in the league. Now there's some stats that may back it up too. I took all the close shot stats from many of the premier post players in the NBA. These stats include the eFG%, attempt %, and assisted %.

    Aldridge
    39% attempted, .597 eFG, 40% assisted

    Al Jefferson
    38% attempted, .587 eFG, 53% assisted

    Duncan
    36% attempted, .649 eFG, 56% assisted

    Howard
    69% attempted, .622 eFG, 44% assisted

    Gasol
    45% attempted, .614 eFG, 52% assisted

    Randolph
    49% attempted, .625 eFG, 49% assisted

    Scola
    45% attempted, .580 eFG, 48% assisted

    Boozer
    45% attempted, .695 eFG, 66% assisted

    What jumps out the most is the % of shots that are assisted for Aldridge. That means he's creating the largest % of his inside shots, compared to the other players. Despite that, hes putting up about the same eFG as the other players except for Boozer, who's shooting an amazing .695 eFG on close shots, although being heavily assisted on them. One thing that works against his argument is that less of his shots come from inside. (Although not significantly less)

    Regardless, I just wanted to show people some quantifiable evidence that Aldridge's game has completely evolved him into one of the premier forwards in the league.
     
  2. Hey

    Hey Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2010
    Messages:
    281
    Likes Received:
    239
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Does that mean LMA only takes 39% of his shots in the paint?
     
  3. VanillaGorilla

    VanillaGorilla Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2009
    Messages:
    12,072
    Likes Received:
    4,746
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Could you show where you got these? on 82games.com it shoes that Aldridge is only assisted on 30% of his close shots.
     
  4. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,996
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I did use 82 games, and I used the total percentage of his inside shots.
     
  5. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2008
    Messages:
    19,094
    Likes Received:
    22,762
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Remember, this is for the entire season. For the first 7 weeks of the season, he was still the old LaMarcus. He's only been the new, improved version for the past 5 weeks.

    Still, his inside shot attempts are up compared to last season (36%), and likely to keep increasing as long as he keeps playing like the new LaMarcus.

    Also, as the OP mentioned, the majority of his inside shot attempts are unassisted - meaning he's creating his own shots in the post. This is a big change from last season (59% assisted on inside field goals) to this (40% assisted on inside field goals).

    And, his FTA per game have increased from 3.9 to 5.6 - another indication that he's playing in the low post more.

    BNM
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2011
  6. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2009
    Messages:
    30,059
    Likes Received:
    8,157
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    retired, while you work!
    It has been long noted that McMillan doesn't produce assists as much as other coaches. I don't know whether stats confirm that, but it's true for his system.
     
  7. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,996
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Well, you're wrong. Portland is tied for 10th in the league in assist %, which is the percentage of a team's possessions that ends in an assist.

    http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/teamstats/_/sort/assistRatio

    They might produce less raw assists because the players don't shoot as well, and they are a slow paced team, so they don't get as many possessions and shots.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2011
  8. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    56,114
    Likes Received:
    53,918
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYstateofmind
  9. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2008
    Messages:
    18,843
    Likes Received:
    15,508
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    PDX
    Not bad at all considering this depleted roster. Sure makes every game exciting!
     
  10. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2009
    Messages:
    30,059
    Likes Received:
    8,157
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    retired, while you work!
    Just as I predicted, stats don't confirm the truth. Do not listen to their evil.
     
  11. mook

    mook The 2018-19 season was the best I've seen

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    8,300
    Likes Received:
    3,912
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Buy a recipe binder at CookbookPeople.com
    Location:
    Jolly Olde England
    Which explains why we are a few games over .500.

    But we really need to think of all these cumulative stats in terms of WR (with Roy) and AR (after Roy). This was a much, much less efficient team when we were trying to maintain a crippled Roy as the focus of the offense.

    Almost every Blazer stat this year, both team-based and individual-based, has to be looked at as the averaging out of two very, very different teams.
     
  12. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2008
    Messages:
    10,609
    Likes Received:
    2,988
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Marin
    Typically when they dump it down to him in the post he then waits for everyone to clear out so he can go at his man one on one, so there is no assist. Similarly Brandon's top of the key Iso's weren't assisted buckets either. They usually get their assists when they're moving the ball, but it's great to have a go to guy who can get theirs vs most anyone with a little spacing.

    STOMP
     
  13. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    56,114
    Likes Received:
    53,918
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYstateofmind
    Sheed was effective as hell in the post, but he never consistently showed the fire and intensity that LA is these days (except when Wallace was called for Ts; he'd get in the post and torch his defender immediately afterward). If we can get Roy to be somewhat effective for us going forward as a primary perimeter player, LA will only improve with lesser defensive attention.
     
  14. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30,244
    Likes Received:
    22,996
    Trophy Points:
    113
    You mean yours? Ok.
     
  15. mook

    mook The 2018-19 season was the best I've seen

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    8,300
    Likes Received:
    3,912
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Buy a recipe binder at CookbookPeople.com
    Location:
    Jolly Olde England
    Aldridge is the most complete low post offensive player in the game right now.

    Zbo is arguably a better scorer, but a much worse passer. Howard is a better dunker, but the rest of his arsenal is pretty limited. Amare is awesome at pick-and-roll and is a similar caliber of shooter, but doesn't really have a great back-to-basket game. Griffin is a more crazy-good athlete, but his bag of tricks and back-to-basket game is easier to contain by longer defenders.

    Aldridge does the traditional post up, finish on the lob, tip ins.... you put a big on him and he can go outside on the pick-and-pop, you put a small on him and he'll abuse you in the post. You double him and he'll pass it out quickly. He mostly goes right in the post, but if you overplay he's got a decent scoop shot. And he always has the turnaround fade if nothing else is open. If the offense is running correctly around him, he can get a decent shot or force a doubleteam virtually every play. If he's got a weakness, it's the inability to put the ball on the floor for more than a couple of dribbles.

    The guy has practically every offensive tool you could want in a post player. Plus the ability to outrun 95% of the PF/C's in the game to establish early position.

    If he continues to play at this level for a few more years, he's a candidate for the greatest Blazer ever.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2011
  16. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2008
    Messages:
    10,977
    Likes Received:
    297
    Trophy Points:
    83
    I'd probably go with Gasol
     
  17. mook

    mook The 2018-19 season was the best I've seen

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    8,300
    Likes Received:
    3,912
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Buy a recipe binder at CookbookPeople.com
    Location:
    Jolly Olde England
    Dang. Forgot about him. You may be right there.

    But you have to admit it's close.
     
  18. RoyToy

    RoyToy Clown Town

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2008
    Messages:
    10,977
    Likes Received:
    297
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Very close
     

Share This Page