Uh oh, Aldridge is an awesome post defender

What will the haters think??

http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/3/4...arcus-aldridge-among-nbas-best-post-defenders

 

Aldridge is a great post defender vs his own man.


I am not a hater, just pointing that out as to not mislead anyone

 

Yeah but zags, blue9 and fez say he is a horrible defender. They don't look at stats brother

 

The data: FG% on all shots taken by all players when Aldridge was within 5 feet of the basket.

 

Aldridge is a great one on one defender, but isn't that great at help d. That's the misconception. That's why adding a player like McGee could really help this ball club.

 

Oh shit!!! Then excuse my last post then! Take that haters!!!!!

 

I've always felt this. Since this article confirms my bias, it's definitely true.

 

Damn I wish we could've got Hibbert. Why did Indy have to match?

 

Hibbert would be the perfect compliment to Aldridge. We would probably be the best team that defends points in the paint

 

Literally the perfect compliment to Aldridge

 

Because guys the size of trees that can actually hoop don't just grow on trees?

 

Then put him at center, make him the apex of the defense, and sign/trade for a different PF.

 

Interesting. Not quite sure what to make of it. I'm certainly not just going to buy into it because some weird amalgamation of numbers says something that my eyes tell me isn't true. It's pretty much been the consensus here - both lovers and haters - that LMA is not a good help-defender. Are we all just making it up when we see LMA stand glued to the floor rather than rotating to protect the hoop? Funny that some people are so quick to buy into something without first giving it a bit of thought as long as it helps refute someone they take great issue with.

So...ALL shots taken when LMA is within 5' of the hoop? So, all 3-pointers, all mid-range jumpers, all lay-ups - everything. I'm not quite sure how a missed 3-pointer makes LMA a better post defender...I think it just points to Nic/Wes/whoever being a good perimeter defender OR the shooter just taking a lower-percentage shot. Also, how often is LMA within 5' of the hoop? Given that he leads all PFs (and all but one C) in minutes played, yet only "faced" 221 shots (good for 7th on the list) it appears he's not near the hoop all too often. If he's not near the hoop, how can he be protecting it?

Maybe we have a poorly thought out stat that really doesn't measure anything?

 

The full list is on page 7 of the following pdf link:

http://www.sloansportsconference.co...of Interior Defense Analytics for the NBA.pdf

 

The full list of players they studied anyway

 

YOU CAN'T LOOK AT ANY STATS (I.E BLOCKS PER GAME) OR EVEN HIS GAME TO DETERMINE THAT HE IS INDEED A POOR DEFENDER. WE NEED TO TRADE HIM *STAT*.

 

It's better than giving you just the top 10.

 

And on that list he ranks #37 in "shots faced"...

 

Check the following on p. 11 of the pdf:

B) Proximal FG%: The results summarize the FG% of opponents when each defender was within 5 feet.

 

The data is broken down by close FGA, middle FGA, and 3PTA. But it is sorted by close FGA.