If both healthy, who's better LMA or Roy?

[44Thrilla]

I saw Marc Spears of Yahoo on CSN New England tonight and he said he spoke with Marcus Camby, and Camby told him regardless of injury, Aldridge is better than Roy.

 

[Ed O]

Roy is. Aldridge might someday be better than Roy was/would be, but I don't think he's there yet.

Ed O.

 

[jlprk]

This is already established. Roy is more versatile. He dribbles. He gets around the court. He makes the pass, he doesn't depend upon receiving it. He's clutch. Camby arrived when Roy's problems began. Maybe he's a jinx. Maybe Roy will improve when Camby leaves.

 

[Hey]

A team built around LMA > team built around B-Roy.

 

[THE HCP]

The one that has been an all-star a couple times.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I have always said LMA is more talented, so I will stick with that

 

[PapaG]

I don't think there is even a question about it. Roy has proven to be an unguardable NBA player when healthy. Camby really never got to play with that Roy.

LMA is on a great stretch, though. I hope he continues to be that player over a two-to-three season stretch, and that Roy can be the 18ish PER player that LMA has been for most of his career. Then, Oden comes back and throws down a bunch of rebounds and blocks, and The Dream Is Still Alive!

 

[PapaG]

A team built around LMA > team built around B-Roy.

Based on what? I mean, I hope that's true, and that LMA is the next Tim Duncan, but title teams built around an elite PF are few and far between.

 

[KingSpeed]

Stupid question, IMHO. They play two different positions. How can you compare? Why bother? I want them both to be good. Who was better? Stockton or Malone?

 

[Hey]

Stupid question, IMHO. They play two different positions. How can you compare? Why bother? I want them both to be good. Who was better? Stockton or Malone?

Stop trying to be a conversation killer. Just because people play different positions, doesn't mean they can't be compared as better or worse. If you're asking me about Stockton or Malone, it would basically be asking who meant more to the team. Obviously, Stockton/Malone is a very difficult one to dissect. So is Roy/Aldridge. But it's fun to try and discuss anyway.

I say LMA is a better player to build around because he's the first PF since Duncan that can post, shoot, and defend well. KG is another example. When the T'Wolves actually put some decent players around him, they had a great season. Even after his prime, he helped the Celtics win a championship (almost two). If you look at the league for the past ten years, there actually hasn't been a lot of PF's like Aldridge (assuming this new Aldridge is permanent). Chris Webber is another good example.

All-Star SG's are quite common. Roy was unguardable 1 on 1, yes. But the Blazers were much too dependent on him. And his defense was "suspect". His versatility is pretty overrated IMO.

 

[44Thrilla]

Michael Jordan and Bill Wennington played different positions, I'm not sure which was better.

 

[PapaG]

His versatility is pretty overrated IMO.

Artest said the Roy was his most difficult match-up, and Kobe Bryant said the player closest to him in all-around game was Brandon Roy.

It's a shame we'll never get to see what would have come out a healthy Roy.

 

[KingSpeed]

Stop trying to be a conversation killer. Just because people play different positions, doesn't mean they can't be compared as better or worse. If you're asking me about Stockton or Malone, it would basically be asking who meant more to the team. Obviously, Stockton/Malone is a very difficult one to dissect. So is Roy/Aldridge. But it's fun to try and discuss anyway.

I say LMA is a better player to build around because he's the first PF since Duncan that can post, shoot, and defend well.

Rasheed Wallace and Pau Gasol disagree with you.

Also, like you said, Kevin Garnett. Perennial All Star, 2004 NBA MVP, 2008 NBA Champion.

So how can Aldridge be the first PF that can post/shoot/defend since Duncan?

 

[Minstrel]

I'd go with Roy. He had an established, elite level while Aldridge's elite play is still too short a stretch to be sure it'll last long-term.

However, the way Aldridge is playing right now is superior to even a fully healthy Roy. Largely because while his production is similar to Roy's, his defensive presence is much more valuable. So I can understand why Camby said Aldridge is better, health aside.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Stupid question, IMHO. They play two different positions. How can you compare? Why bother? I want them both to be good. Who was better? Stockton or Malone?

Book of Basketball has Malone 18, Stockton 25.

 

[BrianFromWA]

3 years ago the consensus was that Roy had the 3rd-best talent behind LMA and Oden. But Roy actually put his to good use for 4 years. LMA is just now starting to realize that there is no spoon.

 

[Hey]

Rasheed Wallace and Pau Gasol disagree with you.

Also, like you said, Kevin Garnett. Perennial All Star, 2004 NBA MVP, 2008 NBA Champion.

So how can Aldridge be the first PF that can post/shoot/defend since Duncan?

Forgot about Gasol. Rasheed? Meh, as talented as he is, you can't build around an attitude like that.

But that just further proves my point of PF's winning big.

 

[B-Roy]

Rasheed Wallace and Pau Gasol disagree with you.

Also, like you said, Kevin Garnett. Perennial All Star, 2004 NBA MVP, 2008 NBA Champion.

So how can Aldridge be the first PF that can post/shoot/defend since Duncan?

Cause KG came before Duncan.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Aldridge of the last month is better because he's not a ball-stopper and plays far superior defense. If he reverts back to old LMA then there's no question that Brandon (fully healthy) is the superior player.

I'm calling it a toss-up right now based on the fact that we don't know if LMA can keep this up.

 

[RoyToy]

Aldridge has been nice, but it's Roy. Roy had the killer instinct and was statistically one of the top 10 players in the NBA in the 4th Q. The best defenders in the NBA couldn't stop him most nights and Kobe and Artest said as much. He could break down the entire defense and get any shot from the 3pt line to finishing at the rim.

His pull-up jumper is what really set him apart from being just a nice SG. It forced people to play right on him and when he was fully healthy that was when he would shake them and blow right by them.

I miss that Roy. It'll be a long, long time until the Blazers are lucky enough to get another player like that. Hopefully Roy can make it work as a 6th man. He could still close games.

 

[PapaG]

I miss that Roy. It'll be a long, long time until the Blazers are lucky enough to get another player like that.

That's so true. I'm so glad I enjoyed that Roy completely, as opposed to bitching about him, as others did while picking apart his weaknesses/style of play.

How long before the Blazers win 54 games again? How long before Paul Allen sells the team? Which will happen first?

 

[Natebishop3]

That's so true. I'm so glad I enjoyed that Roy completely, as opposed to bitching about him, as others did while picking apart his weaknesses/style of play.

How long before the Blazers win 54 games again? How long before Paul Allen sells the team? Which will happen first?

They probably could have come close to winning 54 this season if Camby hadn't gone down. Now if Batum is out that will pretty much put the kaibosh on any possibilities of making the playoffs.

 

[PapaG]

They probably could have come close to winning 54 this season if Camby hadn't gone down. Now if Batum is out that will pretty much put the kaibosh on any possibilities of making the playoffs.

I just don't see it. Camby went down when the team was 22-20. They are 3-2 since his injury. They would have to have gone 32-8 with him the rest of the way.

No way, IMO.

 

[Natebishop3]

I just don't see it. Camby went down when the team was 22-20. They are 3-2 since his injury. They would have to have gone 32-8 with him the rest of the way.

No way, IMO.

I'm still expecting an injury from Aldridge that will put him out for a string of games. The hip might do it. You can't play a guy that much and not expect him to break down.

 

[MARIS61]

Better at what?

It's apples and oranges.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I like this version of Aldridge better than Roy.

But Roy was more valuable as he was a legit closer.

 

[Natebishop3]

Better at what?

It's apples and oranges.

Better. You know, just... better.

[video=youtube;w4TbxS_CdWE]

 

[RoyToy]

Lakers in town, best team in the NBA, going to be a tough night, right?

Wrong.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore;_ylt=AqXB0GO3okzhBb3gciCldvJYPaB4?gid=2010010822

Roy could do it against anyone. Didn't matter how good the team was or if it were a tie game with 6min left to play in the 4th. Roy could take a game over against anyone. I don't think Aldridge is quite at that point. I still think he rushes his post moves a little too much. Doesn't always play under control and it hurts his shot at times.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Wait, Camby said Aldridge was better than Roy? That's kind of douchey.

 

[huevonkiller]

I'd go with Roy. He had an established, elite level while Aldridge's elite play is still too short a stretch to be sure it'll last long-term.

However, the way Aldridge is playing right now is superior to even a fully healthy Roy. Largely because while his production is similar to Roy's, his defensive presence is much more valuable. So I can understand why Camby said Aldridge is better, health aside.

Yeah that's how I see it too. I wish Aldridge well.