Marc Spears: "LaMarcus Aldridge best power forward in the NBA."

[C_note]

http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/nba/Y_Sports_NBA/28456179;_ylt=AnrSnfkjEsa6y2orbSthcc.8vLYF

 

[Carlito]

Has he noticed how dirk carries mavs? He doesn't even come close to dirk. Lousy late game player and is not consistent to where big time players dominate night in and out.

 

[jaspitzer]

I'm glad he's getting duncan comparisons. I've noticed that too. I don't know if he is the best right now, but he does have the largest load on his shoulders I'd say.

 

[C_note]

True, but he said pound for pound. And what I think he meant but had trouble explaining: AKA the most valuable power forward,
the guy who age-for-age is the best currently.

So you settle for a less developed game and take the youth of Aldridge as the most valuable PF currently in the league RIGHT NOW. I agree with that.

 

[PapaG]

Blazer management needs to whatever is necessary to get LMA a star-level NBA PG, and not the scrubs and journeymen he's had to play with so far in his NBA career.

 

[Nikolokolus]

LA has really turned into a player worthy of a top 3 pick which is more than I ever thought possible ... and I agree with everyone else who thinks this team needs to do whatever they can give him a worthy supporting cast.

Whatever happens, I'll wish him well in 3 years when he goes to the Mavs and keeps that franchise cruising after Dirk retires.

 

[Run BJM]

Yeah I'd still have to go with Dirk as the best right now because he can take over games like no other PF. If I'm starting a franchise and had my pick of any PF to have for the next decade I'd go with LMA though. If he played defense and rebounded like a prime Duncan he'd absolutely be the best PF in the league.

Kind of shocking how far the PF talent pool has fallen off over the last decade. Seems like yesterday when prime Duncan, KG, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, young Amare and Pau were duking it out nightly. Dirk is the only one who hasn't fallen off a cliff or retired and now people talk about Love, Griffin, LMA as the next best guys. None of those current top 4 play defense, only one has a legitimate post game.

 

[magnifier661]

If Aldridge had guards and forwards that could stretch the d, he would be the best statistically too. How can you have your post player finish games for you if they dare your guards to shoot and surround Aldridge down low? The few times I've seen teams play Aldridge one on one, he torches them. He needs help on the perimeter.

 

[crowTrobot]

None of those current top 4 play defense, only one has a legitimate post game.

by most measures LMA actually has pretty decent defensive stats this year - far better than griffin or love.

 

[MickZagger]

Yeah I'd still have to go with Dirk as the best right now because he can take over games like no other PF. If I'm starting a franchise and had my pick of any PF to have for the next decade I'd go with LMA though. If he played defense and rebounded like a prime Duncan he'd absolutely be the best PF in the league.

Kind of shocking how far the PF talent pool has fallen off over the last decade. Seems like yesterday when prime Duncan, KG, Jermaine O'Neal, Elton Brand, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, young Amare and Pau were duking it out nightly. Dirk is the only one who hasn't fallen off a cliff or retired and now people talk about Love, Griffin, LMA as the next best guys. None of those current top 4 play defense, only one has a legitimate post game.

The days of the great defensive 4 almost done once Duncan and Garnett retire.

 

[MickZagger]

by most measures LMA actually has pretty decent defensive stats this year - far better than griffin or love.

Far better?

They both have a Drtg of 100. They both average exactly 1 steal a game.

Aldridge averages .08 blks a game, while Love averages .05

Love has a defensive win share rate of 1.9, while Aldridge has a DWS of 1.7

Aldridge is above Griffin, but not Love. They are very comparable defensively.

 

[crowTrobot]

Far better?

They both have a Drtg of 100. They both average exactly 1 steal a game.

Aldridge averages .08 blks a game, while Love averages .05

Love has a defensive win share rate of 1.9, while Aldridge has a DWS of 1.7

Aldridge is above Griffin, but not Love. They are very comparable defensively.

don't know much about the DRtg formula, but LMA has the lowest opponent PER of the 3 by at least a couple points. ESPN also had a stat on coast to coast that showed LMA is much better at stopping an opponent in the post than love or griffin, although don't recall exactly what they were referencing.

 

[Masbee]

don't know much about the DRtg formula, but LMA has the lowest opponent PER of the 3 by at least a couple points. ESPN also had a stat on coast to coast that showed LMA is much better at stopping an opponent in the post than love or griffin, although don't recall exactly what they were referencing.

Points scored ON you when you are defending the post.

Griffin was HORRIBLE. Man he sucks at post defense.

Love was better than Griffin (though this season only - have to wait til next season to confirm not an outlier for his career, which it is so far).

Aldridge was way better than Love, which made him in a different classification than Griffin as a post defender.

Love has improved his defense a fair amount this season (something to play for?). But, Aldridge has been a good defender for a long time. Gotta give the edge to proven, consistent performance.

But, Love is a much better rebounder and has turned into a very potent 3 point threat.

This season has really opened some eyes about Love and Aldridge around the league. I think both of them are leapfrogging Amare, Bosh, Gasol and other names that have been in the hat the last couple seasons as best young or prime PF's.

Griffin gets all the hype, but he isn't as good as Love or Aldridge.

I would take either one, but if I could choose, since they are close, I always take the height and the guy who can slide to Center - the Duncan type PF, and that is Aldridge.

 

[Run BJM]

I haven't reviewed any defensive statistics of any kind, but just based on eye balling them when I see them I would say LaMarcus is the best defensive player of those 4 guys I mentioned. But that's really not saying much. Hes not a bad defender, but I wouldn't say hes above average. A huge part of what made Duncan and KG the best PFs of all time was their transcendent defense, but even guys like Rasheed, JO could be great defenders when they wanted to be. These days? The only starting PFs I can think of with any kind of notable defense are Ibaka and Josh Smith.

Griffin is fugging pathetic. I've been saying it since his rookie year, he comes off like a cocky prick and hes really buying into his own hype. Getting drafted onto an LA team could be the worst thing that ever happens to him. How can you be that physically gifted and be such a poor defender? Shit you'd think he could still give great weakside help even if he is a sieve one-on-one but he doesn't even do that. You can see it in his offensive game too, he just wants to extend his shot to 3 point range and get better handles while his FT% plummets and his post game remains undeveloped.

 

[MickZagger]

Points scored ON you when you are defending the post.

Griffin was HORRIBLE. Man he sucks at post defense.

Love was better than Griffin (though this season only - have to wait til next season to confirm not an outlier for his career, which it is so far).

Aldridge was way better than Love, which made him in a different classification than Griffin as a post defender.

Love has improved his defense a fair amount this season (something to play for?). But, Aldridge has been a good defender for a long time. Gotta give the edge to proven, consistent performance.

But, Love is a much better rebounder and has turned into a very potent 3 point threat.

This season has really opened some eyes about Love and Aldridge around the league. I think both of them are leapfrogging Amare, Bosh, Gasol and other names that have been in the hat the last couple seasons as best young or prime PF's.

Griffin gets all the hype, but he isn't as good as Love or Aldridge.

I would take either one, but if I could choose, since they are close, I always take the height and the guy who can slide to Center - the Duncan type PF, and that is Aldridge.

25 and 15, top 3 in the league in FTA and #1 in makes, improved defense and on a team in the playoff hunt at 23 years old.

I attribute the improved defense to slimming down. I bet his dad got in his ear about defense and he made an effort to work on it.

 

[MickZagger]

don't know much about the DRtg formula, but LMA has the lowest opponent PER of the 3 by at least a couple points. ESPN also had a stat on coast to coast that showed LMA is much better at stopping an opponent in the post than love or griffin, although don't recall exactly what they were referencing.

Aldridge is still a better defender, mainly because of his versatility on defense. But, far and away? The numbers suggest otherwise.