OK Aldridge Bashers...

[THE HCP]

Well this is his hometown, let's hope he brings it in front of his family again like last time!

 

[PapaG]

Basically.

I'm happy for Aldridge. I feel like he's finally realizing his potential. Someone must have sat him down sometime during the Roy's knees debacle and said, "look, this is your team now". Because he's certainly acting like it.

Aldridge's career rebound rate is 13.1. He is at 13.3 this season. His FG% is lower, and his advanced shooting stats are lower as well.

It's not like he suddenly started playing at a much higher level this season, at least in hard statistics. He is just more efficient, which makes him more productive.

 

[MickZagger]

Aldridge's career rebound rate is 13.1. He is at 13.3 this season. His FG% is lower, and his advanced shooting stats are lower as well.

It's not like he suddenly started playing at a much higher level this season, at least in hard statistics. He is just more efficient, which makes him more productive.

You wouldn't agree that the last 10 games or so is the best basketball of his career?

 

[MickZagger]

His FG%, TS%, and his eFG% are below his career averages, yet his PER is at 19.7. He's simply a much better player this season, and if/when his shooting improves to even his career norm, there is no reason to think he can't be a 20+ PER player this year.

Its the last 10 games that have bumped up that PER. He was teetering around a PER in the high 15 and low 16's until about 10 games ago. Lets not act like he's been playing like this the whole season.

Its the same with Matthews. His PER is weighted down by the beginning of the season before he was a starter and he was playing below average basketball.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Aldridge's career rebound rate is 13.1. He is at 13.3 this season. His FG% is lower, and his advanced shooting stats are lower as well.

It's not like he suddenly started playing at a much higher level this season, at least in hard statistics. He is just more efficient, which makes him more productive.

You wouldn't agree that the last 10 games or so is the best basketball of his career?

As MZ said, the last ten or so games he actually is playing at a much higher level ... and it is all of a sudden. I still want to see if he can sustain this, but the fact that he's hardly picking and popping and is making most of his moves from the post and has finally started to show signs that he can deal effectively with a double team ... well ... it all adds up to a remarkably different LaMarcus.

 

[PapaG]

As MZ said, the last ten or so games he actually is playing at a much higher level ... and it is all of a sudden. I still want to see if he can sustain this, but the fact that he's hardly picking and popping and is making most of his moves from the post and has finally started to show signs that he can deal effectively with a double team ... well ... it all adds up to a remarkably different LaMarcus.

I'm only saying that his diminished advanced FG statistics and FG% belie his 19.7 PER at this point. I understand that he is playing "better" recently, but his aggregate PER is higher than it has ever been, even though more traditional markers are lower/slightly above average.

 

[Minstrel]

I'm only saying that his diminished advanced FG statistics and FG% belie his 19.7 PER at this point.

How do they belie it? If things like scoring efficiency were a matter of luck, then I could see your point...when the luck evens out, his PER will rise. But scoring efficiency is not luck, so those being down don't belie or artificially lower his PER.

His overall season hasn't been remarkable or way above career norms. It's the last 10 games that have been so impressive. Hopefully, he keeps it up.

 

[PapaG]

How do they belie it? If things like scoring efficiency were a matter of luck, then I could see your point...when the luck evens out, his PER will rise. But scoring efficiency is not luck, so those being down don't belie or artificially lower his PER.

His overall season hasn't been remarkable or way above career norms. It's the last 10 games that have been so impressive. Hopefully, he keeps it up.

He is less impressive statistically offensively this year, and below his career norm, yet his PER is higher. Go to basketball reference and try to dig deep, if you want. Again, I'm merely posting statistics, and commenting on those facts.

 

[Natebishop3]

He is less impressive statistically offensively this year, and below his career norm, yet his PER is higher. Go to basketball reference and try to dig deep, if you want. Again, I'm merely posting statistics, and commenting on those facts.

But wouldn't you say that his game just LOOKS better? He's more aggressive. He's playing closer to the basket. The guy just looks more confident. That's what encourages me the most.

 

[RipCityInsider]

He is less impressive statistically offensively this year, and below his career norm, yet his PER is higher. Go to basketball reference and try to dig deep, if you want. Again, I'm merely posting statistics, and commenting on those facts.

You are talking apples while everyone is talking about oranges. Nobody is discounting the stats aqcuired over the course of this season, but merely praising him for his previous play in the last 10 games or so. What is your overall opinion of his latest stretch of play?

 

[PapaG]

You are talking apples while everyone is talking about oranges. Nobody is discounting the stats aqcuired over the course of this season, but merely praising him for his previous play in the last 10 games or so. What is your overall opinion of his latest stretch of play?

Awesome.

Then again, I've been killed on this board for years for "defending" LMA. I've always thought he was a very good PF, and that he has the ability to fit into multiple roles. My point is that he can even play better, and he will if more is asked of him, IMO.

In other words, I've been talking oranges for years about LMA, while the apple crowd just shifted from Fuji to Gala.

 

[Minstrel]

He is less impressive statistically offensively this year, and below his career norm, yet his PER is higher.

If his PER is higher, then he's not less impressive statistically, since PER is based on stats. He's less impressive in certain stats. My question is why it matters that he's less impressive in some stats and more impressive in others?

Go to basketball reference and try to dig deep, if you want.

If I want to, I certainly will!

Again, I'm merely posting statistics, and commenting on those facts.

Again, I'm merely reading your comments on those facts and asking you questions about those comments.

 

[MickZagger]

His stats this past 10 games are what makes his stats for this season better. He was a 16 PER until mid-way through December when he started playing great.

 

[RipCityInsider]

Awesome.

Then again, I've been killed on this board for years for "defending" LMA. I've always thought he was a very good PF, and that he has the ability to fit into multiple roles. My point is that he can even play better, and he will, IMO.

I see where you are coming from now. I've always been an Aldridge defender as well so it is nice to finally see his emergence.

 

[PapaG]

His stats this past 10 games are what makes his stats for this season better. He was a 16 PER until mid-way through December when he started playing great.

Yet his season % averages are lower than his "normal" year, even with the last 10 games.

When will you post another "I told you so" thread about Kevin Love.

 

[MickZagger]

Yet his season % averages are lower than his "normal" year, even with the last 10 games.

Not really. All his numbers are up except for FG%

Edit: Oh tricky you changed from stats to %. Well, yes, his FG% is slightly down.

 

[MickZagger]

When will you post another "I told you so" thread about Kevin Love.

About the same time you post another Blake is better than Miller thread, or Wes Matthews is overpaid thread.

 

[PapaG]

About the same time you post another Blake is better than Miller thread, or Wes Matthews is overpaid thread.

Matthews is still overpaid IMO, and the team won more games without Miller than with him.

That said, I liked last night's game. If Andre will take 5 or less shots a game and instead distribute the ball, I like the Blazers' chances against most teams.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yet his season % averages are lower than his "normal" year, even with the last 10 games.

When will you post another "I told you so" thread about Kevin Love.

Keep the thread on point. Your last statement was an obvious shot over Zaggers bow. Why don't you focus on the topic at hand?

 

[Minstrel]

Matthews is overpaid, and the team won more games without Miller than with him.

That said, I liked last night's game. If Andre will take 5 or less shots a game and instead distribute the ball, I like the Blazers' chances against most teams.

And if Miller scores a lot when his team needs it, as he's been doing in his Portland career, then I like the Blazers' chances even more.

 

[PapaG]

Keep the thread on point. Your last statement was an obvious shot over Zaggers bow. Why don't you focus on the topic at hand?

I'm posting to 3 people at once. Cut me some slack.

 

[PapaG]

On a side note, Nate, "concentrating" on work this week is a lost cause for me. PHX on Friday afternoon!!!! The 6am flight back on Tuesday won't be pretty, though, win or lose.

 

[PapaG]

And if Miller scores a lot when his team needs it, as he's been doing in his Portland career, then I like the Blazers' chances even more.

His team didn't need it against Phoenix last year?

 

[Minstrel]

His team didn't need it against Phoenix last year?

They did and he gave it them in Game 1. He's not such an elite scorer that he can do it when the other team focuses their defense on him.

He's not a prime Kobe or LeBron. He's not even a healthy Roy as a scorer!

 

[THE HCP]

What is LA's PER as of today?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

What is LA's PER as of today?

19.7... It was 19.4 before the Houston game; he had a 30 PER game.

 

[THE HCP]

My ESPNInsider ran out. Can somebody post maybe the top 50-100 PERs in the league?

 

[THE HCP]

Just so I can compare 19.7 to others out there.

 

[Minstrel]

Just so I can compare 19.7 to others out there.

I don't have an Insider account either, but the stat is normalized such that 15.0 PER is approximately a league average starter, 20.0 PER is approximately an All-Star level player and a 25+ PER is superstar production. A 30+ PER season is historic greatness, like prime Jordan, Chamberlain.

 

[MickZagger]

You don't need insider to view PER

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/holl.../insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics