LaMarcus Aldridge Still on His Journey To Become An All-Star Big Man
LaMarcus Aldridge was picked back in 2006 with the second overall pick in the draft.
Since day one, Aldridge has been an efficient big man, being able to do a little bit of everything, including scoring, rebounding, playing defense and putting pressure on defenses.
He has yet to make an All-Star team, due mostly in part to being the second option on a slow-paced Portland team to perennial All-Star shooting guard Brandon Roy.
It's been a few months since Roy has declared that his knees are not in the condition they have been, and that he is left with barely any athleticism.
Aldridge has had to pick up his game and has answered the call. He is now the main option on a Portland Trailblazers team looking to find its identity. Through all the chaos and misery surrounding the injury bug, Aldridge has been able to stay relatively healthy, and may be knocking on the front door of the All-Star game.
Roy's Knee Issues
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Yup, it's a familiar sight in Portland right now. That is All-Star Brandon Roy limping on his bad knee.
Actually, both knees are in horrible condition right now, but it is his left knee that has been bothering him.
With this injury, he hasn't been the same as he used to be, and Aldridge has stepped in to pick up the slack.
LaMarcus Aldridge is leading the team in scoring, even with the recent performances of who I call the "steal of the free agency" in Wesley Matthews.
Aldridge has always been a good scorer, but has always taken a backseat to Roy. His numbers don't jump out at you, but Aldridge is averaging 19.1 points per contest. That is a rise from 17.9 last season, even if only by about one point.
He is becoming the focal point of the offense and is living up to it.
Defense and Rebounding
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Defense and rebounding have never been the strongest parts of Aldridge's game.
He has increased his rebounding to 8.6 caroms a game, and 3.7 of those are on the offensive end, where Aldridge excels at rebounding.
His defensive rebounding is far from amazing, but he is still good for 4.9 per game. Those numbers should increase with help from Marcus Camby.
One thing about Aldridge's rebounding this year that he has learned from Camby already shows. Camby is known for being able to get an offensive or defensive rebound out to the guards if he can't grab it himself, and Aldridge is doing that more and more this season.
He is frequently tipping the ball out if he cannot get it himself, and it is creating fast breaks and allowing for second chance points.
Aldridge's defense is what he is criticized for a lot, not playing strong defense and not blocking enough shots for a guy his size.
Aldridge actually has increased his rejections to 1.4 a game, and his steals hover around the area of one per game most seasons. He added 20 pounds of muscle over the off season as well, proving he is ready to bump guys around in the paint on both floors.
Post Scoring
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Back to basket scoring is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Aldridge, but is he pretty damn good at it.
Portland's offense is being made more and more to get Aldridge easy scoring opportunities on his defender in the post. He has increased his efficiency with his back to the basket, and the 20 pounds of muscle mentioned earlier had something to do with it.
He is able to push guys around now and finish with his plethora of post moves, get to the line or find open shooters due to double teams.
Many teams long for a presence in the post, and that is what Aldridge can bring to the table.
Outside Scoring
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Aldridge's main strength in the game of ball is his shooting from mid-range. It is what defenses prepare for every night when they play him and it is what he does best.
He is one of the sweetest strokes for a big man and his arc and high release combined with his height make it hard to defend the shot.
He creates mismatches on defense with his shot, too, as he has a nice pump fake, which can usually get his man in the air, leaving him a lane to the basket and meaning guys must shift over to defend him.
Also, if all else fails in the post, his height combined with his stroke allow him to fade over bigger guys he can't get better position on in the post.
He Has a Chip on His Shoulder
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Aldridge has always had a chip on his shoulder for being soft and not using his size to his advantage. He is back and ready to prove that he deserves a spot on the All-Star team.
He uses criticism to improve himself over the offseason, and the "soft" label is gone.
He is living up to his second overall pick, and he is sending a message while doing it. He's showing the NBA that they should be prepared, for once Dirk, Duncan, Garnett etc. retire, all eyes will be on him to fill the power forward spot for years to come.
He has all the tools and the work ethic and should be able to live up to expectations and help a hurt Trailblazer team to more wins.
LaMarcus Aldridge: we're all watching. Go out and show us what you got!
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