Will Aldridge adjust before Christmas?

[Mnky]

Pop said in an interview, "hes doing what new people do" talking about his want to pass and divert first. It's hard to get a feel for lma in his interviews. Can't tell if he's bothered or just trying to be politically correct.

A Kawhi Aldridge consiatent pick n roll will be a nice. Christmas present.

[Seventyniner]

By Christmas, definitely. By Thanksgiving is a better question. As said by many others, Aldridge won't score 23 ppg but 20 is quite reasonable.

[SuperCam]

Aldridge is one of the victims of Kiwi's kobe-ball right now, tbh. 1:7 A/TO ratio hurting the team alphas...

[RD2191]

You are by far one of the dumbest posters in his site......With a dumb sig too.

Stick to video games fella.

it's Kawhi time..

[SuperCam]

6/16. Two were dunks, neither created by his own offense. So 4/14. That's not nearly consistent enough to be a first option. Hes been taking good and bad shots. Needs to stay aggressive and learn the difference, but this team needs Aldridge taking way more shots. When it's the playoffs and defenses are designed to keep Danny from 3s and Tony from driving, and diaw from creating...and all you have is old school one on one basketball, Aldridge will be the difference.

The main thing is the spacing has been horrible. Aldridge is a smart player and constantly spreading the floor for Kawhi and Duncan. When Aldridge gets the ball half the time Kawhi and Duncan haven't cleared out and Aldridge has no room to work. They need to learn to get out of the way.

I have faith it will come. Without Aldridge getting a heavier scoring load, spurs will be stressed for buckets. Kawhi still doesn't know how to handle more than one defender. He constantly makes a bad pass or loses the ball when driving and is met with help defense.

All that being said, 2nd game.

They'll be alright by Christmas.

A+ take, tbh

[cjw]

When people talk about adjusting shooting percentages for Leonard's two dunks and then comparing it to averages, it demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of how statistics work. League averages have those plays baked in too! More important to look at a larger sample size which will come as season progresses and look at shot types, game situations, etc.

It's like talking about a running back only averaging 3.0 yards per carry in a game if you took out his 30 and 50 yard TD scampers. Sample size and bias. Now if you were looking at a RB's median YPC on first and second down (non-short yardage, typical rushing situations), that's a much better indicator.

With Lamarcus, his offense will pick up as thing progress. It's not an easy system to be integrated into, and he's not totally lost out there. The bigger story is defensively, he's not going to be a significant drop-off, if at all, from Splitter. And you can't really compare his defense to Splitter's. Splitter played 60% of the minutes Aldridge will, so throw in 40% of Baynes/Ayres/Bonner too that he'll replace.

[Russ]

Before which Christmas?

The bigger story is defensively, he's not going to be a significant drop-off, if at all, from Splitter.

If this guy can play defense, the Spurs are going all the way.

[baseline bum]

Aldridge isn't going to be scoring 23 ppg in the Spurs system until Duncan retires. He's not going to be playing 36 minutes a game in it either. LMA will probably settle in around 18 ppg or so. He does look pretty lost in the offense right now though, the Spurs offense was last night until the second half when they kept running plays with Duncan on the strong side and LMA on the weak side. I think within a month or so you'll start to see LMA becoming a really efficient scorer, he's too devastating a pick and pop player to not really excel in this offense sooner or later.

[BatManu20]

He never will. Time to trade him tbh.

[Kikoluna]

Aldridge needs to score 15 per game and Leonard 24 per game.

[apalisoc_9]

Aldridge needs to score 15 per game and Leonard 24 per game.

[daslicer]

Aldridge needs to score 15 per game and Leonard 24 per game.

Too funny considering Kawhi will never even average 20 a game.

[apalisoc_9]

Too funny considering Kawhi will never even average 20 a game.

He'll get 21+ this year..As I predicted.

go be stupid somewhere else

[daslicer]

He'll get 21+ this year..As I predicted.

go be stupid somewhere else

You crack me up I still don't see it happening. Kawhi will average somewhere between 16-19.

[Mnky]

When people talk about adjusting shooting percentages for Leonard's two dunks and then comparing it to averages, it demonstrates a complete misunderstanding of how statistics work. League averages have those plays baked in too! More important to look at a larger sample size which will come as season progresses and look at shot types, game situations, etc.

If you add the two dunks, you're still at 6/16. Hasn't changed the inefficiency. So your statistical argument is moot. The point, however, is that he is not a player who can take a game over on his own regularly yet. The lack of ability to get points when he's missing his shot, defines this. Same thing happened against the Clippers. His shot faded, and so did he. If he is dependent on being a 1 facet scorer of taking fadeaways, it severely limits his ability to impact a defense. Its not a knock on him, but an assessment. It's very easy to game plan against a one trick pony.

Look at what Pop did to LeBron in the finals when he forced him to shoot. Completely disrupted the Cavs system.

Kawhi will be a great player, and is already above average, but he's not the first option material make him out to be at this point. He will have his ups and downs. good games and bad. Stay aggressive, learn from your mistakes and grow. Try to limit the affect it has on integrating your new star player tho.

[GreggPopAsnitch]

I am not sure. I don't mind at all a game like today because if others are scoring the ball well like they did tonight, you don't need him to be looking for his shot. He's not forcing shots unless its a post up and in fact, several of his post ups just end up with ball movement and someone else taking the shot not him. I don't think he wants to be the inefficient guy he's been in the past, so he's been more selective with what he's doing. He's also playing less minutes than he was in Portland, so that messes up his numbers, just like it has for all Spurs before him.

He's also very engaged defensively and rebounding. It actually looks like he's starting to gel with the guys. I am liking his game more now than in Portland TBH. I think he's bound to have a scoring explosion soon though, he's too talented a scorer. I just want him to be in rhythm for close games like the OKC game. Its actually against the elite teams that we need him to be sharp.

Not saying it was needed, because on nights like last night it wasn't. But there will come times where we need to get him more involved on offense. In the post game interview he said pop wants him to shoot more. I agree its good he is not forcing his shots, but it wont hurt to be a little more aggressive. He was crashing boards and getting putbacks which was nice though. But you cant really mean it when you said you like his game now vs him in Portland.... cmon now.

[SAGirl]

Not saying it was needed, because on nights like last night it wasn't. But there will come times where we need to get him more involved on offense. In the post game interview he said pop wants him to shoot more. I agree its good he is not forcing his shots, but it wont hurt to be a little more aggressive. He was crashing boards and getting putbacks which was nice though. But you cant really mean it when you said you like his game now vs him in Portland.... cmon now.

I love his game either way, but I am a sucker for good passers and unselfish play. Its my one weakness, because maybe my favorite players are not your typical highlight guys. I just appreciate many subtleties beyond highlight plays. The fact he's more engaged with teammates makes me like him more as a player than I previously did, and I already liked him. We are just seeing an aspect of him that we had not seen in Portland where they made him come across as this selfish diva dude, who only cared about his shots and his role. What I have observed is that he was a product of a system in Portland that emphasized his game, but also placed an extreme burden on his shoulders that did not let him rise above where he got in the playoffs. I think while he's learning the system, he's playing better and more engaged defense than he had previously, and is becoming a more unselfish player. That is important because when he starts to get more aggressive, he's really going to create for himself and promote ball movement at the same time, the way Tim has done for us so many years. He's the successor to Tim and I would rather have him learn Tim's unselfish ways right now so he can carry that banner for us beyond this season, than rushing that process to his Portland ways. We have to remember, he's still learning the system and that calls for a lot of plays that involve the big man in ways that end up in plays for other people.

I think its on others, his new teammates, to look to him for shots organically and the fact they have so much chemistry with each other, kind of leaves him as a spectator to what they are doing way too often. But Lamarcus is way too good, and I think his teammates enjoy playing with him and want him to do well enough that within a few games we are going to start to see the whole thing come together better.

[GreggPopAsnitch]

I love his game either way, but I am a sucker for good passers and unselfish play. Its my one weakness, because maybe my favorite players are not your typical highlight guys. I just appreciate many subtleties beyond highlight plays. The fact he's more engaged with teammates makes me like him more as a player than I previously did, and I already liked him. We are just seeing an aspect of him that we had not seen in Portland where they made him come across as this selfish diva dude, who only cared about his shots and his role. What I have observed is that he was a product of a system in Portland that emphasized his game, but also placed an extreme burden on his shoulders that did not let him rise above where he got in the playoffs. I think while he's learning the system, he's playing better and more engaged defense than he had previously, and is becoming a more unselfish player. That is important because when he starts to get more aggressive, he's really going to create for himself and promote ball movement at the same time, the way Tim has done for us so many years. He's the successor to Tim and I would rather have him learn Tim's unselfish ways right now so he can carry that banner for us beyond this season, than rushing that process to his Portland ways. We have to remember, he's still learning the system and that calls for a lot of plays that involve the big man in ways that end up in plays for other people.

I think its on others, his new teammates, to look to him for shots organically and the fact they have so much chemistry with each other, kind of leaves him as a spectator to what they are doing way too often. But Lamarcus is way too good, and I think his teammates enjoy playing with him and want him to do well enough that within a few games we are going to start to see the whole thing come together better.

Well wow that was spot on! I see where you're coming from.

[Maj_G]

it's exciting to see LMA atop the AdjGS chart for the first time as a Spur. He did a little bit of everything in this one, playing assertive defense, dominating the boards, spreading the ball around and taking it to the rack. In the second half he even broke a smile and appeared to be enjoying himself for the first time this year. That's scary for the rest of the league, for whom a relaxed, confident LaMarcus might spell certain doom.

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2015/...-burn-the-nets

it's not all about offense, you guys. LMA played much better than he is given credit for.

[cjw]

If you add the two dunks, you're still at 6/16. Hasn't changed the inefficiency. So your statistical argument is moot. The point, however, is that he is not a player who can take a game over on his own regularly yet. The lack of ability to get points when he's missing his shot, defines this. Same thing happened against the Clippers. His shot faded, and so did he. If he is dependent on being a 1 facet scorer of taking fadeaways, it severely limits his ability to impact a defense. Its not a knock on him, but an assessment. It's very easy to game plan against a one trick pony.

Look at what Pop did to LeBron in the finals when he forced him to shoot. Completely disrupted the Cavs system.

Kawhi will be a great player, and is already above average, but he's not the first option material make him out to be at this point. He will have his ups and downs. good games and bad. Stay aggressive, learn from your mistakes and grow. Try to limit the affect it has on integrating your new star player tho.

You miss the point. Taking one game and overreacting. 16 shots is a tiny sample size, even smaller than the 13 of 22 in his first game. Add them together and you have a bigger sample size at 50% shooting (very good for such high usage).

He didn't fade yesterday either - continued to beast on defense. You see what he did to Joe Johnson?

If you think he's "above average" and not great, don't know what to tell you.

I do agree I wish he'd be more aggressive when his jumper isn't falling, and has to learn to dish better which will open up driving lanes for him. Kawhi-LMA two man game has so much potential.

[YGWHI]

If you add the two dunks, you're still at 6/16. Hasn't changed the inefficiency. So your statistical argument is moot. The point, however, is that he is not a player who can take a game over on his own regularly yet. The lack of ability to get points when he's missing his shot, defines this.

Things are changing...His shots weren't falling against the Nets and he still found ways to score. He's becoming a pretty solid offensive player even if his shot abandon him at times.

[Mnky]

Things are changing...His shots weren't falling against the Nets and he still found ways to score. He's becoming a pretty solid offensive player even if his shot abandon him at times.

He is growing. I've always said the more opportunities he gets the better he's going to become. His offensive game was limited to growing due to the lack of touches in the past. I'm excited to see him learn to be that player with the spurs.

[hater]

Aldridge looks good tbqh.

he's hustling on D, getting good offensive rebounds and making great passes. His shot is off but that is nothing to worry about.

Very happy at what I'm seeing.

[Mnky]

You miss the point. Taking one game and overreacting. 16 shots is a tiny sample size, even smaller than the 13 of 22 in his first game. Add them together and you have a bigger sample size at 50% shooting (very good for such high usage).

He didn't fade yesterday either - continued to beast on defense. You see what he did to Joe Johnson?

If you think he's "above average" and not great, don't know what to tell you.

I do agree I wish he'd be more aggressive when his jumper isn't falling, and has to learn to dish better which will open up driving lanes for him. Kawhi-LMA two man game has so much potential.

I didn't miss the point, i addressed it head on. You just misspoke, and adjusted your argument after. The original question once again, was at the growth from now to Christmas. The sample size we have was the evidence prorcided. The next 40 games couldnt be used as they haven't happened. I also refered to the clippers series which supported my sample size evidence.

He did fade away offensively(which is what we are talking about).

Yea. I'm pretty excited about a lma Kawhi future. Supporting cast will get better in the coming years too, as we inject athletic youth which will be put in position to thrive under pop. The futures bright, no doubt.

[Mnky]

Aldridge looks good tbqh.

he's hustling on D, getting good offensive rebounds and making great passes. His shot is off but that is nothing to worry about.

Very happy at what I'm seeing.

10 rebs, 4 asst. 6 pts. Great half. Game changes with him having that ball.