Was Aldridge worth it, tbh?

[midnightpulp]

They aren't using the "Spurs system" anymore, which is the point of this thread, tbh..

Aldridge should be a "win-now" move, though..he's already at the end of his prime, and he's only going to get worse, physically..

The starters also need to stop trying to play the "Beautiful Game." You can't play a fluid motion offense with 3 post players, an SG who can't dribble nor finish, and a score first PG. Goal for the starters should be to get Leonard and LMA 15-20 shots in their spots every game. Parker and Green will play off the double teams they'll inevitably get, and Duncan will do his picking and defense anchoring thing, with the occasional post up/outside shot.

I'm still seeing too much overpassing with this squad, which always seems to push Kawhi to the corner/away from the paint. They also need to run more seals for LMA.

[spursistan]

Is the above an Aldridge problem? This team just doesn't have any reliable 3pts shooter at this point..the mere fact that Kawhi is your best with at an unsustainable clip is telling..

[midnightpulp]

It's also worth mentioning (if we buy the theory that Danny is having a tough time adjusting to new cir stances) that Kawhi's new role as the focal point of the offense could also be affecting his play.

I'll say again. Scrap the beautiful game for the starters. It worked when Kawhi was a spot up shooter/free lancer, but his offense is of the Kobe/Jordan variety. Isolation in the Mid-post/maneuvering into his mid-range spots to take jumpers. You can't run much of a motion offense from that.

[HarlemHeat37]

Is the above an Aldridge problem? This team just doesn't have any reliable 3pts shooter at this point..the mere fact that Kawhi is your best with at an unsustainable clip is telling..

It's not "blaming" Aldridge as a player..the thread is asking whether changing a successful system and potentially sacrificing a key role player in a spot with no depth was worth it for a big man version of Iverson that has shown virtually no flashes of dominance, so far..

People are focusing on the thread le, which I probably should have worded differently..

[HarlemHeat37]

The starters also need to stop trying to play the "Beautiful Game." You can't play a fluid motion offense with 3 post players, an SG who can't dribble nor finish, and a score first PG. Goal for the starters should be to get Leonard and LMA 15-20 shots in their spots every game. Parker and Green will play off the double teams they'll inevitably get, and Duncan will do his picking and defense anchoring thing, with the occasional post up/outside shot.

I'm still seeing too much overpassing with this squad, which always seems to push Kawhi to the corner/away from the paint. They also need to run more seals for LMA.

Ideally, yes, but there must be a reason Pop is going with this style..

[Sean Cagney]

Nope. LMA is trash and a playoff choker. Should of kept Tiago and our depth imo.

But Tiago wpuld just be in street clothes though tbh.

[Johnny RIngo]

Signing Aldridge was never a 'win-now' move imo. It was so the fans had someone who they could call their 'star' when Duncan and Manu are gone (along with Kawhi).

We knew before he got here that he was a terribly inefficient scorer. Most people on here expected that to change in 'the Spurs system'. Now that that's failing they're saying 'wait until the Playoffs before he starts dominating like a max star'. You can't write this stuff.

He's a piss poor replacement for Duncan or Manu unfortunately. Those two were legit playoff performers that weren't afraid of contact(both were ridiculous at drawing free throws in their prime). LMA is more of a big man version of Parker - soft mental midget that can get hot for one series but more often than not disappoints in the post-season.

[spursistan]

I agree though that if LMA isn't 18/10 guy in the playoffs (+35 MPG), then we are probably going nowhere..

[DMC]

You cannot blame poor shooting on the new guy. Danny gets his looks and he misses. That's not because of LMA. He'll get over it or he'll get benched. Besides, didn't he sign a new contract? Why practice now?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Spurs will need to do something at the trade deadline. Add a shooter and potentially another shot blocker as the interior defense by the bench is awful.

[TD 21]

The system was changing last season as is and as much as we all loved the '12-'14 iterations of this team, they weren't winning another championship that way. It wasn't just Parker and Ginobili declining or Leonard getting better, it was that many of the progressive things they did/do, started to become commonplace around the league after the '14 championship.

Also, I'm sick and tired of hearing about how different Green's shots are. People act as if they're asking him to be Curry. It's funny; Batum and Matthews had no trouble hitting threes playing off of Aldridge. I'm still confident Green will progress to the mean, but if he doesn't, I'm not blaming Aldridge for it.

No matter what happens with this team, I'm not questioning that signing. People can nitpick his game/personality all they want, but the bottom line is, the stars had to align for them to sign a player of his caliber and his presence (along with finding suitable Duncan and Ginobili replacements) should at least allow them to remain fringe contenders for the near future.

[DJR210]

Maybe Green should adjust? Everyone else has seen boosts to their offense beside him. The excuses for his scrub play have ran out.

This. ing Danny Green is still a pro at the end of the day, and comparing him to the rest of the core, what the has he developed since getting here? His defense is better, but what has he added?

[TheBestEver]

everything Op and apalisoc post is shtick. This is either a new Aldridge hate shtick or they decided to make a bunch of threads last night to distract from Kawhi having a bad game.

[HarlemHeat37]

everything Op and apalisoc post is shtick. This is either a new Aldridge hate shtick or they decided to make a bunch of threads last night to distract from Kawhi having a bad game.

talking on an alt, tbh..

I'm actually a big fan of Aldridge, despite his weight gain and poor history in meaningful games, and I acknowledged that Kawhi had a bad game..

[Kawhitstorm]

It's not "blaming" Aldridge as a player..the thread is asking whether changing a successful system and potentially sacrificing a key role player in a spot with no depth was worth it for a big man version of Iverson that has shown virtually no flashes of dominance, so far..

People are focusing on the thread le, which I probably should have worded differently..

LMA is more like Melo that Iverson. For all the Iverson gets he was one of the best shot creators for a shooting guard & his first priority was to get into the paint rather than jack up midrange shots. Carmelo never averaged double digit free throw attempts (highest was 8.9) & has taken more midrange shots than anyone since he came into the league. The only guy that had success playing w/ Melo for an extended period is JR Smith......so Danny for JR

Basically you need role players who excel at making contested 3s:
JR
Nick Young
Gerald Green
Isaiah Canaan
Arron Afflalo
Wilson Chandler
Marcus Thornton
C.J. Miles
Jamal Crawford
Brandon Jennings
Randy Foye
Tim Hardaway Jr
Dion Waiters
Louis Williams
Cory Brewer/Josh Smith (although they are terrible shooters in general)

Lillard/Wes Matthews were very good at making contested 3s & had success playing w/ LMA

[weeks]

It'd be a lot more cheerful in here if the fkng dubs weren't looking like basketballs final boss .We're to a great start and our losses have been close ...it just feels horrible in comparison.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Obviously he is worth it in a vacuum and you take a star player if you can, but Aldridge's addition has transformed Green into one of the worst starters in the league, after being one of the 2 best perimeter role players in the league since 2013..worthless Danny Green = Spurs are just a pretender, as we have seen since 2012...

I believe the Spurs won a championship since 2012...

[Spurs9]

Not sure tbqhimo

[HarlemHeat37]

I believe the Spurs won a championship since 2012...

Green shot historically well from 3 in the 2013 and 2014 playoffs, which helped win the West and win the le..he collapsed in 2012 and was disappointing in 2015, which led to a WCF defeat and a 1st round exit..his shooting has been somewhat of a barometer for the Spurs..

[spursistan]

the type of game that is a sure L without his contribution ...26/13 on 11/18 shooting in 32 minutes .especially if Kawhi is going to play like this in the Clippers matchup, having LMA match Griffin is a must to have chance against those guys..

[Robz4000]

LMA really starting to fit in nicely. Green also played well while he was in.

[Russo21]

Last 5 games LMA is averaging 19ppg, 8.8rpg, 56FG% in just 28 minutes per game. Spurs 5-0. LMA is a perfect fit for the Spurs, only 25 games into his Spurs career it's only going to get better from here.

[bic50]

QUOTE=Russo21;8329612]Last 5 games LMA is averaging 19ppg, 8.8rpg, 56FG% in just 28 minutes per game. Spurs 5-0. LMA is a perfect fit for the Spurs, only 25 games into his Spurs career it's only going to get better from here.[/QUOTE]

Getting close to his season avg last season [

[Agloco]

the type of game that is a sure L without his contribution ...26/13 on 11/18 shooting in 32 minutes .especially if Kawhi is going to play like this in the Clippers matchup, having LMA match Griffin is a must to have chance against those guys..

Bingo. You can see it in Leonard's body language. The Clippers are in his head unforch.

[SAGirl]

Last 5 games LMA is averaging 19ppg, 8.8rpg, 56FG% in just 28 minutes per game. Spurs 5-0. LMA is a perfect fit for the Spurs, only 25 games into his Spurs career it's only going to get better from here.