Was Aldridge worth it, tbh?

[DrunkTXLabrat]

Poor seeding rules (div champ MUST be in top 4). Happened to us in 2006, too, and they changed THAT rule (div champ must be in top 3) the next year, also.

We weren't the only ones ed over. It just took another round for the Clips to get bounced because of that unnatural first round bloodbath. They were only the 9th team in NBA history to lose when up 3-1.

i can't believe that is your serious answer. blaming it on the seeding is such a cop out. please tell me you can admit that?

[ceperez]

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2016/...-in-the-league

Erler: I was worried about his fit alongside Tim Duncan more so than him in a vacuum. I still don't think his game is terribly efficient and that there is a ceiling offensively with him, Duncan and Tony Parker on the floor together. Aldridge is a better post-up player and defender than I gave him credit for being before he joined the Spurs, but overall I'm pretty lukewarm on him. I think he's already lost some athleticism from his peak years in Portland and I'm kind of concerned about how he runs and his lack of explosiveness. Let's just say I don't see him aging as gracefully as Duncan. Fortunately the Spurs won't need him to be their alpha-dog, they've got Kawhi Leonard for that.

Passos: Call it Richard Jefferson Syndrome, but there were some early concerns. The way he's let the game come to him while playing a key role on a top defense is a testament to the guy's talent and professionalism.




Gomez: I definitely was worried but not about his ability. I thought he would not be happy waiting for shots and scoring 15 a game. I still sort of believe that, but the Spurs have found ways to get him more touches and he's making the most of them. Now it looks like he's the perfect fit next to Leonard.

Itz: For the first month or so I was concerned that not being the best player on the team was going to bother him and that maybe his personality was a poor fit, but he's been fully assimilated into Pop's cult. Now that he's comfortable, we're seeing his game round into form.

Wilco: I had decided to give him until after the Rodeo Road Trip before I allowed myself to even evaluate his performance seriously. So I did well there. But I had thought he'd come out firing on offense and struggle to step up on defense. Not so good there. All in all, he's exceeded my expectations, and he's still getting better.

[Chinook]

God, you're trying to buttress your take with PtR? I'm gonna have to order some more hashtags from Amazon.

[ceperez]

God, you're trying to buttress your take with PtR? I'm gonna have to order some more hashtags from Amazon.

Well, Erler hit the nail on the head, the dude runs like a girl.

[benefactor]

looking to pounding the for validation

[HarlemHeat37]

damn, 23 pages???

I was definitely way off about the Spurs' maintaining their success, didn't see it coming, although it's partly due to the schedule..the biggest reason for their success has been Parker playing like a star and 2-way basketball, though, along with Manu doing his thing..I'm still not fully convinced that the 2 of them can sustain this level of play, and it's concerning that the Spurs are still so reliant on them with Aldridge on the team, but ya, that has been a poor take, so far..

The Aldridge takes remain valid, though..he has been the 6th or 7th best player on the team, which is OK, I suppose, but not at the expense of Green becoming a scrub, unfortunately, when you just signed both players to long-term deals..I haven't bumped this thread after any of his bad games, like getting outplayed by Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, but some idiots actually bump this thread after he has good games vs. terrible teams? at least wait until the playoffs, or wait until he has a nice game vs. the Warriors or Thunder or Cavs(he has sucked in both games involving these teams, so far)..a lot of thirsty posters here..

Fortunately, Tony has turned back the clock and deserves a ton of credit for putting the work in during the off-season..he has been by far the 2nd best player on the team, so far

[BD24]

Is this attention still trying to pretend this isn't a take. One simple question and answer can tell you if Aldridge was worth it. Are we better than we were last year? Would we be as good as we are now with Splitter instead of Aldridge. It's pretty ing simple.

[HarlemHeat37]

Is this attention still trying to pretend this isn't a take. One simple question and answer can tell you if Aldridge was worth it. Are we better than we were last year? Would we be as good as we are now with Splitter instead of Aldridge. It's pretty ing simple.

The point of this thread was never Splitter vs. Aldridge, I've never once said that..I was 100% in favor of adding Aldridge over any other FA, I have never said otherwise, despite not being a fan of his game..I wasn't in favor of changing the system for him, which is the only point of this thread..the record is irrelevant to my argument point and it's a vanilla point to make..

[BD24]

The point of this thread was never Splitter vs. Aldridge, I've never once said that..I was 100% in favor of adding Aldridge over any other FA, I have never said otherwise, despite not being a fan of his game..I wasn't in favor of changing the system for him, which is the only point of this thread..the record is irrelevant to my argument point and it's a vanilla point to make..

Nice spin. Right your record doesnt matter. I mean obviously we saw last year that records don't matter and are just for vanilla fans.

[DPG21920]

damn, 23 pages???

I was definitely way off about the Spurs' maintaining their success, didn't see it coming, although it's partly due to the schedule..the biggest reason for their success has been Parker playing like a star and 2-way basketball, though, along with Manu doing his thing..I'm still not fully convinced that the 2 of them can sustain this level of play, and it's concerning that the Spurs are still so reliant on them with Aldridge on the team, but ya, that has been a poor take, so far..

The Aldridge takes remain valid, though..he has been the 6th or 7th best player on the team, which is OK, I suppose, but not at the expense of Green becoming a scrub, unfortunately, when you just signed both players to long-term deals..I haven't bumped this thread after any of his bad games, like getting outplayed by Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, but some idiots actually bump this thread after he has good games vs. terrible teams? at least wait until the playoffs, or wait until he has a nice game vs. the Warriors or Thunder or Cavs(he has sucked in both games involving these teams, so far)..a lot of thirsty posters here..

Fortunately, Tony has turned back the clock and deserves a ton of credit for putting the work in during the off-season..he has been by far the 2nd best player on the team, so far

Aye mang, I sort of get the lense you were looking at this through but I'ma have to disagree on LMA being the 6th or 7th best player. He's probably been 4th and more recently the 2nd. Whole year prob 3rd or 4th.

[HarlemHeat37]

Nice spin. Right your record doesnt matter. I mean obviously we saw last year that records don't matter and are just for vanilla fans.

Spin? That's been my point throughout the thread

People just look at the name of the thread and assume that I don't want Aldridge, which I've literally never said a single time..

I didn't say the record doesn't matter, I said it's irrelevant to my point..I admit the Spurs are much better than I thought they would be, but it's because they added multiple key pieces(not just Aldridge), Parker/Ginobili having resurgences and a really weak league/schedule(which is always the case when you have 2 teams pushing a 70-win pace + OKC with an 8+ MOV)..

[HarlemHeat37]

Aye mang, I sort of get the lense you were looking at this through but I'ma have to disagree on LMA being the 6th or 7th best player. He's probably been 4th and more recently the 2nd. Whole year prob 3rd or 4th.

Among the Spurs, he ranks in the bottom half of every advanced metric but PER(which is kind to players with Aldridge's usage/style), relatively speaking, tbh..

His individual numbers are pretty decent, but all his advanced on/off metrics are meh..

I don't think he has been bad or anything, but I don't think he's been nearly good enough to justify changing the system and marginalizing the 3rd best player from last year..I won't really be convinced until he does it in the WCSFs to the Finals, though..I'll gladly eat it, if that occurs..

[DPG21920]

He ranks in the bottom half of every advanced metric but PER(which is kind to players with Aldridge's usage/style), relatively speaking, tbh..

His individual numbers are pretty decent, but all his advanced on/off metrics are meh..

Danny Green of last year was putting up Draymond Green-level impact, tbh..

I mean, I saw his plus/minus numbers and yeah they aren't good....but his PER & win-share metrics are grading out very well. I'm not putting too much into his PER - because it's going to be great for LMA esp because of the minutes factor (PER using per-minute stats), but overall with the team improvement on defense & softer things like spacing (would love to see gravity numbers for LMA ) I think 6-7 is way too harsh.

[HarlemHeat37]

I don't think it's that harsh..it's not even really a shot at him, too, 6th highest impact on a potential 70-win team having a historically good season isn't a huge deal for a player being integrated in a new system..

I just hope he steps up when it's needed, and alleviates some of the pressure being put on Parker and Ginobili to carry the load..playing against ty teams(which is most of the NBA, this season) is a different ball game..

[DPG21920]

Well I agree some with that but although TP & Manu are relied upon its not like "traditional" relied upon. Still managing minutes. Still great bench. Still multiple guys stepping up night after night...etc..

For example LMA has the 2nd highest usage rate on the Spurs behind Manu, but that's only good for 43rd-47th high in the league. It's not that taxing for anyone big picture.

[ChumpDumper]

lol this thread

[spurraider21]

[dabom]

You still have to give props for raw stats as long as he is playing good defense.

Advance metrics with raw stats and role on the team places LMA around the 3/4th best player.

[sasaint]

I mean, I saw his plus/minus numbers and yeah they aren't good....but his PER & win-share metrics are grading out very well. I'm not putting too much into his PER - because it's going to be great for LMA esp because of the minutes factor (PER using per-minute stats), but overall with the team improvement on defense & softer things like spacing (would love to see gravity numbers for LMA ) I think 6-7 is way too harsh.

1st Tier: Kawhi Leonard

2nd Tier: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker

3rd Tier: LaMarcus Aldridge, Boris Diaw, David West

Alphabetical order. How each player ranks within his tier is splitting a personal hair.

[SAGirl]

Very relevant. There were adjustment pains early. Not just the system, but all new teammates and he was differing to Tim. He's been better and looks more comfortable. I don't think the Danny issue is related to LMA at all. That is where I completely disagree with Harlem. Danny got paid, his role was apparently going to expand as an adjustment to less reliance on Manu bc no one could have predicted that Simmons, who looked so poor in preseason that there were actual doubts he would even make the team and Anderson, who some have never believed in and who has a very unique game that is nothing like Manu's, could contribute more than Danny. POP's plan for Danny didn't work out and Danny's now trying to find his confidence and his game back.

Regardless of fit with Tim, we needed a jumpshooting big. Tim at this point is on loan. It might truly be his last season (although some take him for granted and assume he'll be back.) And he was going to decrease his load as he's aged. It's possible without LMA this season we are not even as good as last season and we were not great last season to begin with. despite Tim's terrific year.

[Tully365]

So... Was he worth it? I feel like only a contrarian would say no.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Harlem will have to use some troll account for these edgy takes. Slipped on this one.

[Tully365]

Harlem will have to use some troll account for these edgy takes. Slipped on this one.

Yep. Just a tbh or two & he'll be all set.

[midnightpulp]

Among the Spurs, he ranks in the bottom half of every advanced metric but PER(which is kind to players with Aldridge's usage/style), relatively speaking, tbh..

His individual numbers are pretty decent, but all his advanced on/off metrics are meh..

I don't think he has been bad or anything, but I don't think he's been nearly good enough to justify changing the system and marginalizing the 3rd best player from last year..I won't really be convinced until he does it in the WCSFs to the Finals, though..I'll gladly eat it, if that occurs..

Do you have LMA's RAPM number this year? I think the fact that RPM takes player history into account is hurting his rating there.

Per NBA.com's stats, LMA is 2nd among the starters in PIE (not sure how much stock you put in that stat), 1st in rebound rate, 4th in NETRTG, 3rd in raw +/-, and he features in all of the best Spurs 5 man lineups that have played over 20 minutes together.

Maybe being backed up by West (who is LMA-lite and has a pretty big advantage over the opposing team's backup PF, who is usually a scrub) is hurting some of his on/off metrics?

[ChumpDumper]

So Harlem's argument is that LMA's not worth it because Danny Green had a shooting slump.

Edgy.