Post by Rog on Apr 6, 2017 11:27:52 GMT
Lamrcus Aldridge, the 73rd nominee of the NBN Hall of Fame was one of those dynamite scoring bigs that is so rare in NBN. His dominance was a bit short lived, heck he only played 13 seasons in NBN and retired at 35. Was he good enough, for long enough to be a member of the elite? Lets take a look.
Career Stats
34.9 MPG, 21.4 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.9 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 1.3 TOPG on 43.3% from the field, 81.8% from the line, and 26.2% from three
Best Season
Raptors(2013) - 26.1 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.1 BPG, 1 SPG, 1.4 TOPG on 44.8% from the field, 83.7% from the line, and 33.3 from three
Career Highs
Points: 53
Rebounds: 25
Assists: 8
Steals: 5
Blocks: 10
Achievements
Championships: 0
Player of the Game: 142
Player of the Week: 1
Player of the Month: 0
Double Doubles: 669
Triple Doubles: 1
Accolades
2008 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2008 - Rookie Game MVP
2008 - All-Rookie Team
2009 - All-Star Rookie Game Participant
2011 - All-League First Team
2012 - All-League Second Team
2013 - All-Star Game Participant
2013 - All-League First Team
2017 - All-Star Game Participant
2017 - All-League Second Team
Arguments for Induction
- LMA played in two All-Star games while also being named to two All-League second teams and two All-League first teams.
- As mentioned already, Aldridge was one of the best scoring bigs in league history averaging 21.4 points a game. He averaged 22.9 points a game or better for 7 seasons of his career, including six in a row from his third season on. The first 8 seasons of his career he averaged at least 20.2 points a game. Fantastic numbers for a big. Lamarcus finished his career 34th in points all time.
- While not the greatest efficiency, LMA was pretty solid for a big in FBB. He shot 43.3% from the field, and even more impressively he shot 81.8% from the line. He also had some range, making him a threat you couldn't just leave on the perimeter. The 43.3% might not look impressive, but consider dynamo scoring center Brook Lopez only shoots a shade over 45% and most would agree LMA isn't on that level scoring wise.
- LMA was also a pretty damn good rebounder, averaging 11.3 a game for his career. Like Bogut, that was a pretty consistent number in his career. Didn't stray too far above or below that number. Not great, but good enough when the guy is giving you what he gave you scoring wise. He did finish 20th all time in rebounds when he finished his career.
- Not exactly known for his defense, he did carry an A+ rating for a lot of his career and wasn't exactly the biggest shot blocker, indicating he was pretty solid on ball. He also did average 3 stocks a game for his career, including nearly a steal a game.
- Overall, its hard to deny a guy who averaged 21 points/11 rebounds/3 stocks and didn't turn the ball over at all. His counting stats don't really tell a great picture because he had a pretty short career. He also played all but realistically two seasons on contending teams where he was the 2nd or at worst 3rd player on those teams in his prime. He could help carry a team to a series win, and those type of players deserve to be in the Hall.
Arguments Against Induction
- While we're getting better, LMA does not have enough awards.
- Just over half of his career was spent over 20 points a game, while he was known as a great scorer? Sure for 7 seasons, maybe 8 of his 13 in the league. Also was pretty inefficient, even considering him being a more inside oriented scoring big in FBB. Hard to say you are a great scorer shooting 43% from the field.
- Didn't bring anything in the passing game, which has become more and more required of bigs. Averaged 1.6 assists per game, which is pretty terrible.
- No defensive awards, mediocre block numbers, and doesn't ever show up on the top defenders list. Hard to use defense as a plus when he just wasn't known as an elite defender by the league or the game.
- Overall, you have to wonder what he hangs his case on when its hard to argue he is a great offensive player, not great on the boards, even worse defensively and his passing game left a lot to be desired as well. Did you really fear him come playoff time? Was he ever the best player on a contending team? He didn't win a title, doesn't have high counting stats to rely on, and he isn't elite statistically per year either. He has a good case, it just falls short though doesn't it?
Vote carefully, and remember to throw out arguments regardless of which side you're on. This should be a discussion that eventually gets the league to the proper decision on him. Your vote can also be retracted after it's been cast if you feel like switching to the other side based on the arguments that have been made. To be inducted, a player needs 70% and to be considered in a later class they need 50%. Vote carefully.
***BONUS - Don't forget that everyone who votes gets $25 and the person that makes the best argument or contributes to the discussion the best will be awarded an extra $25***
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