"When I watch Aldridge this year, I think to myself, He's different. He's playing like a center. He's going down low. He's rebounding more. He's becoming a player I never imagined he could be. Conventional metrics tell us he's playing better and getting more shots, something backed up by his usage-rate numbers (22.9 percent last year, 26.3 percent this year).
2009-10: 17.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 49.5% FG, 76% FT, 15.0 FGA, 3.9 FTA, 37.3 MPG
2010-11: 22.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 49.7% FG, 79% FT, 17.7 FGA, 5.9 FTA, 39.4 MPG
Still, those numbers don't totally tell me HOW he's playing. That's why you have to love hoopdata.com, a site that breaks down scoring by zones. Last season, Aldridge attempted only 3.9 shots at the rim, 2.6 shots within 10 feet, 3.1 shots from 10-15 feet, 5.2 shots from 16-23 feet and 0.2 3s … so basically, 57 percent of his shots were long jumpers or 3s. This season, those numbers magically shifted: 6.7 shots at the rim, 3.9 within 10 feet and 7.0 shots from beyond 10 feet, meaning 60 percent of his shots now come from close range. I don't like basketball metrics that pit players against one another, but I like when they help me confirm (or in some cases, refute) what I think I'm seeing. Aldridge changed his game, started playing more like a center, grabbed a bigger piece of the offense and now he's on a whole other level. It's really that simple.
(Note to Rip City: I wanted to vault Aldridge into the next group, but he's been kicking butt for only two months -- I can't tell if it's a hot streak or something more. Had to play it safe considering he has a $70 million contract. Just know that I put a ton of thought into it; I appreciate how he's carrying your banged-up team right now; I don't eat poop; I'm not an idiot; and I don't want to have sex with myself. Wait, don't start another scathing message board thread -- NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)"
[ Trading Places -- Bill Simmons ]
