Aldridge wont be available, also, here's why we should prefer Love over him.
a.) Try to imagine what would happen if Aldridge and Love switch teams. Love will have Lillard as his 2nd scorer, Matthews, Batum and Robin Lopez helping him defensively. Do you think they wont make the Playoffs?
Yes, I do. I think they would be a first round exit most likely, or otherwise possibly not make it at all.
b.) I'm still working my advanced metrics knowledge, but I think basic ESPN stats can tell a story.
Let's head to head the stats from last season, Love - Aldridge.
The only thing LMA was better at from those stats are blocks, by half a point, and TO's. Love scores more but shoots less, grabs a couple more rebounds, better 3pt shooter, better assists getter (wont say better passer, im not sure about that, but he gets assists)
That's because you're looking at exactly that - 'basic' stats. In those basic stats Love may look like a better scorer, but look at the statistical breakdown offensively of both players over their careers...
Love:
Career FG Percentage (overall): 45.1%
Career FG Percentage (2PT shots): 47.9%
Career FG Percentage (3PT shots): 36.2%
Career FG Percentage (0-3 feet): 59.6%
Career FG Percentage (3-10 feet): 39.4%
Career FG Percentage (10-16 feet): 32.8%
Career FG Percentage (16 feet to 3 point): 38.9%
Career FT Percentage: 81.5%
Aldridge:
Career FG Percentage (overall): 48.8%
Career FG Percentage (2PT shots): 49.1%
Career FG Percentage (3PT shots): 20.7%
Career FG Percentage (0-3 feet): 69.4%
Career FG Percentage (3-10 feet): 43.8%
Career FG Percentage (10-16 feet): 41.2%
Career FG Percentage (16 feet to 3 point): 42.1%
Career FT Percentage: 78.8%
Lemarcus Aldridge is a significantly better scorer from everywhere on the court EXCEPT from three and from the free throw line. Love may score more points, but Aldridge is a more dangerous scorer from almost anywhere on the court. Love basically scroes more points because he attempts more free throws (and hits them at a slightly higher rate) and because he takes more three point FG's (which amount to more points than a two point FG).
I would argue that when the game is on the line and you need a big basket, and you need to take whatever shot you can get, you'd be more confident in LMA hitting that shot than you would with Love because Aldridge is just a superior shooting from anywhere inside the three point line. He's got exceptonal finishing ability around the basket, he's got an elite jump shot from midrange, deadly turnaround jumpshot from the post (which is all but unguardable) and if you do foul him he's still a very good foul shooter. The only time Love is going to be a better option is if he's catching it outside the three point line, basically. Keep him off the perimieter and you have a pretty decent shot of shutting him down and winning the game. Shutting Aldridge down is much more difficult, because he can score in so many ways.
On top of that there is the issue of defense. Imagine you are in a big playoff game, series is on the line, game is tied. You are the Blazers. Love has the ball, and you desperately need a shop. Aldridge is on Love. You have a pretty good chance of Aldridge getting a stop, and coming back on offense for a chance to win the game.
Now the tables turn. Aldridge has the ball, the other team is on defense, Love is on Aldridge. What is the chance of Aldridge not scoring on Love? Not looking good. Love's team will most likely HAVE to send a double team, leaving another player wide open elsewhere on the court.
See Love might be a better three point shooter, but Aldridge can still defend Love's three. Can Love defend Aldridge?
This is why I don't see Love as a #1 option on a team. He's nowhere near as effective a scorer as people seem to think when he's inside the three point line. In fact over his career there is not a single position on the floor (outside of 3 feet) where Love has shot better than 40%. If he's your go-to guy when the game is on the line, you're probably in trouble. That's probably a big reason why the Wolves have struggled to get any real team success with Love as their star player. However if he is your #2 guy, then that I think is deadly. If you have that #1 guy who can draw attention and demand double teams then opposing teams run the risk of losing track of Love, at which time he can really destroy you.
I think Love is the equivalent of Ray Allen when he was at Boston in 08. Ray was a big time player, could have some huge games, but without Pierce and KG I'm not so sure he ever would have been able to lead Boston as the #1 guy. Put hiim on a team with a scorer like Pierce however, then Ray (as a #2 or #3 guys) becomes absolutely deadly.
I think Love is, at the end of the day, better as a complementary star - much like the role Chris Bosh has in Miami. Bosh put up massive numbers in Toronto, but that team never really got anywhere far. As a complementary player alongside a Lebron/Wade however, Bosh is deadly. Same thing with Love I believe.
c) Aldridge is also closing in on 30, while Kevin Love is 25. Love has room to improve and you'll have a longer window, can't say that with LMA.
The hate with Love because of his defensive deficiencies, I get. But it can be solved, he can be masked. To deny that Love is not a max player though, that's what I think is ridiculous.
I think Love's status as a Max player is kinda questionable.
I don't think it's a question that he'd GET a max contract, I just think it's questionable whether I would be willing to actually PAY him a max contract. He's the type of guy who I would never pay that money to, but you know for certain there's somebody out there who would. Kinda like Josh Smith - everybody knew SOMEONE would offer him a Max contact, which they did. In his case though it wasn't so bad, because Smith's max contract wasn't team-crippling high. Around 13M or so. You can work with that. Love's contract renewal would be at least $18M, and that is team-crippling high. Unless you think he is a guy who can be your #1 and lead you to a title (or you know absolutely for certain that you can get a guy to pair with him who can), I don't think he's worth it.
For Chicago I think he's worth it. Derek Rose is your #1 scorer, Joakim Noah is your elite post protector. Throw Kevin Love in to that mix and you have an instant contender.
For Boston, not sure he's such a good fit.
1.) Disagree, that Minny lineup won't be enough help for Aldridge to carry on his own. There is no Brandon Roy, good Gerald Wallace, Wesley Matthews or Damian Lillard caliber type of player to help him there.
2.) Fair point on stats. Taken
3.) You said that Love gets to the line more, isn't that a testament on how good he is drawing fouls?
4.) Love wont defend Aldridge in the Playoffs. That's why you acquire Asik or some sort of another defensive big man who can switch to LMA. Just because they're the PF matchup doesnt mean they have to face each other man to man. Tactics, friend. You can use tactics, as long as you have a man who can execute. Love can't do this, unfortunately, so as Pekovic which is why Minny cant win. You get Love with a defensive big and hide him to a better defensive matchup, we're going to do fine.
5.) Say complimentary star or main star all you want, a 25 year old player who puts 26/12/4 is a superstar numbers that if you have the chance to acquire, you go for. And...
6.) He's SO WORTH the max contract. Can't deny that production and star power. Find other guys in the NBA who does that that is AVAILABLE on the trade market? He drops 26 a game shooting 45%, he can be your number 1 guy. The key is giving him a solid number 2, and surround him with a team who's capable of hiding his defensive deficiencies.
Outside of basketball wise, he will bring behinds to the TD Garden seats and he's marketable, so if we're talking straight financial investment, he's good.
Rondo, Green, Love and Asik is a PLAYOFF team, possibly will even contend for a spot in the West. There's enough talent there. Jeff Green can be the 2nd go to guy, which he probably fits the mold. Rondo and Green can play good defense in the perimeter and Love and Asik will control the boards. Asik protects the paint. And if Rondo is back to Rondo form, Lord...
And you get the usual 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, 4 assists from Kevin Love, that's a really good team.
(now that I think about it, with Courtney Lee on that team, that's going to be a tough out for any team)
Topic: This is the reason why i don't want Love as a Celtic (Read 38740 times)