Impact of Aldridge on Spurs

The biggest move of the 2015 free agency was the signing of LaMarcus Aldridge by the San Antonio Spurs. Coming off a crushing game 7 loss in the first round of the playoffs to the Clippers the Spurs were expected to take a step back from the elite teams in the west. But by adding a perennial all-star in Aldridge it was clear that the Spurs were going to be back again.                                                         Result: As of today the Spurs are 26-6 good for second best in the NBA.

Aldridge’s fit with the spurs hasn’t been easy. For the season he is averaging only 15.7 pts (lowest since his rookie year) and 8.8 rebounds per game. That might be because of the Spurs team first style. Aldridge was the first option for the Trail Blazers which has not been the case here. His minutes are down (which happens when you play for spurs),. Despite this we must not forget that this is the guy who has the experience of carrying teams on his back. He has been playing better lately and is getting comfortable in the Spurs system. By the time playoffs come we can expect him to be back to be LA of Portland because Pop knows how to best use his players.

Aldridge provides Spurs with additional low post scoring which will be really handy in playoffs where game slows down. He has the ability to match up well with the best power forwards in the game. In last season’s playoffs Blake Griffin tortured any player that the spurs put on him. Spurs had no big who could match up with him. As a result Spurs lost to them on last possession of game 7. The story could have been a lot different if Lamarcus Aldridge would have been there.

This year Kawhi Leonard has taken his game to another level and is playing MVP caliber basketball on both ends of the floor. He has been there go to guy. But Aldridge is one guy who can attract double teams every time he touches the ball and can free up shooters. This was something that spurs had been missing since Duncan has taken a step back (he is still good but he is not Duncan of early 2000s).

Having Aldridge in their team might not have its best effects now. The Spurs still would have won 50+ games even if he hadn’t signed with them. But his presence ensures that Spurs will be contenders for a long time even after big three of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili retire.