LaMarcus Aldridge has emerged as the indicator for Net's offense. Can he sustain it?
When the Nets’ decided to sideline Kyrie Irving until he received the COVID-19 vaccine, Steve Nash and his players said replacing the point guard’s scoring couldn’t be done by any one individual. It would have to be done by committee.
So far, LaMarcus Aldridge has emerged as the head of that committee.
Aldridge scored 15 points off the bench and grabbed eight rebounds in Brooklyn’s 120-96 win over the Thunder. He’s made an early case for Sixth Man of the Year, for averaging 12.8 points per game on 59 percent shooting. He’s also shot 46 percent from deep. Aldridge would be a strong favorite for comeback player of the year if the NBA still gave the award after coming out of retirement to play for the Nets after stepping away from the game in April due to heart problems.
“He looks amazing,” Kevin Durant said after Brooklyn’s win in Orlando on Wednesday.
“He has 20,000 points for a reason,” James Harden added.
Last season, Joe Harris proved to be the thermometer of Brooklyn’s offense. The Nets were 12-1 in games in which the sharpshooter scored 20 or more points, which showed how impactful he was to Brooklyn’s historically good offense despite being a role player. So far, Aldridge has that honor for the Nets. With Sunday’s win, Brooklyn improved to 7-1 this season in games in which Aldridge reaches double-digits in scoring. He’s tied with Patty Mills, his longtime teammate, with three 20-point games off the bench this season.
“He is knocking down his shot, putting the pressure on his defense with his rolls, his post-ups,” Durant said Sunday. “Obviously great for us. You got to give him credit for staying ready and knocking down shots. He’s a hard worker.”
Aldridge’s performance isn’t just impressive because of his five-month layoff from the game this year or his age (36.5), but because of his efficiency. He’s only averaging 20.5 minutes per game and has played more than 24 minutes just once this season. Nash said he isn’t trying to overwork Aldridge early in the season and needs him like this for the playoffs, but isn’t afraid to play him more if needed. At the same time, if it’s working for Aldridge and the Nets, why change it? In Oklahoma City, the Nets were without Paul Millsap and rookie Day’Ron Sharpe due to personal reasons and Nic Claxton, who is ramping up after battling a non-COVID illness. Despite a short-handed frontcourt, Nash only needed Aldridge for roughly 22 minutes in the win.
The 6-foot-11 forward has thrived in the midrange game this season, his bread and butter for years, and is shooting 65 percent on such shots for the year. Brooklyn has run a lot of pick-and-pop with Aldridge in which he has the choice to stay within the arc and shoot the midrange or drift beyond the line and launch from deep. Against the Thunder, he displayed a little bit of both. He checked in with 2:45 left in the third quarter and promptly hit a 3. In the second quarter, he pulled up and nailed a floater to put the Nets up five. Later in the quarter, he received a behind-the-back pass from Harden and nailed another 3.
On defense, Aldridge’s rating of 103.8 is his lowest since the 2017-18 season. He has emerged as a reliable rim-protector for a team that is seventh in defensive rating, a surprise to everyone, despite having an older roster mainly built for scoring.
Even when Aldridge is scoring, defenses haven’t been able to fully focus on him when he’s on the floor with either Durant or Harden. In the third quarter, Durant drew a double-team and quickly found Aldridge, his fellow Longhorn, wide open in the corner to put the Nets up 16. The next possession, Aldridge again had a wide-open look from the corner after DeAndre’ Bembry sucked the defense in on a drive. Aldridge’s attempt was off the rim, but it’s another sign that his opportunities aren’t likely to change. Aldridge is shooting 68 percent on catch-and-shoot opportunities and more are coming.
“He’s won us a few games and been a big part of our success this year,” Nash said Wednesday. “Gives us a scoring punch off the bench but also just a veteran who knows how to play on both ends of the floor. He’s seen it all.”
One of the people Aldridge has seen it all with is Mills, who has played with him on every team he’s played for (Portland, San Antonio and Brooklyn) in his career. Mills was the primary star off the bench Sunday as he hit a career-high nine 3-pointers to finish with 29 points. Fittingly, Aldridge was the one to tell Mills he had a career-high from deep shortly after he checked out of the game.
Mills hasn’t been surprised with Aldridge’s play despite his longtime teammate’s circumstances over the past year. Despite his age, Mills isn’t fazed when Aldridge turns back the clock like he did early in the fourth quarter with a monstrous dunk off a spin that drew reminders of his days at Texas where he emerged as the No. 2 pick in the draft. What has impressed Mills is how easily Aldridge, who averaged 19 points per game two years ago and was an All-Star a year earlier, has made the transition from franchise player to supporting cast.
“What’s surprised me is how professional he’s been in being able to make the most of his opportunities coming off the bench,” Mills said. “And obviously that’s new for him. But he’s been such a pro that way and still been able to find his ways of impacting the game and we obviously do well as a team when he does get it going.”
Aldridge’s start has been a heartwarming tale for a Nets team that started the season with Irving sidelined indefinitely and suddenly had to find a third offensive option alongside Harden and Durant. With Irving’s return unknown and Harden and Durant being the Nets’ only two reliable scorers, they’ll need him to continue it.
LaMarcus Aldridge has emerged as the indicator for Net's offense. Can he sustain it?
When the Nets’ decided to sideline Kyrie Irving until he received the COVID-19 vaccine, Steve Nash and his players said replacing the point guard’s scoring couldn’t be done by any one individual. It would have to be done by committee.
So far, LaMarcus Aldridge has emerged as the head of that committee.
Aldridge scored 15 points off the bench and grabbed eight rebounds in Brooklyn’s 120-96 win over the Thunder. He’s made an early case for Sixth Man of the Year, for averaging 12.8 points per game on 59 percent shooting. He’s also shot 46 percent from deep. Aldridge would be a strong favorite for comeback player of the year if the NBA still gave the award after coming out of retirement to play for the Nets after stepping away from the game in April due to heart problems.
“He looks amazing,” Kevin Durant said after Brooklyn’s win in Orlando on Wednesday.
“He has 20,000 points for a reason,” James Harden added.
Last season, Joe Harris proved to be the thermometer of Brooklyn’s offense. The Nets were 12-1 in games in which the sharpshooter scored 20 or more points, which showed how impactful he was to Brooklyn’s historically good offense despite being a role player. So far, Aldridge has that honor for the Nets. With Sunday’s win, Brooklyn improved to 7-1 this season in games in which Aldridge reaches double-digits in scoring. He’s tied with Patty Mills, his longtime teammate, with three 20-point games off the bench this season.
“He is knocking down his shot, putting the pressure on his defense with his rolls, his post-ups,” Durant said Sunday. “Obviously great for us. You got to give him credit for staying ready and knocking down shots. He’s a hard worker.”
Aldridge’s performance isn’t just impressive because of his five-month layoff from the game this year or his age (36.5), but because of his efficiency. He’s only averaging 20.5 minutes per game and has played more than 24 minutes just once this season. Nash said he isn’t trying to overwork Aldridge early in the season and needs him like this for the playoffs, but isn’t afraid to play him more if needed. At the same time, if it’s working for Aldridge and the Nets, why change it? In Oklahoma City, the Nets were without Paul Millsap and rookie Day’Ron Sharpe due to personal reasons and Nic Claxton, who is ramping up after battling a non-COVID illness. Despite a short-handed frontcourt, Nash only needed Aldridge for roughly 22 minutes in the win.
The 6-foot-11 forward has thrived in the midrange game this season, his bread and butter for years, and is shooting 65 percent on such shots for the year. Brooklyn has run a lot of pick-and-pop with Aldridge in which he has the choice to stay within the arc and shoot the midrange or drift beyond the line and launch from deep. Against the Thunder, he displayed a little bit of both. He checked in with 2:45 left in the third quarter and promptly hit a 3. In the second quarter, he pulled up and nailed a floater to put the Nets up five. Later in the quarter, he received a behind-the-back pass from Harden and nailed another 3.
On defense, Aldridge’s rating of 103.8 is his lowest since the 2017-18 season. He has emerged as a reliable rim-protector for a team that is seventh in defensive rating, a surprise to everyone, despite having an older roster mainly built for scoring.
Even when Aldridge is scoring, defenses haven’t been able to fully focus on him when he’s on the floor with either Durant or Harden. In the third quarter, Durant drew a double-team and quickly found Aldridge, his fellow Longhorn, wide open in the corner to put the Nets up 16. The next possession, Aldridge again had a wide-open look from the corner after DeAndre’ Bembry sucked the defense in on a drive. Aldridge’s attempt was off the rim, but it’s another sign that his opportunities aren’t likely to change. Aldridge is shooting 68 percent on catch-and-shoot opportunities and more are coming.
“He’s won us a few games and been a big part of our success this year,” Nash said Wednesday. “Gives us a scoring punch off the bench but also just a veteran who knows how to play on both ends of the floor. He’s seen it all.”
One of the people Aldridge has seen it all with is Mills, who has played with him on every team he’s played for (Portland, San Antonio and Brooklyn) in his career. Mills was the primary star off the bench Sunday as he hit a career-high nine 3-pointers to finish with 29 points. Fittingly, Aldridge was the one to tell Mills he had a career-high from deep shortly after he checked out of the game.
Mills hasn’t been surprised with Aldridge’s play despite his longtime teammate’s circumstances over the past year. Despite his age, Mills isn’t fazed when Aldridge turns back the clock like he did early in the fourth quarter with a monstrous dunk off a spin that drew reminders of his days at Texas where he emerged as the No. 2 pick in the draft. What has impressed Mills is how easily Aldridge, who averaged 19 points per game two years ago and was an All-Star a year earlier, has made the transition from franchise player to supporting cast.
“What’s surprised me is how professional he’s been in being able to make the most of his opportunities coming off the bench,” Mills said. “And obviously that’s new for him. But he’s been such a pro that way and still been able to find his ways of impacting the game and we obviously do well as a team when he does get it going.”
Aldridge’s start has been a heartwarming tale for a Nets team that started the season with Irving sidelined indefinitely and suddenly had to find a third offensive option alongside Harden and Durant. With Irving’s return unknown and Harden and Durant being the Nets’ only two reliable scorers, they’ll need him to continue it.
