The Houston Rockets against LaMarcus Aldridge

On the year, LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 23.2 points and 11.1 boards while shooting 45.8% from the floor.  Against the Houston Rockets, in four games this year, Aldridge put up 26.8 points and pulled down 15.5 boards, shooting 44.7%.  He averaged 36.2 minutes per game against the entire league but played 39.1 minutes per contest against Houston.

Glancing at Aldridge’s shot distribution, against the league, he really likes the midrange elbow area.  Spanning from just beyond the free throw line over left towards the corner, Aldridge hoisted about 33% of his overall attempts.  That far left spot is also his most lethal area – Aldridge hit on 48% of his attempts from that zone.

Aldridge against the league

Against Houston, Aldridge is putting up just 27% of his shots from that free throw line to corner area, but more interestingly, in his favorite zone, the dead elbow area, his attempts are down from 12% of total attempts against the entire league to 4% against the Rockets.  For whatever reason, Aldridge wasn’t shooting as much from one of his pet spots against the Rockets this year.  When he did get a look from those areas, he was pretty lethal.  100% (4/4) from that same zone, and 46% from the zone just inside the 3 point line on the left.

Shotchart_1397651365601

 

In this series, Rockets fans will be grateful Daryl Morey didn’t look ahead and sell off Omer Asik for some draft picks because Aldridge is going to be seeing a ton of the Turkish center.  While I expect Terrence Jones to start Game 1, there is no doubt in my mind that Kevin McHale will be quick with the hook to relieve Jones with Asik if Aldridge gets going early.

What makes Asik so effective against Aldridge?  Let’s look at the tape:

Look at that shot.  Aldridge starts out trying to beat Asik off the dribble with the shot fake but Asik is too nimble.  He then turns his back, fakes, and has to fade again, forcing up a ridiculously difficult shot.  Due to his size and length, Asik is able to contest.

It’s not clear how much of Asik we’ll see because of his offensive limitations.  It might even be a better option to play James Harden at the ’4′ down the stretch.  But due to some of his defensive attributes, the minutes we do see Omer Asik this series will be pivotal given what he can bring to the table against LaMarcus Aldridge.

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Total comments: 6
  • Cooper says 2 days ago As long as the perimeter d corrals Dame, Matthews, Batum etc from getting wide open threes off his passes out it's ok if LMA gets 25-30pts because the blazers haven't shown they can guard Harden or Howard at all.
  • Cole says 2 days ago

    Letting Aldridge have his is fine, Terrance Jones needs to be on the floor. His offense is tremendous and he needs to learn to guard people. He won't get that exp if we keep benching him. He is a small PF but the guys has the athletic talent to play big. He already is a defensive force in blocking shots , he has been working on his footwork and he has been getting a few more steals here and there. He just has to stay with him and get a hand up. Rockets will be fine, for whatever reason when Jones is in they score a lot more points and have a lot more ball movement. When Asik is in , Harden holds the ball a lot.

  • Cole says 2 days ago

    Lol at Harden guarding LMA. LMA is not Ibaka.

    are you trolling or have you not watched the games? Its true, Harden is lazy when it comes to guarding pg and sg , but he actually guards big men very well. He has already proven in two games he can give him(Aldridge) fits ,but your 'lol' validates conventional wisdom verses realityright?

  • feelingsupersonic says 2 days ago I completely agree Rahat. Just throwing different looks at him will be good too. In addition to Asik and Harden I would like to see Parsons pressure him, Motiejunas hack him and Howard matchup with him if he is not in foul trouble. Aldridge will get his but making him work and take a large quantity of shots will be enough to get the win.
  • Rahat Huq says 2 days ago

    not sure what there is to lol about. harden guarded aldridge in the closing plays of houston's comeback win against the blazers.

  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 days ago Lol at Harden guarding LMA. LMA is not Ibaka.