Originally posted by LizReed:
Snottie--I'd like to see Lamarcus Aldridge drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.
That's fine LR - let's see your picks for worst teams though.
Also, you're comparing two Centers to a Power Forward. I don't think it's very relevant as Aldrige wouldn't have to defend them in a typical scenario, but for arguments sake:
Lanier is 10 pounds heavier than Aldridge but much more lumbering. Aldridge needs about 6 inches of space to get his very reliable jumper off. Aldridge has some of the most advanced footwork for a 6'11 guy the NBA has ever seen. I'm not saying he's an all-time great, heck he was probably the 12th guy to get in this year. Still, Aldridge is one of the best 12-18 foot big men shooters the game has ever seen - his jumper has a very high release point and is butter - he can take shots facing the basket, off the dribble, and spinning out of the post going either left or right. Aldrige would get bullied by Lanier in the post- no doubt - but Aldridge has enough length (9'2" standing reach) to frustrate Lanier and a 34" vertical leap which was much more rare for a 6'11 guy in the 70s.
Aldridge has at least
30 pounds on Walton (this is a light estimate as he was officially 24 lbs heavier than Walton's listed playing weight (210 lbs) as a 20 year old at pre-draft measurements) and is of equal or slightly less athletic ability (I think a 37" vertical for prime Walton is more than reasonable). Walton I would say would give Aldridge problems, but it would be a matchup of two remarkably similar players. I think Walton's revolutionary outside-inside game and ball handling are actually a great example of a forefather of what today's NBA 4s are designed to do.
The big advantage for both Lanier and Walton: Left-Handedness. Still a powerful advantage to this day due to muscle memory and instinct of defenders. I think this would be Aldridge's demise given level coaching, training, etc. But still - different positions.
Honestly, you can look at the best plays of the careers of Walton and Lanier on YouTube- and then if you watch a Portland Trail Blazers game you will see Aldridge perform those moves with ease and more advanced techniques. Walton and Lanier would be absolutely fine today with similar coaching and training but just look at their available footage, compare it to a single game highlight reel of LaMarcus and come back to me. I'm not saying LaMarcus is necessarily better than either - but he certainly would be teaching players from the 70s new techniques and is absolutely physically capable and aptly conditioned to play well against those men.
This is why I separated it into eras anyway. The game became significantly more advanced in the 80s. I love and respect the old players. I grew up obsessively reading about the NBA's legends and talking basketball with my grandfather and his old buddies who played in college- but we should be honest about the advances in athleticism and the superior time commitment and coaching of players today.
I enjoy talking about player comparisons a lot- anyone else you'd like me to write too much about? haha
