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I was really impressed with the play of LaMarcus Aldrige last night. I thought he brought it on both ends of the floor and was surpised to see some of those turn around jump hooks. With that said, and we all know Al Jefferson really well, if the NBA draft were today and those were the top two players in the draft, who would you pick first?

I love Big Al but I saw fire and leadership out of Aldrige last night that I never saw out of Al in three years. As of right now, I'd go with LaMarcus.

It's kinda like choosing between Elton Brand and Chris Bosh, you can't really go wrong either way. However, I would take Aldridge.His game is much more refined overall than Al's.

Big Al, young bigs with a post game like that are nearly impossible to find. Besides, he's already averaging 20 and 12.

90% of this board called him mark blount 2 in the draft.

I think Brandon Roy makes his teammates play better. Big Al is on his own. Oh man, we could have Roy and Big Al on the same team in Boston.

Yeah, Aldridge looked like Mark Blount in college.

Big Al hands down. Aldridge can't create in the post like Al. Al is also a better rebounder.

On this team? That's unfair, because we have Super Aldrige in Kevin Garnett.

And Big AL would guarantee we have like a 67% fg down the floor.

I mean honestly with Pierce, KG, Ray Ray given a low post presence like Big AL??? Not only the low post presence but the knack to find the open space and those damn glue hands to catch any passes throw his way it'd be impossible.

If we had Aldridge the other teams would again just play zone and hope they don't get bitten by KG in the post. It wouldn't help them much but there'd be an understandable approach to our offense.

that and I believe AL can be acceptable as a defender against Centers makes the compliments of AL much more valuable.

If it's as a player seperately between AL and Aldridge. Then it's close, and I'll take AL ONLY because he's a top 7 NBA rebounder and Aldrige isn't. Even with that said it's close, Aldridge was very impressive last night.

Jefferson. Anyone can increase their range with practice, but you can't teach the moves and soft touch Al has around the basket.

I'd take Big Al, he seems like he's a better rebounder. Plus he seems like he has really improved his shooting away from the basket. Aldridge isn't no slough though. I'd be happy with either of them.

al because aldridge is a terrible rebounder

I remember when at one point nbadraft.net projected Aldridge slipping all the way to the Celtics at seven in the draft. Of course mocks mean nothing in the end and it never would have happened, but he would have been a great complement to Big Al.

As for the comparison, Al right now, Aldridge probably has more overall potential, but as it was said, it's just a lot harder to replicate what Al can give to a team.

Al is easily the better player.

I just wanted to ask this to everyone.
If we traded for Ray and kept Al, how good would we be right now?
Would we be much worse because of Al's defense?

daveisceltics wrote:I just wanted to ask this to everyone.
If we traded for Ray and kept Al, how good would we be right now?
Would we be much worse because of Al's defense?

Depends on what would have been done with Theo or his contract. Considering how the season's played out, especially in the East, we'd be in the playoffs and probably fighting for a 3rd or 4th seat.

I'll take Al. Al is the better Rebounder, and Scorer. The only thing Aldridge has over AL is mobility, and lankiness.

Al, no question. Better rebounder, better scorer, period. LMA is a nice complementary player but he's just not as good as Al in too many significant areas.

daveisceltics wrote:I just wanted to ask this to everyone.
If we traded for Ray and kept Al, how good would we be right now?
Would we be much worse because of Al's defense?

We'd still be a pretty decent team I think, but not great and there'd be no talk of championships. I'd put us somewhere on the level of Washington with Arenas. Defense would definitely be the biggest difference, because KG brings a lot on that end that Al doesn't and he also turns the ball over much less. I doubt we'd have been able to bring in Thibodeau were it not for KG. So our defense would have still been near the bottom of the league.

As for the poll question. I picked Al if we're talking about the Celtics. If you're talking about the Blazers I think Aldridge is a better fit to go alongside Oden. It all depends on a team's dynamics.

Can't believe someone chose Aldridge..Only thing LMA has on Al is a consistent 18ft jumper, and Al is going to master that real soon. LMA doesn't even dream of the moves Al creates in the post, I now understand why you guys were so high on this dude; he is just a magician in the post.

Big Al