He's having another Aldridge year on the worst shooting of his career. Alot's changed about the Blazers over the last couple years, but it ain't Aldridge. He's still who he always was. A very good PF.
Dude is having a career year.
He shooting 47% while taking 20.6 shots per game, which is absurd considering he isn't strictly a low-post player. Putting this in perspective with how many shots he took throughout the rest of his career is nothing short of amazing:
'07-08 = 15.3 attempts per game at 48%
'08-'09 = 15.3 attempts per game at 48%
'09-'10 = 15 attempts per game at 49%
'10-'11 = 17.5 attempts per game at 50%
'11-'12 = 17.1 attempts per game at 51%
'12-'13 = 17.8 attempts per game at 48%
'13-'14 = 20.6 attempts per game at 47%
He's taking three more attempts per game and sacrificing basically none of his efficiency. Show me any big man in the league that can increase their scoring load by THREE shots per game and still maintain their efficiency?
His midrange game (16ft-3pt) is better than ever:
'10-'11 = 4.5 attempts per game at 42%
'11-'12 = 5.4 attempts per game at 43%
'12-'13 = 6.8 attempts per game at 41%
'13-'14 = 8.5 attempts per game at 45%
Averaging double digit rebounds for the first time and averaging the most assists in his career despite playing roughly the same minutes. It's still early in the season but he looking like the best PF in the league. If he's only very good than every other 4 in the league is average.
In the season, Aldridge is now shooting 57.9 percent on long twos from his favorite spot, the left wing, an astounding figure that's 17 percent above the league average and almost exactly the same as his shooting percentage inside the restricted area. In other words, his 18-foot turnaround has become, for all intents and purposes, a lay-up.