Gregg Popovich and LaMarcus Aldridge really are on the same page nowadays.
Speaking with reporters ahead of the San Antonio Spurs’ close-but-not-really-close-but-kind-of-actually-close win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, the head honcho went out of his way to compliment his All-Star big man, per Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News:
Pop on Aldridge: "So far, he’s had a great season. He came in in great shape, really committed, much more comfortable, much more confident in the system, playing freely, and he’s been a great leader on top of it all. He’s been are most consistent player." #Spurs
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) November 15, 2017
Aldridge has no doubt been the Spurs’ best player this season. He’s averaging over 20 points, eight boards and two assists per game while shooting around 50 percent from the floor overall and 40 percent from downtown. His 32-point, four-assist detonation on 12-of-21 shooting helped dispatch the scrappy Mavericks. He gives the Spurs a go-to option in the absence of Kawhi Leonard, who remains on the shelf nursing a quad injury.
Running an offense through Aldridge isn’t always pretty—or effective. The Spurs are a piddling 16th in points scored per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. They’re better with Aldridge in the game, pumping in around 105.8 points per 100 possessions, but that would still leave them outside the top 10 in offensive efficiency.
Still, the Spurs are missing a top-five player. They cannot complain about their No. 2 option leading them to a 9-5 record while he gets right.
And more than that, the leadership tidbit Pop drops is a huge deal. Aldridge is known as the silent, sometimes-sulky type. If he’s emerging as a vocal leader, as someone who the Spurs can count on to communicate with everyone, then, well, Leonard’s stay on sidelines to start the year just might end up being a blessing in disguise.
