Slamadaday: LaMarcus Aldridge on Erick Dampier

LaMarcus Aldridge will trick you. He’ll sink 14-footer after 14-footer, making your big come out and get in his face. Most of the time Aldridge is long enough to shoot over the defender with ease, but he can also take it to the hole. In this clip, Dirk guards him tight along the perimeter when Aldridge makes a quick cut toward the hoop. He loses Nowitzki with the slightest of ease and bangs one of the helpless Dampier. The value of having a versatile big like Aldridge can never be underestimated. Maybe a handful of other power forwards–Amar’e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh and David West–demand the same inside-out attention that Aldridge does. If Dirk didn’t know this after the game, rest assured Damp said something about it.