One of the biggest surprises in the league this year has been the emergence of Channing Frye as a 3-point assassin for the Phoenix Suns. In his first four seasons in the league, Frye made a grand total of 20 three point shots (in 70 attempts). This year he's already made 75 threes (in 167 attempts). That leads the league. And he's converting them at an astounding 45% rate.
When you look back, though, it's not too hard to see that Frye had potential as a long range shooter. While he didn't take many threes, he took a lot of long-range twos, just a step inside the line. And he converted those fairly well. If you can do that, it's not much of a stretch to take another step back.
And that brings me to LaMarcus Aldridge. Like Frye, Aldridge has a good looking perimeter shot. He routinely takes and hits shots from just a step within the 3-point line. And this season, Aldridge has converted four of his six 3-point attempts. That's obviously a very small sample size, but it gives me reason to think that Aldridge can make the same transition that Frye did.
And it makes a lot of sense for him to try. The long range two is the least efficient shot in the game of basketball. If you take a step back and shoot a three, you can be a more efficient scorer even if your shooting percentage declines. So why not give it try? If Aldridge can add a three point shot to his arsenal, he'd instantly become one of the best stretch fours in the game. It would open things up not only for him, but for the rest of the team.
If I were Nate McMillan (a phrase I repeat far too often), I would have Aldridge start practicing from 3-point range (if he doesn't already) and I would run at least one play a game to get Aldridge an open look from whichever spot beyond the arc he prefers. I don't think Aldridge should just start bombing away, but I'd encourage him to take one or two attempts a game, for now. If he converts them at a decent rate, I'd give him more. If not, the experiment can end.
But what do we have to lose? Without Fernandez and Outlaw, the Blazers are short on three point shooters. They could use another three point threat on the team. And, all things being equal, a big who can hit threes is more valuable than a guard who can do the same. It stretches the defense and opens up the floor. I think Aldridge has the tools to be that guy. So let's give him a shot.
On a related note, given that Anthony Tolliver is apparently a decent 3-point shooter himself, I'm intrigued by the idea of fielding a lineup that features Tolliver, Aldridge, and Webster in the front court and Roy and Bayless in the backcourt. Everyone in that lineup can hit a three, and if the bigs are forcing their defenders out onto the perimeter, Roy and Bayless should have an easy time driving to the hoop. But I think that's a conversation for a future post.
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