Still love that D most nights. But on Aldridge he just seemed to not really know what to do.
He was crouching down so low to get a powerful stance that it made him short. Aldridge's release is too quick and high for that. He didn't need a powerful stance when Aldridge is 15 feet out, he needed to be more upright with his feet closer to Aldridge, to make him go AROUND him instead of right by him. It looked like Thompson's assignment was to play physical with Aldridge, but he overdid the physical and neglected the mental. With a better and closer to the defender upright stance out there, (his feet can still be wide, but his torso need be vertical (he was hunching over)), he needs to rely more on anticipation to pull those charges if Aldridge make a move toward the basket. Keep those feet moving and adjusting to where Aldridge would have a hard time getting around them. Then if Aldridge decides to shoot, he's already right there in his face and his arms are closer for the block or alter. And if he can get his hands on the ball before Aldridge even raises it above his head, even better. Altering Aldridge's shooting motion from the very beginning is a better goal than just trying to block it at the top, he's so tall.
And I don't know if I explained the closer stance thing correctly, but don't be confused. If your feet are in the right place, you can be closer to the defender AND make it harder for them to get by you, it depends on the angles you're making him go around you. Delly has a great knack for this in much of his one-on-one defense, because he knows that he can't keep up if he gives too much space. It obviously depends on the situation, but last night TT's D seemed like it was for somebody else, not Aldridge.
We'll get 'em next time.