{"id":111850,"date":"2024-12-17T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=111850"},"modified":"2024-12-16T23:16:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T04:16:53","slug":"santi-aldama-raises-core-priorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/17\/santi-aldama-raises-core-priorities\/","title":{"rendered":"Aldama’s Resolute Impact, 6th Man Race Raises Core Priorities"},"content":{"rendered":"

The adamant impact of stretch forward Santi Aldama<\/a> has been lost in the shuffle of the Memphis Grizzlies’ bright spots this season. The Spanish product has thrived in various positions so far. His superb play has entrusted him as an optimistic and legitimate complementary piece alongside the Grizzlies’ prominent Big 3 of Ja Morant<\/a>, Jaren Jackson Jr.<\/a>, and Desmond Bane<\/a> for years to come. Aldama is averaging 13.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 26.9 minutes (all career highs). His 61.2% true shooting percentage is second<\/a> on the team amongst all Grizzlies averaging at least 21 minutes of play a night.<\/p>\n

Santa Aldama’s Resolute Impact, 6th Man Race Raises Core Priorities<\/h2>\n

Santi Aldama’s inspiring start has empowered a variation of Memphis Grizzlies’ rotations this season. Aldama’s impact has done wonders on the offensive end. The Grizzlies’ offense isn’t as balanced and cohesive without the presence of the former Loyola forward.<\/p>\n

Santi Aldama’s impact as an outside shooter has continued complicating opposing coverages and rotations. He’s shooting a very respectable 36.6%<\/a> on catch-and-shoot 3P FGAs and 37.9% overall from deep. However, the Grizzlies are about a middle-of-the-road three-point shooting team as a unit. Aldama’s intricate three-point gravity alone creates seamless avenues for Grizzlies’ ball handlers<\/a> to challenge defenders one-on-one aggressively. His sneaky, constant motion around pin-down screens adds problematic dimensions for opponents to solve. On top of Aldama leading the team in rebounds, the Grizzlies currently post a 106.7<\/a> defensive rating when Aldama is on the floor. Of the Grizzlies’ main rotational frontcourt personnel of Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey<\/a>, Brandon Clarke<\/a>, and Santi Aldama, Aldama is by far the Grizzlies’ most malleable of the bunch.<\/p>\n