LaMarcus Aldridge Forgoes Surgery, Energizes the Blazers

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Saturday, January 24, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

It'd been a rough week-and-a-half. Coming into Saturday's game against the Wizards, the Blazers had lost five-of-their-last-six games. 

But it wasn't simply that they'd lost--it was how. The last two, against Phoenix and Boston, were absolute heartbreakers. 

Couple those losses with a slew of injuries--most recently to LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum--and the Blazers were reeling. Morale was dipping. Fear and malaise hung in the air, think like fog.

And then, Saturday, Aldridge decided to do clear it. 

He opted to forgo surgery on the torn tendon in his non-shooting hand--a procedure that would have kept him out for 6-to-8 weeks, and instead suited up to play the Wizards.

While it was a much-needed emotional pick-me-up for the Blazers and their fans, Aldridge produced on the court as well. In the first quarter, after a rousing ovation, Aldridge scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds. (He would finish with a game-high 26 to go along with nine boards, three assists and two steals.)

Despite the lift Aldridge gave the Blazers, the Wizards began unfazed. Washington built an early double-digit lead and maintained it through the better part of three quarters.

Ultimately, though, Portland pulled ahead in the fourth quarter as their three's began to fall. In the period the Blazers made 5-of-11 from beyond the arc.

And though winning Saturday was of added importance as it was the Blazers' last home game before a four-game Eastern swing, I can't help but wonder if Aldridge is doing the right thing.

Sure, he gave the Blazers a significant lift, showing teammates, fans and the organization that he cares, and that he wants to do something special this season.

But at what cost?

I'm reminded of Brandon Roy and the 2010 playoffs against Phoenix. When Roy rushed back from knee surgery he buoyed his team in the short run but hurt both the franchise and himself in the long term.

Are the stakes today the same?

Perhaps not. 

But time will tell.

For the moment, though, color me weary.

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LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE: A
For the purpose of grading, push all questions of whether or not it was wise for Aldridge to forgo surgery to the side. He was great on Saturday, and the Blazers likely would not have won without him. While he produced--scoring a game-high 29 to go with nine rebounds, three assists and two steals--he also gave his teammates a reason to dig deeper, and fight on. And with the Wizards maintaining a healthy lead most of the way, they needed it.

ALLEN CRABBE: Incomplete.
With Nicolas Batum out resting his sprained wrist, Crabbe got the start, but it was almost as if a ghost had suited up at small forward. After mostly riding the bench in recent weeks, Crabbe had no flow in the seven minutes he played, and the rest of the Blazers didn't seem to see him either. On the other end, he was matched up against Paul Pierce, which just seems cruel. Crabbe did not take a shot, nor grab a rebound. One assist spared him the ignominy of a box score donut.

CHRIS KAMAN: B-
Against the heavy duty front line of Marcin Gortat and Nene, Kaman's 10 rebounds shall not go unnoticed. That said, against the bruisers, he only scored six points.

DAMIAN LILLARD: C+
Lillard still seems to be struggling a big with his shot, but at least on Saturday he spent his time taking a lot less and instead setting up his teammates. Thanks to eight free throws, Lillard scored 20 points (on 5-of-13 shooting from the field) and dished out seven assists.

WESLEY MATTHEWS: B+
Matthews just kept at it in this one, and his shooting performance that came together late is a microcosm of the Blazers' evening. After struggling earlier, Matthews found his stroke during a critical juncture in the fourth, at one point nailing back-to-back three's. He finished 5-of-11 from downtown, 7-of-19 overall, with 19 points.

DORELL WRIGHT: A
Great night for Wright across the board. He hit 3-of-5 attempts from downtown (all of his shots were from beyond the arc), including one on which he was fouled and completed the four-point-play. Wright also added six boards--definitely gravy from the stretch four--and three assists.

 

 

MEYERS LEONARD: B+
As noted by Coach Stotts afterward, Leonard's spacing really opened things up for the Blazers down the stretch. He made 2-of-3 from deep, and otherwise played generally within himself. And though he could've give them Blazers a few more rebounds (he had two), Leonard once again showed that on-court minutes are transforming him into a rotation worthy, productive player.

KILLER TWEET:

 

free throw guy is currently a -7

— common portland fan (@CommonPDXfan) January 25, 2015

 

GRAVY TRAIN HIGHLIGHTS:

 

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