For the second time in the past month, the NBA has recognized LaMarcus Aldridge as the Player of the Week.Per the official NBA press release:
Aldridge led Portland to an undefeated week, tallying 36 or more points in all three Trail Blazers wins. Aldridge's 42 points in a 109-103 victory over Chicago on Feb. 7 were a career high. He shot .631 from the field and .846 from the free throw line on the week. Aldridge is one of three players in the league averaging 22 points and 9 rebounds, joining Howard and Blake Griffin.
Feb. 7 vs. Chicago: Posted 42 points, eight rebounds and two steals during a 109-103 win over the Bulls.
Feb. 11 @ Toronto: Tallied 37 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 102-96 victory over the Raptors.
Feb. 13 @ Detroit: Collected 36 points, four rebounds and three assists in a 105-100 win over the Pistons.
And while it's great and all to see the accolades finally start rolling in for LA, I'm one Blazer fan that is still glad that he didn't make the All-Star team. I've mentioned it a couple of times on Twitter and what not, but I really think LaMarcus Aldridge needs the rest and the time off much more than he needs any recognition that will come from making an All-Star team.
If he ends up making it somehow, what does that really get him? Either he gets 10 minutes of playing time and gets maybe 2 or 3 shots, or (worst case scenario) he plays the most minutes out of everyone (like Roy did a couple of years ago) and begins the second half of the season even more exhausted than before.
Aldridge needs as much rest as he can get, if he's going to succeed at all in helping (or more likely, carrying) this Blazers team to the playoffs this season. We've seen what happens when Aldridge gets shut down or has a bad game. We get results like we did in Indiana (loss by 13) and at home when Sacramento (loss by 15) came in and wiped the floor with Portland.
So to avoid those kinds of games, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to say that we are going to need LaMarcus Aldridge at full strength as much as is possible for the rest of the season. He needs some time off. He doesn't need the All-Star game. Trust me, people.
[ NBA.com press release ]
