Can The Blazers Force A Game 7 With The Mavs Tonight?

That is the question of the day, isn't it?  Especially this day, seeing as game six is tonight.  If you ask the panel of "experts" at ESPN.com, they don't see Portland as having much of a chance.  And the reason they all give is pretty much the same thing...that the game four version of Brandon Roy ain't walking onto that court again.

LZ Granderson of ESPN The Magazine says, "It's a four-point-play miracle there is even a Game 6. I think Nate McMillian has done a great job, once again, keeping his injured squad competitive. But you can't depend on Brandon Roy to come close to his Game 4 heroics, and the Blazers just don't have the consistent firepower outside of LaMarcus Aldridge right now to keep pace."

Granderson makes a fair enough point.  Jordan Heimer of ClipperBlog, is the only "expert" of the five that thinks Portland wins game six.  "Portland is a really tough place for visitors to clinch a tight series. In elimination games occurring in Game 5 or later (so, sweeps excluded), the Blazers are 6-2 since 1980. Factor in the collective buzz of the Blazer faithful coming off the Brandon Roy Miracle Game and Monday's Patty Mills body-check, and the Rose Garden should feel like Thunderdome."

Bill Simmons: Blazers "Could Absolutely Beat" Dallas In Round One Of The NBA Playoffs

ESPN's Bill Simmons recently divided all the NBA teams into "contenders" and "non-contenders" in his pre-playoffs power rankings.

Now the last time I wrote a post about the Blazers and the playoffs (like, only two days ago), it was pretty clear that Dallas would be Portland's first round opponent.  At the time I'm writing this post, that scenario is no sure thing.  In fact, nothing is sure at this point really, except San Antonio finishing first.  Right now, both Dallas and the Lakers have the same exact record (55-25), and Oklahoma City is only one game back of both of them.  Pretty confusing for a Blazer fan trying to predict the first round matchup.

LaMarcus Aldridge Named Western Conference Player of The Month For February

Yesterday, the NBA announced that Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge and Orlando's Dwight Howard have been named Players of the Month for the month of February.

For Aldridge, it's the first time he's won the Player of the Month award in his six year career, and only the 3rd time in team's history that a Blazer has won it.  Aldridge definitely made a strong case for getting the award, with the only player in the NBA that averaged more points per game in February being Carmelo Anthony.  Also, by now, it's also been well established that Aldridge has carried the team on his back for much of the season.

From the NBA's official news release:

Aldridge helped the Trail Blazers to an 8-4 month by leading the Western Conference with 27.8 ppg -- his highest scoring average in any month this season -- on .563 shooting from the field, to go along with 9.3 rebounds, 1.67 steals and 1.58 blocks. Aldridge opened the month with a 40-point, 11-rebound effort in a 99-86 win over San Antonio Feb. 1. He scored over 30 points five times and posted six point/rebound double-doubles.

And from the Blazers' official news release:

"It's an honor to be named player of the month, something I will always remember," said Aldridge. "But I wouldn't have won it without my teammates and coaches, and I want to thank them as we work to build on last month's success and focus on making a playoff run."

For the season, Aldridge is averaging a team-high 22.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.18 steals and 1.23 blocks, while starting all 60 of Portland's games. He has led the Trail Blazers in scoring 28 times and rebounding on 26 occasions. Aldridge has scored 20 points or more in 36 contests, including 10 games of 30-plus points.

After the first couple of weeks after Aldridge seemed to "take his game to the next level", I didn't think it would last.  Now, I would venture to say that this is the LaMarcus Aldridge that we'll be seeing for a while.

ESPN's Bill Simmons Rates Aldridge's Current Trade Value As "Effectively Untouchable"

Bill Simmons wrote an article where he listed the top 50 players in the NBA, in terms of their theoretical trade value.  LaMarcus Aldridge came in at number 15 on the list.  Aldridge's sudden and somewhat dramatic improvement continues to impress anyone and everyone who knows (or writes) anything about the game of basketball.

"When I watch Aldridge this year, I think to myself, He's different. He's playing like a center. He's going down low. He's rebounding more. He's becoming a player I never imagined he could be. Conventional metrics tell us he's playing better and getting more shots, something backed up by his usage-rate numbers (22.9 percent last year, 26.3 percent this year).

2009-10: 17.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 49.5% FG, 76% FT, 15.0 FGA, 3.9 FTA, 37.3 MPG

2010-11: 22.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 49.7% FG, 79% FT, 17.7 FGA, 5.9 FTA, 39.4 MPG

LaMarcus Aldridge Wins Western Conference Player Of The Week For The 2nd Time In A Month

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.

LaMarcus Aldridge's Career Game Last Night Helped His Case For The All Star Game

SI.com's Zach Lowe actually picked LaMarcus Aldridge for the all star team last week, with the rest of the basketball writers at Sports Illustrated.  But Aldridge's career night yesterday evening seemed to have vindicated his choice.  And it should also prove some of the doubters wrong too.

And still, I went with Aldridge for two reasons:

1. He has turned into a monster over the last six weeks as injuries have robbed Portland of Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby and others. Aldridge averaged 25 and 10 in January, maintained a 50 percent mark from the floor and got to the line more often than he ever has. Circumstances had thrust Aldridge into a larger role, and he flourished in a scenario in which many players see their shooting percentages and overall efficiency drop. He gets major points for that.  

2. He means everything to the Blazers now, and that extends to their defense, too. That was ultimately the selling point to me. Nash has an equally heavy burden in Phoenix — the team often crumbles without him — but he only helps you on one end of the floor. The difference in production between Randolph and Aldridge is negligible overall and has tilted in Aldridge’s favor over the last month, and Randolph does not have Aldridge’s versatility on defense. 

I can make an argument for Aldridge over Anthony on stats alone, without even getting into the fact that ‘Melo’s defense too often veers toward mediocrity. 

Aldridge isn’t a star on defense yet. He still doesn’t rebound well enough on that end, and he’s not a major producer of blocks and steals. He’s not quite an at-the-rim intimidator.

Yahoo's Kelly Dwyer, who runs the Ball Don't Lie blog, put LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin on his all star team as reserves. 

"LMA, I'm sorry for sounding so flighty, but Tuesday's 40-point performance pushed it over the top for me. The Blazer big man is averaging over 25 a game since Brandon Roy went down, with more than 21 points and nine rebounds overall. I wouldn't be too upset if he were left off the team -- the first month of the season counts as much as January did -- but I'm sticking him on my list of reserves."

As we said earlier, just put LaMarcus Aldridge in the damned game.

[ Aldridge makes strong case for All-Star bid -- Zach Lowe ]
[ The should-be Western All-Star reserves -- Kelly Dwyer ]

LaMarcus Aldridge Should Probably Make The All Star Team This Season

You could argue that since the Blazers announced that they were putting their star Brandon Roy on the shelf "indefinitely" a couple of months ago, that there is really only one reason the Blazers are still the playoff hunt, instead of planning for the draft lottery.  And that reason is the emergence of LaMarcus Aldridge.

Of course, this isn't some new declaration by any means.  It's what everyone has been talking about here in town.  To say that LaMarcus has taken his overall game to the next level would be appropriate, maybe even an understatement.  LaMarcus has been playing so much and so well that he laid an egg in the game against Sacramento last week and the Blazers lost by 15 at home.

But is LaMarcus Aldridge an all-star this season?

First, if I were truly being honest, I would respond to that question by saying "who cares?"  I mean, does the NBA all star game really mean anything these days?  Do the players really care that much about being named to the all star team in their respective conference?  Is it regarded as that much of an honor or something?  Should LaMarcus Aldridge lose sleep over whether or not he's going to be named to the all star team?  If I was a player, I wouldn't want to play in the game at all.  I'd prefer to rest and relax and get a break.