The Portland Trail Blazers seem set in the third spot of the West, behind the Thunder and Spurs, after a rocket-propelled start to their season. Falling back to Earth means bad news comes along with the good.
The bad news is a pair of losses to the Warriors and Grizzlies, as well as continued defensive ineptitude—the offense wasn’t too good in those games either: 84.5 points, over 20 below the Blazers season scoring average.
The good news is praise and honors for the two players most responsible for the Blazers’ winning ways: Lamarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. Portland’s dynamic duo were both selected for the initial 28-player pool from which Team USA basketball will choose it’s participants.
This summer the International Basketball Federation World Championship will be held in Spain. The Spanish national team has been a fierce competitor of the US team in recent years. The two have played for the gold medal in two straight summer Olympics.
This summer’s World Championship has implications for the 2016 summer games, the winning team receives an automatic spot in the Olympics. Team USA is coached by Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski who has a record of 62–1 since taking the reigns in 2005.
Aldridge has been invited to this larger group in past years—which has so many players for flexibility in case of injury or other unexpected circumstances—but has never made it to the Team USA Olympic roster. Playing on this prestigious forum is a double-edged sword. It would provide Aldridge and Lillard with notoriety as well as experience playing with and against the finest hoopers in the world. But it also means a long summer for the Blazers go-to guys and an increased risk of injury.
Additionally, Aldridge and Lillard were named Western Conference All-Star reserves last Thursday by the NBA coaches. It was a move expected by many, but not a sure thing in the hotly contested West.
Some believe Aldridge should have been a starter due to his dominant play this year. The All-Star starters are determined by fan voting and because of this it is often more a popularity contest than a true determinant of the best players in each conference.
Aldridge was fifth in fan voting (609,172) for frontcourt players in the West behind Kevin Durant (1,396,294), Blake Griffin (688,466), Kevin Love (661,246), and Dwight Howard (653,318). With less than 50,000 votes separating Aldridge from a starting spot it is clear his popularity, or at least the respect he has earned, has risen noticeably this year.
Perhaps with a strong showing in the playoffs or World Championship, Aldridge will cement his status as the undisputed best power forward in the NBA. It will be Aldridge’s third All-Star appearance. In his previous two games Aldridge was almost invisible, averaging 2 points and 2.5 rebounds. Aldridge’s game, which relies on team movement and taking his time to find a good shot, is not conducive with the style of play on hand at NBA All-Star games.
It is an exhibition to entertain the fans and the players know it. Dunking lanes are wide open and defensive principles are left back home. For the patient and methodical approach of Aldridge, the All-Star game moves too fast.
This will be Lillard’s first All-Star selection, a reward for the 23-year-old sophomore from Oakland for his impressive play following last year’s Rookie of the Year award. Lillard was also chosen to be part of the 2014 Rising Stars Challenge, where NBA first and second year players put on a display of defensive negligence which rivals the main All-Star game itself.
For Lillard, who often is most effective when running and throwing up improbable shots, the style of play at All-Star weekend should suit him perfectly. Look for Dame to be a show-stealing opportunity waiting to go off.
Lillard becomes the 16th player in franchise history to be selected as an NBA All-Star. This is the first time since 1994 the Blazers have sent two players to the All-Star game. Clyde Drexler and Cliff Robinson represented Rip City back then.
One might expect to see some Blazers in other All-Star weekend events. Lillard won the 2013 Taco Bell Skills Challenge, it is likely he will defend this award. Both Lillard and Wes Matthews are among the league leaders in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made; either could do well in the 3-point shootout.