With or Without LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers Need Damian Lillard to Take Over
The Portland Trail Blazers got the jolt they needed when LaMarcus Aldridge made his surprise return to the rotation this past weekend. The big man, who was expected to miss up to eight weeks with a torn ligament in his left thumb, opted not to have surgery and came back for the team's 103-96 win on Jan. 24 over the Washington Wizards.
What does this mean for Rip City? Just ask Damian Lillard.
"I can't even sit here and tell you how big it is just for him to be out there," Lillard said following the win, according to ESPN.com. "Sixty percent, 70 percent LaMarcus Aldridge is better than no LaMarcus at all."
Lillard isn't wrong. There's a reason Aldridge is a three-time All-Star on the cusp of (likely) earning his fourth straight appearance. His size, length and versatility make him one of the most productive power forwards in the game, and there's no questioning his heart or toughness after deciding to play through his current injury.
But while Lillard's sentiments are echoed by fans in Portland, the point guard needs to recognize something. He needs to understand that this is his chance to take the next step toward becoming the face of the franchise.
The rest of 2014-15 will play out one of two ways. Either Aldridge will endure the pain and remain on the floor through the playoffs or he'll concede to the idea of surgery.
"My idea now is to play the rest of the season," he said, courtesy of ESPN.com. "But if it gets too much where I can't handle it or I'm not playing at a very good level then I'll stop. But hopefully it goes well for us."
Here's the catch: Regardless of which route the year goes, the Blazers need Lillard to play with a chip on his shoulder. He's done this throughout his entire basketball career, and he must take it personally that Portland was 0-2 with him leading the way during Aldridge's recent absence.
If Aldridge does indeed require surgery before the end of the year, Lillard needs to be ready to take over. During the Lillard era, the Blazers are just 12-15 when Aldridge sits, and making the postseason—let alone earning home-court advantage—is hardly a guarantee out West if you're playing sub-.500 basketball late in the year.
The team also averages 102.4 points per 100 possessions when Aldridge is off the court compared to 112 when he's on it, according to 82games.com.
How do you prepare for Aldridge off the court when he's still in the lineup? For starters: mentality.
Thus far, Lillard and Aldridge have swapped duties as 1A and 1B on a seemingly nightly basis. The two have shared the spotlight as superstars, and while we've seen Lillard shine late in games, he still refers to Aldridge as the team's "best player," according to The Oregonian's Jason Quick.
If Lillard is going to reach his true potential, he must develop the belief that he's the best player present at any given moment. Remember when he felt disrespected because he wasn't considered a top-five point guard? That's exactly how he should feel when someone points to Aldridge as the true leader of Rip City.
On the court, Lillard still needs to become a better defender. His ability to fight through screens and rotate on the perimeter have improved this season, but he still gets burned too often in one-on-one situations against today's ultra-athletic floor generals.
He also needs to re-discover his jump shot. Fans would like to see his assists (6.2 per game) rise to a more elite level, but he first has to escape the worst shooting slump of his young career.
The Oregonian's Joe Freeman recently broke down Lillard's current struggles:
"Lillard is shooting just 31 percent from the field (38 for 122), including 28 percent from three-point range (14-50), over the last six games. While his good friend Kyrie Irving was putting on a show during the Cleveland Cavaliers' 99-94 Wednesday night win over the Blazers, Lillard was virtually invisible. He made just 4 of 19 shots, including 3 of 10 three-pointers, and the NBA's most prolific fourth-quarter scorer was shut out in the most important period, when he missed all five of his field goal attempts -- including a potential game-tying three in the closing seconds.
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Lillard has to shoot the ball better. He's averaging more than 20 shots per night during this six-game slump, and he needs to get back to the level where fans are excited when the ball goes up—not crossing their fingers.
Although Lillard elevating his game is a possibility because of his talent and youth, there's one important factor here that can't be ignored.
Up to this point, Lillard has shown no sign whatsoever of having an inflated sense of entitlement.
If Lillard (or Aldridge, for that matter) had an ego that was disrupting Portland's chemistry, having this discussion would be asking for trouble. Luckily, there's a clear respect that's been established between the Blazers' two stars, and healthy competition for top-dog status will push them to become an even more productive duo.
With Aldridge in his prime and Lillard having yet to hit his own ceiling, the time is now for the 24-year-old to grab a hold of the wheel and drive this team deep into the playoffs. The road to elite recognition is unencumbered with Aldridge sidelined, but the floor general doesn't have to retreat into the shadows if the big man stays on the court.
If Aldridge misses time due to injury, Lillard must proceed with business as usual. If the forward remains healthy, as all of Portland is hoping he does, you have two full-fledged superstars who believe they're No. 1 options.
As he did upon his arrival, Lillard needs to once again elevate this team to the next level. Big-time success is within reach for the Trail Blazers, and it's their once-anointed point guard of the future who controls their destiny with a championship on the horizon.
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