Will LaMarcus Aldridge’s Injury Affect Trail Blazers’ Title Chances?

The Portland Trail Blazers have looked like a team that can compete with the best teams the Western Conference has to offer so far in the season, but that may change as the year rolls on.

LaMarcus Aldridge‘s injury may have something to do with it.

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The Trail Blazers forward suffered an injury to his left thumb in the team’s win against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 19, and while he is not going the route of surgery, that doesn’t mean he isn’t in pain.

Aldridge spoke to TNT’s Inside the NBA crew shortly after he announced that he was going to play through the injury and said that the injury will not be easy to play through.

“Last game, it hurt a lot and the pain was about an eight ,” said Aldridge.

Aldridge is able to play for now, but without him the team would be in dangerously bad shape.

For starters, the Blazers have been without center Robin Lopez for a nice chunk of the season, and that hole in the rotation has already led to some issues down low. Portland does not have depth in the post, especially with forward Thomas Robinson having health problems of his own.

Meyers Leonard has been asked to play some big minutes for the Blazers, and the results have been mixed for sure.

Without a legitimate presence down low that can make it difficult for the opposing team to score at the rim, something that Aldridge has improved upon playing alongside Lopez, Portland will have tremendous difficulty going up against some of the other top front lines in the West, including the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs.

Even though Aldridge has made improvements to his defense, it’s his offensive game that really sets him apart from a lot of the other top power forwards in the game.

Aldridge can stretch the defense like few big men can, as he loves to hit the deep mid-range shot. Whether it’s a spot-up opportunity or fade-away over either shoulder, Aldridge can make the easy and tough shots without too much difficulty because of his high arc and timing on his release.

Aldridge is a master at judging when and where he has to release the ball depending on how the defense is reacting. Being able to make those adjustments to a jump shot like that is remarkable for any player, let alone a big man.

In the post, Aldridge has enough go-to moves to be a reliable scorer, and he also has no problem setting up his teammates for easy looks out on the perimeter. Aldridge is a complete player offensively, and his ability to draw the double team has really set up teammate Damian Lillard nicely for easier scores from outside.

Lillard was already a premier shooter before he played with Aldridge, but having someone down low who can suck the defense inside and off of the three-point line really opens up his outside game and gives him more chances than he already had to knock down deep shots.

Aldridge means a great deal to his team because of what he can do on both ends. Whether it’s guarding the lane, scoring or rebounding, Aldridge can do it all and then some.

Lillard may have to take over more than usual with Aldridge not being 100 percent every single game, and wing players Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum will also be counted on to knock down shots and contribute more often then they already were.

If Aldridge can stay relatively healthy and not have to miss any significant time, then Portland should remain right in the race for one of the top three seeds in the West. However, if Aldridge cannot play like himself, then this team could be in some trouble moving forward.

Without Aldridge, the Blazers aren’t title contenders.

Next: Damian Lillard is a Serious MVP Candidate

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