It is only fitting that this tumultuous season would be topped off by another injury. The season started off by injury-riddles: Brandon Roy’s retirement, more setbacks to Greg Oden’s troubled knees, and a heart procedure for LaMarcus Aldridge that sat him out for part of the already shortened training camp. Midway through the season Elliot Williams dislocated his shoulder that led to a season ending surgery. Not to put “the icing on the cake”, Aldridge will undergo season-ending arthroscopic hip surgery.
Injuries are nothing new to this sport, a sport that is very much a contact sport. But as much as you tell a Blazer fan that injuries come along with the sport, they will argue that Portland is cursed. Some people say there is something in the water. Now this week, the talk has been that the training staff is sub-par. No matter which way you cut it, injuries happen when athletes put so much strain on their bodies for so long, and so often.
Is it really that important that Aldridge be on the floor these final games of the season?
I’m not so sure that it is. The Blazers playoff hopes have come and gone and all of their focus should be on the off-season. Just as the front office asks the players to focus on the season, the players and fans are asking the front office to focus on bettering this team during the off-season. It is more important that Aldridge can get healthy then it is to win a couple more, meaningless games.
There have been a few benefits of Aldridge sitting these games out. A lot of the younger guys have gotten extended play, more opportunities to spotlight their selves. J.J. Hickson has been huge for the Blazers as of late. Luke Babbitt has gotten quality minutes and has been hitting his shots. Jamal Crawford has been playing in his true position and scoring more consistently.
Even with Aldridge on the bench, the Blazers priorities shouldn’t change. Number one priority should be making this team better this off-season. There is going to be a GM search, coaching search, the Nic Batum signing, free agency, and possibly two lottery picks. This is going to be a huge off-season.
I am not suggesting the team should overlook the remaining games. Not at all. I still think Coach Kaleb Canales will have his troops ready and competing night in and night out. But Aldridge on the bench does not hurt the long term future of this team. By all accounts, this surgery is not major and will come with a 2-3 month full recovery period. Aldridge will be ready by training camp, to lead the new look Blazers into a brighter and more promising future.
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