Aldridge, Leonard on injured list

[SurferGirl]

FEB. 18 -- It has been announced that Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge will miss the February 19 game at home against the Spurs. Aldridge is suffering from a persistent groin injury which he has been playing through for "a while." It marks the first time this season the Blazers will use a different starting lineup this season. Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews have started every game to this point. Aldridge will be out for a week, the be re-evaluated.

It also was announced that center Meyers Leonard will be out 2-3 weeks due to an ankle injury he sustained in practice on February 18. Leonard was expected to pick up minutes of backup center Joel Freeland, who sprained his right MCL on Feb. 11 against the Clippers and is expected to be out another 3-7 weeks.

This leaves the Blazers extremely thin at power forward and center, with Lopez ad second-year backup PF Thomas Robinson as the only two healthy "bigs" on the roster.

[newellbrian]

This is just Portland's luck. God truly hates Portland.

[SurferGirl]

Feb 18, 2014 19:40:38 GMT -8 newellbrian said:

This is just Portland's luck. God truly hates Portland.

Three guys in one week. This is tough. Olshey needs to trade a bench guy for a big, or a pick so we can sign a big.

[newellbrian]

With LA, Freeland, and Leonard all out, I think we are kinda screwed. T-Rob is good, but he's too raw to be consistent right now (and I'm assuming he will get the start Wednesday and Friday). After that we have Claver (I'm sorry but he's about as talented as Leonard is). Our interior defense was bad before, but I have a feeling that teams are gonna be getting a TON of points in the paint, even more so than before. I wouldn't be surprised if Lopez plays a LOT a minutes over the next week at least.

[SurferGirl]

Feb 18, 2014 20:02:40 GMT -8 newellbrian said:

With LA, Freeland, and Leonard all out, I think we are kinda screwed. T-Rob is good, but he's too raw to be consistent right now (and I'm assuming he will get the start Wednesday and Friday). After that we have Claver (I'm sorry but he's about as talented as Leonard is). Our interior defense was bad before, but I have a feeling that teams are gonna be getting a TON of points in the paint, even more so than before. I wouldn't be surprised if Lopez plays a LOT a minutes over the next week at least.

Claver is undersized for what position he will play when he plays, but he's a lot better than you give him credit for. BTW, Leonard is not nearly as horrible as you think. It's impossible to tell what can happen if they get consistent minutes.

[Yeseeka]

One word: Crap.

[vicmagic11]

This sucks!