Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge and guard Damian Lillard competed in the 2014 All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Sunday. Their West team fell to the East team, 163-155, and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving was named MVP.
Aldridge had four points (on 2-for-9 shooting) and five rebounds in 13 minutes.
Lillard scored nine points (on 3-for-8 shooting and 3-for-6 shooting from deep) and added one rebound in nine minutes.
Timmay! has additional game details right here.
Both Mike Rice and Antonio Harvey were upset with the way Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks, who ran the rest squad, handled his rotations. More on that here.
Here's a transcript of post-game comments from Aldridge and Lillard via YouTube user portlandtrailblazers.
LaMarcus Aldridge
Experience
It was fun. I definitely had my opportunity to score. I didn't make many shots. I think I played more minutes. 14 minutes? That's an All-Star Game high for me. It was fun. The whole weekend was fun, I had fun with the activities and the things for the fans. A good weekend.
Damian Lillard took your advice to shoot when he got the ball or he wouldn't get it back
You have to. You don't want to take bad shots but if you have a clean look you have to shoot it and he did.
Two All-Stars from your team
It means a lot. It shows that our team is doing well. We have a really good record right now. It shows the level that he's playing at and myself. It's always an honor to have two guys in.
Memories
Just another opportunity to rub elbows with the elite players in the league. Having a chance to get to know these guys better. Having Dame here, watching him do every event, I'm pretty sure he's going to sleep well tomorrow. Just the camaraderie from this weekend.
Rested?
I didn't get a lot of rest. I was busy from sun up to sun down. I didn't get much sleep here. I'm looking forward to these next two days to try to get some rest.
How important is upcoming stretch after break?
Very important. It's the sprint to the end. We took care of business early as far as putting ourselves in a really good position. Now we have to finish it off.
Trying to move back up standings?
We're not satisfied with being in fifth place. We feel like we belong in that one, two, three spot. We want to get back on track now.
Damian Lillard
The experience
The weekend was a great experience for me. It was a lot, obviously. I had a lot of appearances, media, fans, pictures autographs, it was all worth it. It was what I signed up for. It was a great experience for me. Playing in this game today, that's the ultimatel goal to be in the All-Star Game, playing with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. I enjoyed myself.
Minutes
I understand it's a seniority thing. You've got guys that are producing at the same level that I am for my team and they've been here five times already. They're going to be on the floor. That's a respect thing and that's the way it should be. If I'm ever a five-time or four-time All-Star and a first-time All-Star comes in and plays more minutes than me, or finishing the game over me, I'm not going to like that. I respect it.
The game
I wanted to win. Everybody saw when it came down to the last eight minutes, guys started getting after it, trying to win the game. I was on the bench wanting to win the game. That's just the nature of an athlete and a true competitor.
Last time you didn't start
Tenth grade. We just talked about that on the bench. I don't remember the last time I didn't start exactly. It was 10th grade. I don't remember exactly when. I don't remember the last time I didn't finish a game.
Takeaway from the weekend
I think everybody's minds will be fresh. Just being around these guys, I'm already feeling more confident. My confidence was high before and now I'm taking more confidence from this because now I feel like I'm one of them, one of those guys. I can't wait to take that attitude back to my team. Another good thing was being here with my teammate. It made the experience that much better. We're going to have to come back with more energy, pick it up, turn up for the rest of the season.
Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com has more right here.
When you're winning, players want to follow. And according to Aldridge, a couple of All-Star players that shall remain anonymous have approached him, telling him that they would like to play with himself and Damian Lillard in Portland.
"Definitely a few guys have told me that this weekend," Aldridge informed CSNNW.com.
Mike Tokito of The Oregonian has a game recap here.
Here are Blazers-centric highlights from the game also courtesy of YouTube user portlandtrailblazers.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter