Jack Jensen wrote a lengthy piece on Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge for DimeMag.com that touches a bit on the passing of the torch from guard Brandon Roy.
"It was great (watching Aldridge's breakout season), but LaMarcus always had that kind of game," says Roy about his teammate of five years. "The biggest key to making that next step was his confidence - stepping out there to start taking big shots. To start wanting big shots in big moments."
"I think when Brandon was the main guy (Batman), and I was Robin, I would kind of get up and down, and kind of get hesitant," says Aldridge. "But when I became the main guy, every night I had to stay confident no matter what. If I had an off night, I just put it behind me and moved forward because I knew that if I didn't bring my ‘A' game - mentally and physically - then we didn't have a chance. So, I think I just learned that you have to turn the page quickly, and that's what most main guys do."
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"I felt like I've been on that brink of making it for so many years, but I felt like I really put in my time, and I thought I really earned it last season," says Aldridge. "And to actually not make it, that was like a slap in the face. So I think after that, I was just out to show the league and the world that they made a mistake."
Roy also calls Aldridge "arguably the best power forward on the court" and said that "LaMarcus held his own against everybody in the league."
Aldridge is hosting a charity game at the University of Portland on Sunday, Nov. 6. Full details here.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter