The San Antonio Spurs are optimistic that forward LaMarcus Aldridge will not miss more than a couple games after picking up a thigh injury:
The Spurs' LaMarcus Aldridge will miss tonight's game in Detroit due to a thigh injury they hope will sideline him no more than a game or two, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 1, 2019
Aldridge is merely dealing with thigh soreness, which only seems natural for someone in his 15th year in the NBA. He is also one of the lone post scoring options for the Spurs, so he still has to bang down low.
The seven-time All-Star played in all 20 games to start the year, though he has not been nearly as productive as he was last season. Aldridge is putting up 18.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, which is a bit of a decline from the 21.3 points and 9.2 boards he averaged last season.
Much like teammate DeMar DeRozan, Aldridge has found himself caught up in some trade chatter given San Antonio's poor start to the season. Aldridge is signed through next season, so he could give a number of potential contenders a boost.
Aldridge was terrific over the course of the last two seasons, and he appears to have longevity because he is a more traditional post scorer who excels in the mid-range and extend his range in the pick-and-pop.
Then again, the Spurs and head coach Gregg Popovich do not seem like the types to cash in their chips so early. At 7-13, they have a long way to go to climb back into the playoff race.
The key will be establishing better team defense, with LaMarcus Aldridge cemented as the rim protector in the middle. He is currently averaging a career-high 1.8 blocks per game, but San Antonio has really struggled on that end of the court.
Follow Us
Subscribe