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Behind the play of their non-All Star, LaMarcus Aldridge, the Portland Trail Blazers have surged to the 6th spot in the NBA Western Conference playoff race with their win over Minnesota and their fine All Star, Kevin Love. Aldridge, the current reigning Western Conference player of the week, has put the Blazers on his back after injuries to Marcus Camby, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. In spite of his efforts, he was refused a spot on the All Star team after David Stern named Love as Yao Ming's replacement. Minnesota currently has the worst record in the Western Conference with Love, and suffice to say, they would probably be the worst in the conference without Love.

It says a lot about how All-Stars are defined with a player like Kevin Love is picked by the NBA commissioner over a player like LaMarcus Aldridge. Myself, I'll take the winner over the loser any day.

Portland has a much better roster than the Wolves. If Love wasn't playing in Minny, they would have maybe two wins at most. The TWolves have the worst collection of guards the NBA has seen in a long time.

I was at Love's 30 point 30 rebound game this year against the Knicks and watch the Wolves games fairly often. He is one of the hardest working players in the NBA, always fighting for position, getting knocked to the ground going for the rebound against taller players that are usually better jumpers. Lover is averaging 7 more rebounds per game than Aldridge and is shooting 43% from 3pt range. Aldridge has made 16 3's this year, Love 74. Aldridge is a good player, but not as dynamic as Love. Give the Timberwolves a decent point guard that can help them finish games and you have a much better team. Love is getting most of his points off rebounds not assist. They've take San Antonio to the wire a couple times having youngest team in the NBA.

Kevin Love recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds in Minnesota's loss to Philadelphia on Saturday night, extending his streak of consecutive double-doubles to 40 games.

Love's streak ranks him third all-time since the NBA and ABA merger.

He trails only Moses Malone, who had streaks of 50 (1978-79) and 44 (1982-83) during his career.

Gil Dobie wrote:I was at Love's 30 point 30 rebound game this year against the Knicks and watch the Wolves games fairly often. He is one of the hardest working players in the NBA, always fighting for position, getting knocked to the ground going for the rebound against taller players that are usually better jumpers. Lover is averaging 7 more rebounds per game than Aldridge and is shooting 43% from 3pt range. Aldridge has made 16 3's this year, Love 74. Aldridge is a good player, but not as dynamic as Love. Give the Timberwolves a decent point guard that can help them finish games and you have a much better team. Love is getting most of his points off rebounds not assist. They've take San Antonio to the wire a couple times having youngest team in the NBA.

Kevin Love recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds in Minnesota's loss to Philadelphia on Saturday night, extending his streak of consecutive double-doubles to 40 games.

Love's streak ranks him third all-time since the NBA and ABA merger.

He trails only Moses Malone, who had streaks of 50 (1978-79) and 44 (1982-83) during his career.

Aldridge head to head against Love and the T'Wolves this year, 36 points, 28 points, 37 points and only 21 points last night (all Blazer wins). The game plan against the Wolves has always been to contain Beasley and hold Ridnaur and Webster down, and let Love do his thing because Love will not beat you alone (how many All-Stars can you say that about). When the game was in doubt last night, Love was absent while Aldridge was willing the Blazers to a win. Love finally continued his double double streak with three minutes left in the game and the game out of reach. Ask Andre Miller about giving up your streak for the betterment of your team.

One of Love's games during his streak was a 10 point, 10 rebound game that the Wolves lost the day before Stern named him to the team. That same night, Aldridge torched San Antonio for 40 points and, again, a Blazer win.

Also, you want to play if this or if that in discussing your lack of talent, try taking away your superstar center, your 3 time All Star and your leading rebounder and see if you can stay in the playoff hunt. With Aldridge, the Blazers are still winning. With Love, the Wolves are still losing.

JALMOND wrote:Aldridge head to head against Love and the T'Wolves this year, 36 points, 28 points, 37 points and only 21 points last night (all Blazer wins). The game plan against the Wolves has always been to contain Beasley and hold Ridnaur and Webster down, and let Love do his thing because Love will not beat you alone (how many All-Stars can you say that about). When the game was in doubt last night, Love was absent while Aldridge was willing the Blazers to a win. Love finally continued his double double streak with three minutes left in the game and the game out of reach. Ask Andre Miller about giving up your streak for the betterment of your team.

One of Love's games during his streak was a 10 point, 10 rebound game that the Wolves lost the day before Stern named him to the team. That same night, Aldridge torched San Antonio for 40 points and, again, a Blazer win.

Also, you want to play if this or if that in discussing your lack of talent, try taking away your superstar center, your 3 time All Star and your leading rebounder and see if you can stay in the playoff hunt. With Aldridge, the Blazers are still winning. With Love, the Wolves are still losing.

I'm not going to belittle Aldridge as he is a good player, but put him on the T-Wolves and I doubt the T-Wolves have a better record. Ridnaur is the guy passing the ball, Love doesn't need people passing to him, he gets rebounds and rarely scores big. Scorers are a dime-a-dozen in the NBA. Stopping Ridnaur, Beasley and Webster (not sure why) stops the rest of the team from scoring. Love has continued the streak despite injury and fighting the flu. Both are good players, Love is having a great season and has done some great things and works hard, so that's probably why he was chosen, not because of the T-Wolves record.

JALMOND wrote:Also, you want to play if this or if that in discussing your lack of talent, try taking away your superstar center, your 3 time All Star and your leading rebounder and see if you can stay in the playoff hunt. With Aldridge, the Blazers are still winning. With Love, the Wolves are still losing.

I really hope you don't mean Greg Oden with that statement. The guy is averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in 82 career games. He has 21 career double-doubles, Blake Griffin already had 46. Greg Oden isn't a superstar, he's Sam Bowie 2.0, and at this point I'm thinking that might be an insult to Sam Bowie.

Love is putting up historic numbers for a team with the worst players in the NBA at the 1-3 positions. 20/15 hasn't been done in 30 years. If he gets to 22/16, you have to go back 50 years. Aldridge is pretty good, but he's not a superstar. He takes a ton of shots, and is not very efficient. Also a terrible rebounder for his position, and average defender.

Love just set a record with the most double-double's prior to the All-Star game with his 51st of the season. Going against Blake Griffin tonight.

Gil Dobie wrote:

JALMOND wrote:Aldridge head to head against Love and the T'Wolves this year, 36 points, 28 points, 37 points and only 21 points last night (all Blazer wins). The game plan against the Wolves has always been to contain Beasley and hold Ridnaur and Webster down, and let Love do his thing because Love will not beat you alone (how many All-Stars can you say that about). When the game was in doubt last night, Love was absent while Aldridge was willing the Blazers to a win. Love finally continued his double double streak with three minutes left in the game and the game out of reach. Ask Andre Miller about giving up your streak for the betterment of your team.

One of Love's games during his streak was a 10 point, 10 rebound game that the Wolves lost the day before Stern named him to the team. That same night, Aldridge torched San Antonio for 40 points and, again, a Blazer win.

Also, you want to play if this or if that in discussing your lack of talent, try taking away your superstar center, your 3 time All Star and your leading rebounder and see if you can stay in the playoff hunt. With Aldridge, the Blazers are still winning. With Love, the Wolves are still losing.

I'm not going to belittle Aldridge as he is a good player, but put him on the T-Wolves and I doubt the T-Wolves have a better record. Ridnaur is the guy passing the ball, Love doesn't need people passing to him, he gets rebounds and rarely scores big. Scorers are a dime-a-dozen in the NBA. Stopping Ridnaur, Beasley and Webster (not sure why) stops the rest of the team from scoring. Love has continued the streak despite injury and fighting the flu. Both are good players, Love is having a great season and has done some great things and works hard, so that's probably why he was chosen, not because of the T-Wolves record.

I am thinking you saw the game Monday. Love and company (the Wolves starters) fell behind early, 16-2, then Ridnour and Webster led them back. The Blazers gave Love and the Wolves every opportunity to seize the game in the fourth, yet Love (the All Star) was a non-factor, but he was still able to continue his "impressive" streak very late in the game, after it was decided. Aldridge has carried the Blazers to wins in the fourth against teams like San Antonio and Chicago. Love can't do that.

Both are excellent players and I've seen Love play since his high school days at Lake Oswego. But you take Aldridge off the Blazers and they are near the bottom of the conference. You take Love off the Wolves and they are near the bottom of the conference. But with Aldridge, the Blazers are fighting for a playoff spot. With Love, the Wolves are still near the bottom. If the Blazers make the playoffs, it will be because of the production they got out of Aldridge, especially with Roy and Camby out.

eagleskins wrote:Love is putting up historic numbers for a team with the worst players in the NBA at the 1-3 positions. 20/15 hasn't been done in 30 years. If he gets to 22/16, you have to go back 50 years. Aldridge is pretty good, but he's not a superstar. He takes a ton of shots, and is not very efficient. Also a terrible rebounder for his position, and average defender.

Last 10---FG % .522, rebounds 9.1, assists 2.5, blocks 1.6, steals 1.6, points 25.4.

season---FG% .493, rebounds 8.9, assists 2.1, blocks 1.3, steals 1.1, points 22.1

Not sure who you are talking about...

source-ESPN.

Gil Dobie wrote:Love just set a record with the most double-double's prior to the All-Star game with his 51st of the season. Going against Blake Griffin tonight.

That is impressive. But did it translate to a Wolves win?

Tonight, Portland was down 6 going into the final quarter against New Orleans. The Hornets knew we were going to Aldridge. They did everything in their power, yet Aldridge had 11 points in the quarter and the Blazers currently sit 5th in the conference after the win tonight. That, my friend, is what All-Stars do.

It is a blessing in the end. We have a local kid in the All-Star game and I am sure Love will represent the NW and the Wolves well. Aldridge and the rest of the Blazers can rest during the break and come back strong afterward. We also have Roy and Camby coming back after the break. Things are finally looking up for Portland.

JALMOND wrote:

Gil Dobie wrote:Love just set a record with the most double-double's prior to the All-Star game with his 51st of the season. Going against Blake Griffin tonight.

That is impressive. But did it translate to a Wolves win?

Tonight, Portland was down 6 going into the final quarter against New Orleans. The Hornets knew we were going to Aldridge. They did everything in their power, yet Aldridge had 11 points in the quarter and the Blazers currently sit 5th in the conference after the win tonight. That, my friend, is what All-Stars do.

It is a blessing in the end. We have a local kid in the All-Star game and I am sure Love will represent the NW and the Wolves well. Aldridge and the rest of the Blazers can rest during the break and come back strong afterward. We also have Roy and Camby coming back after the break. Things are finally looking up for Portland.

Give the T-Wolves Andre Miller and the Blazers Luke Ridnour and see what happens. It's not an individual player league, as it's a team game. I think people are going to want to see a player that is averaging 15 boards a game in the all-star game. If it's winning that judges an All-Star, maybe they should just send the top 2 teams, because their players are bigger winners than anyone else.

Agaisnt New Orleans this year the Timberwolves are 2-0, Love went 27 pts 17 rbd and 16 pts 11 rbd in the 2 games.