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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TUALATIN -- In his first game, he guarded Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki. In his second, he got Minnesota's Kevin Garnett. In his sixth, he had San Antonio's Tim Duncan.
Six games into his NBA career, Trail Blazers rookie LaMarcus Aldridge already has tested himself against a perennial All-Star and two former most valuable players.
"He's a great young talent," Duncan said after the Spurs beat the Blazers 107-98 on Monday. "It was the first time seeing him for me, but he surprised me a little bit."
Aldridge has been able to sneak up on the league because of a late start caused by shoulder surgery in August. At a time fellow Blazers rookie Brandon Roy is not playing because of an ailing left heel, Aldridge has given the Blazers a boost, averaging 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds and shooting 65.9 percent from the field.
Aldridge, the No. 2 pick in the draft, and Roy, the No. 6 pick, in a way have deflected the spotlight from each other. They have yet to play together, but each has performed well enough that he can share the burden of expectation that comes with being a high pick.
"Early in the season, I really felt like a lot of people were focusing on me," said Roy, who was drafted out of Washington. "At times, that would feel like a lot of pressure, and I would be like, 'I can't wait until LaMarcus comes back.' " </div>
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Six games into his NBA career, Trail Blazers rookie LaMarcus Aldridge already has tested himself against a perennial All-Star and two former most valuable players.
"He's a great young talent," Duncan said after the Spurs beat the Blazers 107-98 on Monday. "It was the first time seeing him for me, but he surprised me a little bit."
Aldridge has been able to sneak up on the league because of a late start caused by shoulder surgery in August. At a time fellow Blazers rookie Brandon Roy is not playing because of an ailing left heel, Aldridge has given the Blazers a boost, averaging 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds and shooting 65.9 percent from the field.
Aldridge, the No. 2 pick in the draft, and Roy, the No. 6 pick, in a way have deflected the spotlight from each other. They have yet to play together, but each has performed well enough that he can share the burden of expectation that comes with being a high pick.
"Early in the season, I really felt like a lot of people were focusing on me," said Roy, who was drafted out of Washington. "At times, that would feel like a lot of pressure, and I would be like, 'I can't wait until LaMarcus comes back.' " </div>
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