The Blazers made it back to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons last year, winning their first series in 14 years.
They got clutch performances from almost everyone who played in the series. From Nicolas Batum, to Wesley Matthews, to Dorell Wright. Everybody had their moments, winning with a more complete team, in the eyes of most who saw the series.
But it was the performances that began and ended the series against the Houston Rockets which remains most memorable. They were provided by the duo that now stands apart from the rest, even while they may have the biggest role in making sure everyone on the Blazers sticks together.
LaMarcus Aldridge’s dominance changed the series in Game’s 1 and 2 with historic performances. He defended Houston’s Dwight Howard in clutch moments, taking the challenge of playing center in the clutch.
Then Damian Lillard did the impossible, much like a player that Aldridge was once paired with before, Brandon Roy.
In the simplest sense, this duo did what the other could not. Now that the duo is together, most agree that Aldridge and Lillard can play leading roles on winning teams.
Last season, a familiar feeling came back from the days of Batum’s youth playing next to Roy. Then, he was looking up to a star. Older and more mature, he saw another one rise along the way.
Although they are very different in their styles and skills, Batum is given a similar confidence from Lillard.
“That’s what we figured out with Dame last year. I remember my first two years when we were down six or five and B-Roy had the ball I was like, ‘We good,’ ” he said. “Now I feel the same thing with Dame last year. Sometimes down six or eight with two minutes to go and you look in his face and you say, he’s going to make this shot for sure. Stepback 3.”
And Aldridge has only gotten better. He had a career season and a signature performance on both ends.
“He’s our main guy and my job as a point guard and the other guy is to be the best complimentary guy I can be to him,” Lillard said.
This year Aldridge is promising to take more 3-pointers, which will only add to his value, but not so much to become a “stretch-four.” It was his own choice, though coach Terry Stotts quietly wanted him to consider taking a few.
But it also seems that there is a sense that Portland’s stars also deserve credit for instilling a culture of everyone taking care of everyone else. That was one of the hallmarks of last year’s success.
“I think we definitely try to make the personality of the team as selfless and guys that are unselfish. Guys definitely follow our lead,” Aldridge said. “If him and myself do it, I think any guy should do it.”
“I think those two guys have learned to play basketball the right way,” said Stotts of how his two stars have helped foster the team’s togetherness. “They’ve been involved with good team situations. I don’t think I have changed Damian and LA. I think they are the people they are because of all the experiences that brought them to this point.”
While Lillard may be a little bit more social than Aldridge, neither one of them are talkative guys. Lillard still devours anything basketball related during the season, while Aldridge is more likely to dive into a premium cable drama. But they also share that they feel most normal when cast as the underdog.
“What people say doesn’t really matter,” Lillard said. “But it also helps us because it’s our natural habitat to not be considered a good team or what we think we are.”
The national perception on their long-term prospects, thanks to a busy offseason across the West, their 21-win leap, career years for all players last year and near-perfect health last season, has dimmed.
But being an afterthought is a truth for these Blazers and especially of their duo of present and future.
“That’s where we’ve always been,” Lillard said.
