LaMarcus Aldridge Injury: Updates on Trail Blazers Star's Hand and Return

LaMarcus Aldridge suffered a hand injuryagainst the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night and did not return.Continue for updates.Aldridge Leaves Game vs. Grizzlies With Hand InjurySaturday, March 21Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reported that Aldridge, along with Nicolas Batum, suffered an injury and would not return against the Grizzlies. Eric Gunderson of The Columbian reported that x-rays were negative.Michael Wallace of ESPN had Aldridge's thoughts on the injury, saying"I already had my thumb messed up, so not being able to use my hand was just too much."This isn't the first injury scare for Aldridge and the Blazers. In January, he tore a ligament in his left thumb, and it was believed he'd miss six to eight weeks. Losing the 29-year-old for that long probably wouldn't have meant Portland falling out of a playoff position altogether, but it would have seriously damaged its seeding.Instead, Aldridge opted to delay thumb surgery, which allowed him to make a speedy return."I'll just play until it's intolerable. Tonight, I thought it was tolerable," he said on Jan. 25, per Sam Amick of USA Today. "It was hurting a little but it wasn't too much. I'll just keep going until I feel like I'm not playing as good as I can, or I can't take it."The Blazers will go as far in the playoffs as Aldridge and Damian Lillard can take them. Aldridge took his game to another level in the postseason, averaging 26.2 points and 10.6 rebounds in Portland's 11 playoff games.This year's title race is pretty wide open. The Trail Blazers won't be among the top favorites, but after trading for Arron Afflalo, they have the pieces to go all the way as long as Aldridge repeats last year's performance.
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