Aldridge for Most Valuable Player?

Portland has had their typical season full of injuries, and many are always quick to count the Trailblazers out of the running, but here they are in sixth place in the West within shouting distance of fourth, and it’s all down to the work of LaMarcus Aldridge, who should get MVP consideration, although it’s highly unlikely he’ll actually win or even be an option in the NBA spread for the award.

The fourth-year forward out of Texas has been known as a good player who you wouldn’t put up with the elite players in the NBA, but you may have to start considering Aldridge after his work this season. So far, Aldridge is averaging 22.4 points and 8.7 rebounds, but his contributions mean so much for a team that has trouble putting the rock in the hole. Aldridge went off in the month of February, averaging 27.8 points and 8.9 rebounds as he was snubbed for the All-Star game, and he is, literally, the only option in the post for the Trailblazers. He has had to do this all with Marcus Camby battling injuries, and Brandon Roy has also been in and out of the lineup all season, and even though the Trailblazers have gotten a good season out of their role players and picked up Gerald Wallace, Aldridge is still the man in Portland.

Will he win the MVP? Probably not, as that will go to either Chicago’s Derrick Rose or maybe Miami’s LeBron James. But Aldridge has had a spectacular season, and this could be just the beginning of a fantastic career for the 25-year-old who is coming into his own.