Feb 26

  
 
After being snubbed last year (and perhaps the year before), Lamarcus Aldridge got his feet wet on the NBA's biggest stage -- it's annual all-star game. LaMarcus entered the game at the beginning of the second quarter for the first of his two stints.

On his very first defensive series, he claimed a rebound. Shortly thereafter, he hit a 17-foot jumper for the first all-star points of his career.  Later on, in his time in the fourth quarter, he put up a layup.

LaMarcus' statline is humble, much like he seems to be. He scored 4 points, adding a rebound and an assist in 9:48.

LaMarcus played an unusually limited number of minutes on a West team which featured him as one of four power forwards. Kevin Durant, whose Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks coached the West team, played a game-high 37 minutes and was named most valuable player in the West's 152-149 win.

While he certainly wanted to play more minutes, LaMarcus was diplomatic, yet disappointed, when questioned on the subject.

"Defnintely, eight minutes or nine minutes," LaMarcus told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. "I thought I was going to play more. Eight or nine minute? It's fine though."

He continued: "It's always going to be something and I think with my luck, it's always something. I'm not going to trip on that. I'm just going to go back and try and win games."

One thing LaMarcus can take away from his experience is that the pride of the BlazerNation is behind it's all-star. He was snubbed last year. This year, regardless of his minutes, The BlazerNation salutes him.

In some sense, I hope that means as much to LaMarcus as making the game itself.

~ KMM

In Kassandra's Words features regular blogs throughout the year. Comments and questions are welcome and encouraged. Seasons begin and end; players come and go; our Blazers are forever. Please follow on twitter: @PDXKass