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Portland Trail Blazers Throwback Performance: LaMarcus Aldridge Dominates the Thunder

By Ruben Estrada

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 25: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the Portland Trail Blazers high fives fans before Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2015 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2015 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 25: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the Portland Trail Blazers high fives fans before Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2015 NBA Playoffs on April 25, 2015 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LaMarcus Aldridge delivered some of the most impressive performances of his career in a Trail Blazers uniform, such as this takeover against the Thunder.

It was April 3, 2009, and the Oklahoma City Thunder were in the midst of their first season in a new home. The Thunder were also experiencing their first and only losing record (Post move from Seattle), with 20-year-olds Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant still green and developing.

Meanwhile, The Portland Trail Blazers were on their way to a fantastic 54-28 record, tied for their second best overall record of the new century. It was a glorious but short lived era for Rip City. Brandon Roy was playing at peak level, earning his lone All-NBA Second Team nod. Greg Oden played 61 of his 105 NBA games in this season, earning 39 starts.

And of course, there was LaMarcus Aldridge. While some may forget, Blazer fans remember the disrespect and lack of acclaim Aldridge received in his early years. Although already deep into his third season in the league, Aldridge would have to wait until 2012 before earning his first All-Star nod. That however, did not stop him from dominating a youthful and inexperienced Thunder roster.

From tip-off, this game belonged to Aldridge and the Blazers. Guarded by the much smaller Jeff Green for the majority of the night, Aldridge combined his signature finesse style with brute force, racking up eight points and five rebounds in the first quarter.

While the scrappy Thunder squad managed to cut the lead to 33-34 halfway through the second quarter, the majority of the game was Portland’s to lose. Aldridge continued to put on a show, bringing his point total to 18 at the half, then coming out of the break for an explosive 13 point third quarter. With focus required on Roy, and fan favorite Steve Blake finding Aldridge all night, the power forward was in takeover mode through all four quarters.

In the end, Aldridge tallied up a total of 35 points and what was then a career high 18 rebounds. The Blazers would leave Chesapeake Bay Arena with a 107-72 win Thunder fans would soon hope to forget. For Portland, this was not necessarily a decisive victory. Looking back, it is not even a game that stands out in history, but instead provides a snapshot of a transitional period both for Portland and the league.

For the Blazers, the hope of a dominant Aldridge, Oden, Roy era was still very much alive. It seemed the worst of Oden’s knee problems were finally behind him. Roy was still a year away from the return of nagging injuries that would lead to his retirement. And Aldridge, well, there seemed to be no way he would leave the team.

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For the NBA as a whole, the league was unknowingly entering a new era. LeBron James was still two years away from beginning his eight straight Finals appearances. Stephen Curry wouldn’t be drafted until June, three months after this game, and Durant and Westbrook would still need to grind it out three years until they reached their first and only Finals as teammates.

As we wait for word about the fate of the 2019-2020 season, fans are left to look back on their favorite moments both recently and long passed. No one may be happy about the loss of live sports, but it does allow us to deep dive into the vault of memories our favorite teams have created over the years.