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NBA All Star Game: Trail Blazers Commentators Mad at Aldridge and Lillard Benching

By Michael Straw

Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; 2014 Western Conference All-Stars forward LaMarcus Aldridge (Blazers) (12) reacts during the practice session at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; 2014 Western Conference All-Stars forward LaMarcus Aldridge (Blazers) (12) reacts during the practice session at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; 2014 Western Conference All-Stars forward LaMarcus Aldridge (Blazers) (12) reacts during the practice session at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; 2014 Western Conference All-Stars forward LaMarcus Aldridge (Blazers) (12) reacts during the practice session at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

In Sunday night’s NBA All-Star game from New Orleans, Portland Trail Blazers’ stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard played just 13:17 and 8:44, respectively. This show of apparent disrespect to two players on the team currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference by West coach Scott Brooks prompted two members of the Trail Blazers broadcast team to voice their displeasure.

Mike Rice Sr., a color commentator on the TV broadcast team, and Antonio Harvey from the radio side of things, had some bitter thoughts towards Brooks and his decisions regarding the two players from the Rose City.

Call me crazy, but getting angry over two of a team’s best players playing little minutes in a meaningless game is pretty asinine. If anything, fans of a team should want their players to play as little as possible in an All-Star game in order to reduce the risk of an injury, but that’s just my point of view on it all.

Aldridge nor Lillard seemed to have an issue with their, lack of, playing time on Sunday.

From Mike Tokito of The Oregonian:

"“I definitely had my opportunity to score,” Aldridge said. “Didn’t make any shots, but I think I played more minutes – what’d I play tonight, 14 minutes? –  I think that’s an All-Star Game high for me. It was fun. The whole weekend was fun. I had fun with the activities and the things for the fans.” “You’ve got guys that are producing at the same level that I am for my team, but they’ve been here five times already, so they’re going to be on the floor,” Lillard said. “That’s a respect thing. If I’m ever a five-time All-Star, four-time All-Star, and a first-time All-Star came in and played more minutes than me, or finishing the game over me, I’m not going to like that. So I respect it.”"

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