Spurs Grades vs Blazers: Aldridge Shines

The San Antonio Spurs saw six players reach double-figures in a 113-101 victory over the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday night. This game marked the return of LaMarcus Aldridge. Mixed emotions from the fans as he heard cheers and boos, Aldridge handled it as good as you could as he expressed to NBA.Com.

“I definitely heard the cheers of the fans that showed me love and still supported me. And I heard the fans that were mad, and rightfully so. It might have been like 70-30 cheers to boos,” he said.

Aldridge finished with a season-high 23 points as he drilled his fade-away jumper down in the post. Alongside Aldridge, Kawhi Leonard whom had a scare early in the fourth quarter as he landed on his elbow after driving into the lane and finishing with a right hand dunk over Mason Plumee.

He would return two-minutes later but I assure you, every San Antonio fans heart stopped when the incident happened.

As great as Aldridge and Leonard performed, a young Manu Ginobili was all over the place. Ginobili finished with 14 points off of the bench and had some outstanding plays.

With the win, the Spurs have now won six out of their last seven games. Their record stands and 6-2 which has them sitting atop the Southwest Division.

Now onto the player grades from Wednesday nights win.

TONY PARKER. B+. 11 points, 5 assists, 1 steal — Parker did not do much on the scoring side but in the fourth quarter where the game was close, he started to play more aggressively. Parker finished with just 11 points. He did have five assists and did not commit a turnover.. PG. San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs. DANNY GREEN. B+. 11 points (3-4 3PT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists — Danny Green found his shot, well not fully but he did shoot better on Wednesday night. Green nailed three from downtown and one in the first half which he was fouled on to put the Spurs up 41-32. Defensively, Green had his hands full but was making it hard for the guards to get a clear shot. Hopefully this game wakes Green up on the offensive end.. SG

20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal — We could be talking about the injury sustained to Kawhi Leonard after a dunk which sent him down to the floor, but we are not (sigh of relief). Leonard as he has been doing through-out the season thus far, leading the team, did so again. Defensively, he helped slow down CJ McCollum which in the first half torched the Spurs for 14. In the second half, he did not register a point until the fourth quarter. Where his game really shined is on the offensive end. Whether it be hitting from long distance, mid-range jumpers, to taking it hard to the rim, Leonard looks very comfortable being the first choice not he offensive end.. SF. San Antonio Spurs. KAWHI LEONARD. A+

Nov 11, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) posts up against Portland Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis (17) during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

PF. San Antonio Spurs. LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE. A. 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block shot — All eyes were on how LaMarcus Aldridge would perform against his former team. The emotions were there and heard. Aldridge himself felt emotional. When you spend nine years of your career with a team and you help bring that city some excitement, you will have the same type of emotions. But, Aldridge handled everything in stride, as a Spur would. He went out and had himself his best as a Spur. Dominating down on the block, Aldridge hit fadeaway jumpers that the fans in Portland were so used to seeing and cheering. Aldridge is starting to come into his own now for San Antonio, I think they know as well. Aldridge finished with a season and team high 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor.

A+. 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks — ‘Old Man Riverwalk’ continues to play at a high-level for San Antonio. Against the Blazers, no different. Duncan reached another milestone in his luxurious career as he became 7th All-Time in rebounding as he passed great Robert Parish. It is so fun to watch Duncan and what he brings on the floor. His intelligence is top notch as he continues to find ways to help the Spurs win games.. C. San Antonio Spurs. TIM DUNCAN

A+. 36 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists — What in the world got into Manu Ginobili Wednesday night. Fans around twitter were going nuts on the play of Ginobili stating he looked like the ‘young Ginobili’. He played excellent for San Antonio. One play that comes to mind that screams Ginobili is never quitting on a play. Ginobili took a shot in a corner and followed it as he saw it was about to fall short, he grabbed the rebound and put it back in for two. Its the little things that he can do on the floor that makes him so enjoyable to watch.Patty Mills came into the game and provided the spark as he has done so. In the first quarter he helped lead the bench back on a 14-4 run. He finished with seven points and hit one from downtown. Mills played great for the second unit as he has been doing this season.A name in which we have not mention much of is Rasual Butler. Butler is a Spur. He does everything right. He just belongs on this team. Though he did not score much Butler still is effective when he is on the floor and seemingly is getting more minutes than Kyle Anderson right now.Boris Diaw and David West were just being themselves. Diaw one played made it look to easy as he backed down a defender all the way to the basket for an easy layup. West is just a bruiser, that is all.. Bench. San Antonio Spurs. THE BENCH

Next: Ball Movement Key In Spurs 113-101 Win Over Blazers