Bryant Returns, Aldridge Wins Player of the Week

The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a start that no one would have thought possible. Without Kobe Bryant in the lineup for the first 19 games, the Lakers were a respectable 10-9 in the Western Conference, in what is by far the more difficult conference of the two.

Bryant returned Sunday evening for his first game of the regular season after a devastating Achilles tendon injury late last season.

His first game back did not have the ending he wanted as the team lost 106-94 against the Toronto Raptors. However, it was a start, one where Bryant gave himself an “F” as he said his rhythm was out of sync, he messed plays up and it was a complete failure.

Of course, those things must be taken with a grain of salt, as Bryant was smiling the whole time he said them.

The bottom line is he was happy to return. This is his 18th season in the NBA all with the same team. Only the 19 years John Stockton played for the Utah Jazz is a longer tenure in NBA history.

Regardless of how he said he played, or if the team won or lost, Bryant has returned and will start slowly to help his team to victory.

Aldridge wins Western Conference Player of the Week

LaMarcus Aldridge, the Portland Trailblazers talented high scoring forward was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for December 2-8, leading his teammates to a record of 3-1.

Portland is 17-4 on the season. The Trailblazers beat the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz during the week. Aldridge posted double-doubles in each of the four games Portland played during the week, averaging over 26 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists per game.

Last Wednesday night, Portland needed overtime to defeat the Thunder 111-104. Aldridge scored 38 points on the night grabbed 13 boards and handed out 5 assists.

Aldridge becomes the third player in Portland franchise history to win the honor five times. He joins Clyde Drexler, who won 10, and Brandon Roy who won 5.

Overall, this season Aldridge is averaging 23 points, 10 rebounds and nearly 3 assists per game. He is just one of two players in the NBA that is averaging over 23 points and 10 rebounds for the season.

Portland has the Western Conference’s best record, trails just Indiana by a half game for the NBA’s best overall record and they have already defeated the Pacers this season.

As the season progresses and opponents get a second look at Portland, the team might not hold up to their lofty current record.

Nevertheless, they are off to a flying start and teams now realize that Portland is a playoff caliber team led by the talented Aldridge.