Aldridge Dominates Grizzlies in Spurs Victory

By Travis Atkinson

LaMarcus Aldridge is hitting his playoff stride.

Aldridge had 31 points and 13 rebounds Monday night, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 101-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. The Spurs were again without the services of Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, or Manu Ginobili, but easily handled the Grizzlies to avoid dropping back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Aldridge and the rest of Spurs took control of this game from the onset, jumping out to a 32-18 lead by the end of the first quarter. Aldridge acted as the catalyst of the Spurs hot start, scoring 14 of his game high 31 points in the opening quarter. It was an efficient night for Aldridge, who went 11 of his 16 from the field and looked unstoppable in the post.

”I was just out there playing,” Aldridge said after the game. “This system is not really made for guys to take over.”

Memphis cut the lead to single digits to start the third quarter, but Aldridge opened the second-half with a scoring flurry that soon quitted all notions of a Grizzly comeback. Aldridge scored 10 straight points on a barrage of low post moves and the Spurs lead soon ballooned to 16. San Antonio did not look back from there and cruised to an easy win.

Aldridge’s play is a strong sign for San Antonio heading into the playoffs. After taking some heat early in the season for some performances that were less than spectacular, Aldridge has raised the level of his play since the All-Star Break. March has been Aldridge’s best month as a Spur. In 12 games this month he’s averaging 22.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and shooting 56% from the field.

”LaMarcus was great,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said when asked about his power-forwards performance. ”After a few days’ rest he looked spry and ready to go.”

The rise in Aldridge’s play comes at the perfect time. It gives San Antonio the opportunity to rest its starters, while ensuring they don’t drop any spots in the Western Conference. It also serves as a time for Aldridge and the Spurs reserves to develop a rhythm with Aldridge as the focal point of the offense. These minutes will be valuable in the playoffs if any of the Spurs’ reserves are called upon to play big minutes.

Aldridge capped a Spurs performance that was dominant against a shorthanded Memphis squad.  Without starters Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, and Zach Randolph the Grizzlies struggled to generate good shot attempts, and their defense was non-existent. San Antonio shot 51% from the field and held Memphis to less than 40% shooting. In a game where both teams were forced to use their depth, the Spurs showed why they have one of the best benches in the league.

Spurs’ reserve Kyle Anderson replaced Leonard in the starting lineup at small forward for just his 8th start of the season and 16th of his career.  The second-year man out of UCLA made an efficient use of his 36 minutes, scoring 13 points on 4-6 shooting and tallying a career high 7 assists and 4 steals.

Patty Mills had another excellent performance off the bench. In 22 minutes of action, Mills went 7-10 from the field and scored 17 points. Mills is proving to be a reliable scorer for the Spurs’ second-unit and should have a huge impact in the playoffs.

Monday’s victory moved San Antonio to 62-12 on the season.