Not quite sure on the details yet, but we just received news that Zach Randolph will miss at least one of the Blazers next few game (Tuesday’s home game against the Washington Wizards). He has been granted bereavement leave by the team. More details will probably trickle in later today, but we’d like to extend our condolences to Zach regardless of the situation’s specifics.
For the team, this probably means more minutes for up-and-coming rookie LaMarcus Aldridge, Jamaal Magloire and Travis Outlaw. You may remember that the Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas vowed to score 50 points against the Blazers before the two teams’ last meeting. He scored nine. So keeping him in check will likely be a priority for the young Blazers.
Randolph, the team says, will join the Blazers at some point during their upcoming four-game road trip.
Blazers.com
Photo courtesy of the team.
Have the Blazers got a budding Lou Gherig waiting in the wings? Knowledgeable baseball fans know Wally Pipp as the possessor of the most famous headache in baseball history. On June 2, 1925, Pipp told Yankee manager Miller Huggins he needed to sit that day out and rookie Lou Gehrig took his place. Pipp lost the job he had held since 1915 and at season’s end was shunted off to Cincinnati.
Go rookie go.
I love Aldridge, and think he deserves more playing time and more respect from the league and the critics than he is getting. But…I don’t think he is going to steal Randolph’s spot. There’s plenty of room for him and Randolph on the court. If there’s anyone who is going to be shunted, it’s probably poor injury riddled Pryzbilla.