PORTLAND, Ore. - For the second time in his brief stint with the Spurs, LaMarcus Aldridge is prepared to return to Portland as an opponent. This time around, Aldridge knows what to expect.”They already booed me, so I can look forward to that this time,” said Aldridge. “That first time is always more nervous and more jitters. Now it’s going on almost two years, so I’m a lot more comfortable.”Aldridge may be comfortable with the booing from Trail Blazers fans, but in his second season in San Antonio, his comfort level with the Spurs is still a work in progress.The 31-year-old, who signed a four-year, $84 million deal with the Spurs in 2014, will return to Moda Center on Friday with one goal: help the Spurs defeat a Blazers team that has dropped four straight games, and eight of their last 10.”I’m not trying to prove anything,” said Aldridge. “Just going in there trying to get a win. Nothing has changed. It’s just another game for me.”But despite the Spurs’ record, and current seeding as the second best team in the Western Conference behind the Golden State Warriors, Aldridge hasn’t been at his best. He entered Thursday’s contest with the Los Angeles Clippers averaging 16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds, the lowest he’s averaged since his rookie season.Following the loss to the Chicago Bulls earlier this month, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich called out his team, adding that, “We also have some people who are playing very poorly. You have to participate in your own recovery. Some players have to play better.”Though Popovich didn’t mention names, some considered Aldridge to be one of the players he was addressing.Aldridge did take responsibility, admitting he’s been “floating” on offense, “trying to stay in-tune and finding ways to be productive.”
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