<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TUALATIN -- The Trail Blazers breathed a big sigh of relief Tuesday when they learned an injury to star rookie Brandon Roy won't sideline him for long. That good news came on the same day that the team's other prized rookie, LaMarcus Aldridge participated in a contact scrimmage for the first time since his August surgery to repair a torn ligament in his shoulder. Roy, who averaged 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the season's first three games, was unable to play in the second half of the Blazers' 102-89 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday because of pain in his left heel, which had been bothering him the last month. A magnetic resonance image taken Tuesday revealed an impingement of the left talus bone. Roy, who received a cortisone injection for the pain, will be held out of tonight's game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He will be fitted with an orthotic insert, and the team listed him as probable for Friday night's game against the New Orleans Hornets. That news about Roy and Aldridge put the Blazers' long-term prospects in a better light. But short term, in particular tonight's game against the Lakers, is a different matter. The team has five players injured, including centers Joel Przybilla and Raef LaFrentz and forward Darius Miles. Roy's absence leaves a gaping playmaking hole against the Lakers. Roy, who starts at shooting guard, frequently slides over to point and plays a high pick-and-roll that has become the team's best offensive complement to Zach Randolph's post play. "I don't think we have that guy that can replace him," McMillan said. "I think we're definitely going to have to work to do it together. Zach has been the guy we played off of last night majority of the game. We'll move it around." McMillan said he'll try Juan Dixon and Jarrett Jack in pick-and-roll situations. He added that Martell Webster, who had been playing small forward much of the time, probably will slide back to shooting guard, his main position last season. Dan Dickau, who had been relegated to mop-up duties, will move into the rotation as Jack's back-up at point guard, something Roy had been handling. </div> Source
