Über uns » 180 appearances during his four-year sp

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Houston has a LaMarcus Aldridge problem. The Trail Blazers All-Star forward has been dominating with more than 40 points in each of the opening two playoff games with the Rockets in Houston. Portland is up 2-0 as the series moves to Rip City on Friday night, giving the Rockets little time to figure out how to defend Aldridge. He opened the playoffs with a franchise post-season-best 46 points in the Blazers 122-120 overtime victory, then followed it up with 43 points in the 112-105 win on Wednesday night. Rockets coach Kevin McHale summed it up best when he said: "So far, hes had a hell of a series." Aldridge found success in the paint in the opener so the Rockets adjusted -- but so did Aldridge, who went outside to pepper Houston with midrange jumpers. Thirteen of his 18 field goals came from 10 feet out or more. "Hes making tough shots, hes getting to the foul line. Hes offensive rebounding. Hes doing the whole package and its tough for us," said Houston guard James Harden. "We gotta figure something out real soon. In game three, it is either we win or its over." Aldridge is the first player to score 43 or more points in consecutive playoff games since Tracy McGrady in 2003, and the first to score at least 40 in back-to-back post-season games since LeBron James in 2009. It almost goes without saying that Aldridge is the first Blazer with at least 40 points in back-to-back playoff games. "You can tell just by his approach how hes really dialed in and hes playing big. Hes really taken it upon himself to do all these things," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said Thursday. "Give him all the credit. Hes been wanting this moment for a long time and hes rising to the challenge." Aldridge acknowledged the team for his success. "This team in general just believes in me so much and they ride the wave so well," he said. "When Im going one through 15, they are all cheering and telling me to shoot it. If I pass up a shot, theyre all mad at me and I think having 15 guys having your back like that is great." Aldridges play has put Portland in charge as the team returns home. The Blazers havent opened a playoff series 2-0 since 1977, when they got the early jump on the Lakers en route to the Western Conference title. Portland went on to beat Philadelphia for its lone NBA championship Portland ranked seventh in the league during the regular season with just 10 losses at home. Only three teams have come back to win after losing the first two games of a seven-game series at home: The last was the 2004-05 Mavericks, who came back against the Rockets. Houston is 0-7 overall when falling behind 0-2 in the first round since the 1983-84 expansion. Dwight Howard said its no time to panic. "Weve played against Portland in the regular season and we were successful. We just got to play basketball. We cant look back. We have to stay positive," he said. "They (Portland) won two games but its the first to four and we cant let our heads down. We dug a hole but we can always get out of it." Howard had 32 points and 14 rebounds in Wednesdays loss, while Harden had 18 points. Harden was the leagues top shooting guard in the regular season, but hes 14 of 47 from the field in the playoffs for his worst two-game stretch of the season. Part of that is due to Portlands Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum taking turns at shutting him down. "Weve done a good job guarding without fouling and one thing about playoff basketball is that everybody has the every possession mentality," Stotts said. "We didnt fall asleep on him and I dont think he got a lot of easy looks and every great player in this league, you just want to make them work and I think Nick and Wes in particular really have made him work." For his part, Harden isnt really concerned about a slump. Hes more focused on the Blazers -- and stopping Aldridge. "Im not worried about my offence, Im worried about our defence, our defence as a team. When we get stops and get out in transition everybody feels good about themselves and thats when the assists flow in and things start going well," he said. "If we cant get stops it makes it more difficult. They are a very good team." Custom Vancouver Canucks Jerseys . Cain departed in the fourth inning of a 10-5 loss to the Pirates on Thursday. X-rays on Cains bruised forearm were negative. He was hit when Sanchez led off the fourth with a groundout. Tim Schaller Jersey . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. http://www.officialcanuckspro.com/Markus...canucks-jersey/. - Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery was so busy in free agency he didnt mind having a few extra weeks to prepare for the draft. Markus Naslund Jersey . Listen to the Raptors vs. Jazz live tonight on TSN Radio 1050 at 9pm et/6pm pt. The Raptors are 1-1 so far on the five-game junket after defeating Denver and losing to Portland. Igor Larionov Jersey . The American secured his first back-to-back ATP match wins since June to leave Tsonga relying on his performance at next weeks Paris Masters to clinch one of the final three places for the season-ending event in London. Tsonga would have moved up one spot to No. 6 with a win over Querrey at the City of Arts and Sciences, but his serve deserted him in the second set as the 116th-ranked American broke twice to reach the quarter-finals.Manchester United do not have an agreement in place to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sources close to the player have told Sky Sports News HQ. But it is understood he is a player United would be interested in as they eye a new centre-forward this summer.Reports across both English and European newspapers have claimed that the Sweden international is close to joining United on a free transfer, with his Paris Saint-Germain contract due to expire next month. Ibrahimovic and incoming United manager Jose Mourinho clashed at times when they worked together at Inter Milan between 2008 and 2009, with Ibrahimovic firing in 25 goals as Inter won the Serie A title, but they subsequently formed a strong bond. Ibrahimovic is a free agent when his contract at PSG expires next month And Ibrahimovic has previously indicated a willingness to move to Old Trafford if Louis van Gaal was no longer at the club, according to Sky sources.Ray Wilkins told Sky Sports News HQ on Tuesday that Ibrahimovic would be a superb signing for United. Ibrahimovic signed off from PSG after winning the French Cup He is Cantona-esque coming into Old Trafford, Wilkins said.dddddddddddd This guy would be a marquee signing and you havent got to pay any money for him, only his wages.United need characters, charisma back at the club and he would give them that. It would probably only be a one-year contract, but its well worth the gamble. Mourinho and Ibra What the two powerful personalities have said about each other Ibrahimovic, a vastly experienced centre-forward with titles in Italy, Spain and France, scored 156 goals in 180 appearances during his four-year spell at PSG.The 34-year-old is understood to be of interest to a host of clubs across Europe, including in the Premier League, after confirming his intention to play on when he leaves PSG. Also See: Mourinho agrees Utd terms Mourinho to Man Utd LIVE! 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