Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu has been sidelined for over three weeks after suffering a left calf strain in the first quarter of Portland's 124-121 victory versus the Phoenix Suns on November 11 at the Moda Center. The Trail Blazers have gone 5-7 in Aminu's absence after starting the season 6-2 and have seen their defensive efficiency worsen from 105.8 points per 100 possessions with Aminu starting, which ranked 23rd in the NBA, to 113.5 points per 100 possessions with Aminu sidelined, the worst defensive rating in the NBA during that stretch.

What's more, opponents shot 44.3 percent versus the Trail Blazers in Aminu's eight games this season, the 10th best mark in the league, and are shooting 47.3 percent in the 12 games Aminu has been inactive, the third-worst percentage in the NBA. And while some of that can be attributed to factors such as quality of opponent, an increase in road games and general variance, it's become obvious just how important Aminu, already considered by most to be Portland's best defender, is to the Trail Blazers' defense.

So considering that, by some accounts, Portland's schedule in December is the most difficult in the NBA, it's great news that Aminu seems to be nearing a return to the court. According to Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, Aminu went through practice at the team's facility on Friday, which would seem to be the first time he's gone through an actual practice since suffering the injury.

"Farouq participated," said Stotts, "and that's the only update I have."

While Aminu has been participating in some on-court activities, whether it's going through shooting drills after practice to playing four-on-four with the non-rotation players prior to Wednesday's game versus the Pacers at the Moda Center, Friday was the first time (as far as anyone covering the team knows) that Aminu went through a standard practice, which would seem to indicate his return to the lineup will be sooner rather than later.

"(Aminu) looked good," Damian Lillard told The Oregonian's Joe Freeman after Friday's practice. "He looked like he'd been resting, because he had his legs underneath him. He was making shots, he was moving well."

Despite Aminu's progress, Stotts said after Friday's practice that the 6-9 forward, who started Portland's first eight games, will not play in Saturday night's contest versus the Miami Heat at the Moda Center. It is likely that Ed Davis will continue to start at power forward, as he has done in Portland's last seven games, until Aminu's return.