For some teams, playoff seeding might be somewhat inconsequential. That isn't necessarily the case for the Portland Trail Blazers, but Damian Lillard could use a rest here and there.
Lillard said it will be imperative for the Trail Blazers to earn at least a sixth seed in order to avoid the play-in games. But he also stated the team–and especially himself–could perhaps do a better job of conserving energy in the second half and leaving something in the tank for the playoffs:
“I think in the past, when I feel like I can play, I want to play,” Lillard said, via Jason Quick of The Athletic. “I don’t want to leave the team out there to dry, or not be out there because my job is to be out there if I’m healthy. But I think that’s where we can be better at, sometimes just doing what might be better for us in the long run, and not working so hard to get to a certain spot in the playoffs, and then when we get there, we pretty much running out of gas.”
Last year was a bit of a different scenario.
Numerous injuries in the frontcourt left Portland to scrap and claw for a play-in spot. The Trail Blazers had to go 6-2 in the “bubble” and win their play-in against the Memphis Grizzlies just to advance to the standard bracket.
But history suggests Lillard has a point. Portland was swept in the 2019 Western Conference finals despite leading each of the four games by double figures. The Trail Blazers guard acknowledged he was gassed after every game.
Portland is currently fifth in the West, with Jusuf Nurkic and C.J. McCollum slated to return sometime after the All-Star break. The Trail Blazers could also make a move or two ina dvance of the March 25 trade deadline.
Things appear to be looking up, though Lillard is sure to be wary of his energy level heading into the playoffs.
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