The Portland Trail Blazers are heading into the postseason on a hot streak, winning 10 of their last 12 games to earn the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. While Blazers star Damian Lillard claims there's no more pressure on them heading into the playoffs this season compared to the last few years, he did hint at big changes coming if there's no deep playoff run.
Via The Athletic's Jason Quick:
āI mean, I see every year when we get to this point as pivotal,ā Lillard told The Athletic. āBecause at every point, itās an evaluation: Where do we go from here? Like, can we get the job done as we are? And if not, where do we go from here? What is the change that needs to be made? Thatās just what it is. And I donāt know where that change comes from, you know, maybe we ā¦ I donāt know if itās moving players, I donāt know if itās a coaching change ā¦ whatever it is that happens in the NBA, the changes that are made when you look at the postseason and what you consider success and failure, and things like that, and what changes you have to make to improve or give yourself a better chance. I think weāve done a lot, and I think every year we get to this point and itās like āWhat is it that will get us to where we want to be?ā
āBut I donāt think there is more (pressure). I just think we are further along the way, you know? This aināt year five. Year five itās like, āAll right, itās been five years ā¦ā Itās been nine now. So I think thatās why it feels like more (pressure), but I donāt think itās any different than it has been the last two or three years. I just think because we are further along the way it feels that way.ā
Lillard even bringing up the possibility of a coaching change is notable here. There have been rumors that head coach Terry Stotts is on the hot seat, and it very well could take a deep playoff run to save his job.
Also, it wasn't long ago that a Chris Haynes Yahoo Sports column on Lillard's frustrating season sent a warning to the organization about how he's feeling as he desperately tries to win a championship. The Blazers have since gone on that scorching run to finish the regular season, and perhaps that helped motivate the team.
Whatever the case, Portland has a decent opportunity to win its first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are led by MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic, but the Jamal Murray injury makes them vulnerable. The Blazers are going to have to step up their defense in order to win this series.
Damian Lillard is ready for the challenge.
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