Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers will head to Orlando as part of the 22 teams that will resume the suspended 2019-20 NBA season at the Walt Disney World. Nonetheless, it's safe to say that it will be difficult for them to clinch the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
According to Lillard, however, the Blazers do have a “legit chance” to reach the postseason and win the title (per The Athletic's Shams Charania, via NBC Sports Northwest).
“My motivation is to get in the playoffs. For one, we want to play for a chance at a championship. I think everybody's coming back with some rust on 'em. Some teams gonna have guys that choose not to play. Some guys gonna be disinterested, wanting to go about their summer. Some guys gonna be out of shape…It's gonna be a lot of factors that give a lot of teams a chance to actually come in here and win it,” said the Blazers star, who was revealed as the cover athlete for NBA 2K21 on Tuesday.
“I think that's part of my motivation, is knowing there is a legit chance… We got our starting power forward and center back. We're a healthier team. That's motivation.”
The Blazers will enter the season resumption 3.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Over a year ago, Portland was facing off with then-reigning champion Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
Damian Lillard turned heads and caused headlines earlier in the NBA hiatus after debating whether to sit out the restart or not. It's clear now, though, that the five-time All-Star floor general will be with the Blazers and his teammates as they try to steal the final playoff spot.
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