With the memory of last season's heartbreaking letdown in the first round of the playoffs still fresh in the mind of Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard, the All-Star point guard explained how that experience has resulted in a more developed sense of urgency for the team this season.

Speaking to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Lillard explained why he believes last season's unexpected first-round sweep at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans has motivated the Blazers to have a deeper sense of urgency:

“I think so,” Lillard said. “Not based on anything from the outside. There’s more urgency because we want to get back and have another shot at it. We went into it last year with high hopes. Seeing things go one way, and then it doesn’t go that way. We’re really looking forward to that opportunity to redeem ourselves.”

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Lillard, however, did admit that a similar result from last season's disappointment could lead to drastic measures from the team's front office:

“Maybe, anything can happen,” Lillard said. “We can get into the first round and have a seven series, play really well and come up short. It’s the playoffs. I wouldn’t say if we don’t get out of the first round [it’s over]. If we did get out of the first round that would be really encouraging. If you get out of the first round, have a really good second-round series, maybe win a second-round series, it depends on how it goes. I don’t think it’s [about] the first round. We could get into the playoffs and be matched up with Houston and have a seven-game series and be in a shootout. It’s the Western Conference.”

As Lillard explained, anything can happen in the playoffs. However, the Blazers will definitely need to put up much more of a fight than they did last season, as anything less might just result in a total team overhaul in the offseason.