After a disappointing end to their season, shedding in six video games to the Denver Nuggets, the Portland Path Blazers seem like at an offseason crossroads, with questions on roster and training adjustments lingering over their future.
Following their 126-115 Recreation 6 loss wherein they blew a 14-point second-half lead at dwelling, the frustration was evident within the Blazers’ postgame media availability.
“I imply, we didn’t win a championship, so clearly the place we at the moment are isn’t adequate,” Damian Lillard stated. “I don’t know what a shakeup appears to be like like or what adjustments will probably be made or may very well be made, however clearly as is, it wasn’t adequate. We got here up brief in opposition to a staff with out their start line guard and taking pictures guard (Will Barton and Jamal Murray). … Clearly, the place we’re isn’t adequate to win a championship if it’s not adequate to get out of a first-round collection with two of their finest three or 4 gamers not on the ground.”
Lillard was spectacular within the collection and put collectively one of many biggest postseason performances ever in Recreation 5, a 55-point eruption that featured a playoff-record 12 3-pointers. However reflecting the Blazers’ predicament, it wasn’t sufficient as Portland misplaced that recreation in double additional time.
In Recreation 6, Lillard appeared to expire of steam — together with taking a blow to the top — taking pictures simply 1-of-9 within the second half, together with 1-of-5 within the fourth quarter because the Nuggets pulled away late. It was a troublesome finish to a collection wherein Lillard set a mark for many 3s made in a playoff collection (35), and likewise grew to become the fourth participant in NBA historical past with 200 factors and 60 assists in a collection, becoming a member of LeBron James, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. And he did all of it in six video games.
The Blazers have been the uncommon image of stability in right this moment’s NBA, with Terry Stotts the fourth-longest-tenured lively coach with one staff, main the Blazers since 2012. Solely Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra and Rick Carlisle have been with their groups longer. The Blazers have had the battery of Stotts, normal supervisor Neil Olshey and star Lillard in place for the previous 9 seasons.
However Stotts’ future is in query, with loads of chatter about the potential of a training change in Portland.
“My job safety? I’m below contract for 2 extra years. I’m certain, similar to the top of yearly, we’re all evaluated. Gamers, coaches, administration — we’re all evaluated. So we’ll see what occurs,” Stotts stated. “We’ll see what occurs, however all I do know is I’m below contract for 2 extra years.”
Beneath Stotts, the Blazers have made eight consecutive postseason appearances, the longest present streak within the NBA. They’ve misplaced within the first spherical in 5 of these eight appearances, reaching the Western Convention finals in 2019, once they had been swept by the Warriors. He’s certainly one of two coaches in Blazers historical past with 400 wins, together with Jack Ramsay. He’s additionally the one coach Lillard has ever had.
“For our season to finish on our dwelling flooring is disappointing. That’s so far as I’m proper now,” Lillard stated. “I’m not eager about not one of the different s— like change or no matter, man. We’ll see what occurs, however I haven’t even thought that far out.”
Lillard’s dedication to the Blazers has been unwavering, with him doubling and tripling and quadrupling down in that regard publicly over current years. Lillard is 30 and signed a four-year supermax extension in 2019, retaining him below contract with the Blazers via the 2024-25 season.
“We didn’t make excuses and we nonetheless don’t make excuses. Disappointing ending, this isn’t what we wished, however we don’t cling our heads. Simply got here up brief,” Lillard stated. “We didn’t do what was essential to win a collection and gotta preserve combating, preserve working and preserve coming again to battle. No matter the way it ended, we’re all the time going to have our heads held excessive, have class and go about it like actual warriors. We misplaced, they had been the higher staff, congratulations to them. It’s again to the drafting board for us.”
Alongside Lillard within the backcourt for the previous eight seasons has been CJ McCollum, a participant typically talked about in commerce eventualities however one Olshey has adamantly stated he wouldn’t commerce. McCollum expressed disappointment in his efficiency within the collection; he averaged 20.7 factors on 46.2% taking pictures however missed a number of important pictures in each Video games 5 and 6. Requested about his future, McCollum politely declined to have interaction the query.
“My job is to get higher. Work on my recreation to enhance in order that I may help the staff,” he stated. “My job isn’t to fret about these issues.”
Nurkic, although, was fairly candid about his obvious frustration, saying he was not sure if he could be again subsequent season. The 26-year-old huge man has {a partially} assured contract subsequent season and stated he would take a while within the coming days to think about what is perhaps subsequent for him.
“In the proper scenario, sure,” Nurkic stated when requested if he wished to return to the Blazers subsequent season.
What’s the proper scenario?
“We’ll see. I don’t know but,” he stated. “As a result of this isn’t it.”
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