More from Dame: "It would suck not to get in the playoffs because our thing was, we had fought ourselves back into position to get a spot," Lillard told Yahoo Sports. "We had our starting center and starting power forward coming back, so we had a lot to look forward to and for a great reason. Now, they're healthy and have extra time to train and rehab while everybody's rusty. So now, they won't be coming back as the only rusty players. And if everybody's rusty, [expletive], we can come in here and beat everybody. I do feel like if we do come back and our mind is right, we can beat anyone. It's going to be hard to get going with no fans, you've been off all this time and some people are just ready for summer like, ‘[Expletive] it, I haven't played in a long time and the season is basically over to me. Do I really care like I cared before?' It's going to be a lot of those factors going on and that presents a lot of room for a team to sneak some [expletive]. Like, really mess around and knock some teams off and then, 'Oh, they're in the Western Conference finals.' It's room for that with this situation. So the fact that it's possible and we wouldn't get an opportunity at that, that's weak to me. I ain't getting no younger. A potential Los Angeles Lakers-Trail Blazers matchup likely would be the most anticipated series of the first round. "I just feel like that would be the matchup people want to see," Lillard told Yahoo Sports. "And not to say nobody wants to see Memphis, because they're in the eighth and they've been in the eighth spot for a while. They've earned that. You can't take anything away from Memphis. They play hard, they're exciting and they've got a lot of young talent. The Lakers would have their hands full playing against them. Memphis beat the Lakers this year. Memphis would have nothing to lose. I feel like both series could be a little bit hectic for the Lakers, but I think more so us, because of the experience and where we are in our careers. Not too long ago, we played them in L.A. and obviously I had a great game and we won a close one, and in the playoffs, I'm sure they would come up with some type of game plan to not allow that to happen. But I want to compete. That's what we want."
Why? playing out meaningless regular season games without a shot at the playoffs is stupid. It would only hurt our pick if he played, and the risk of injury unnecessarily. And it would give the youngins a shot at playing more mins. Think it's a win win all around. The only people who wouldn't be happy are probably local broadcast partners, but in this environment, you better believe everyone is going to tune in regardless of whether Dame plays.
Nah. Setting up that dynamic would be a bad and needless look for the league. Props to Dame for staking out his position and making it known. The suits need to know that the players aren’t just stooges for whatever they decide.
This is posturing by Dame - I think it helps ensure we have a way in. Mark Cuban just put out his plan earlier calling for 20 teams to be in - which is what we want.
It's also his job to look out for his long term future as well as the team's. He mentions as much in his quotes that he isn't getting any younger. I don't need him risking injury in a meaningless game
Ya it's super calculated and he went to his guy Chris Haynes to get his word out. Think Dame realizes he has some clout now in the NBA mediasphere and is flexing a bit.
Good. They had a shot at making the playoffs. If the league redoes things where they cannot make it then why should Dame risk his health this season.
I wouldn't expect him to play an abbreviated season for any reason at all if they cannot gt to the Playoffs.
He says this now, but I expect he'll have a hell of a time following through on it. Perfectly fine with him posturing though, and coming from a place of anger about any possible resumed season cheating the Blazers out of an opportunity to make it. Dame fought tooth and nail all season, and to not have a shot due to the league office's decision feels cheap. Mind, I don't think they were making it if the season played out, but to be even denied the opportunity sucks.
You should go take a look at the relative remaining regular season schedules of the Blazers and Grizzlies. In my view, if the season was played out with Nurk and Collins back, the Blazers get in. Easily.
Seriously! The blazers could easily go on a 7 game winning streak while the grizzlies could easily lose 8 of the 10 next games. I think the real battle will be us against the pelicans cause they have a somewhat favorable schedule too