Joe Freeman of The Oregonian got some nice quotes from Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who discusses his approach to late-game situations a few days after taking over down the stretch in a win over the Houston Rockets on Friday.

"I just think you have to have that mindset that you're going to go in and get it done," Lillard said.

"In my mind, when I take the shot, I'm going to make it," Lillard said. "But I'm not afraid to miss it either. I've missed it before, so I can live with not making it. I think you've just got to be comfortable with yourself. For me, if I miss the shot, I don't think any less of myself. I feel like the next one is going to go in. You just have to be comfortable with who you are and be confident in yourself."

"I've just always feel like that time is the time to rise to the occasion," Lillard said. "I just like those moments, I feel like it says a lot about you to your teammates. I like my teammates to know that when it's a war going on out there that I'm ready to jump in the battle, that I'm going to fight for them. I really like those situations."

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter