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Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard took questions from the media at Blazers Media Day 2018. His major themes were:
- Complacency is the enemy.
- His off-season included family time and staying relaxed as well as preparation for the season.
- The bench might be able to step up more.
- Making the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference is the goal.
Here are some highlights from Twitter.
Dame on the teams biggest obstacle: Staying focused on what's in front of us. We had a great regular season and a terrible postseason pic.twitter.com/n76B33jLYk
— Peter Sampson (@PeterSampson) September 24, 2018
"When the game really got on the line, if the game got close, if something had to happen it was pick and roll for us." - Lillard on Pelicans series
— Danny Marang (@DMarang) September 24, 2018
Basically, Pels took away what POR had been doing all season and that's more than a simple adjustment to make.
Dame on the return of the starting 5 - "I don't see how we can be complacent. There's a level of comfort, but we're not complacent"
— Peter Sampson (@PeterSampson) September 24, 2018
Offseason for Lillard; didn't travel as much, spent time with his son/family, still put in the work but found a way to relax.
— Danny Marang (@DMarang) September 24, 2018
Lillard on his "workout" video: If you have to record everything you do and show proof of it, how real is it?#RipCity https://t.co/JTANIbCPxq
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) September 24, 2018
"My family is happy here. I'm happy with my situation here." -- Damian Lillard
— Isaiah De Los Santos (@IsaiahDeLos) September 24, 2018
Damian Lillard: "If a situation ever were to come up where I felt like I wasn't valued ... then that would be the time (to ask for a trade) but I don't feel that way."
— David MacKay (@DavidMacKayNBA) September 24, 2018
"My family is happy here, I'm happy here." - Damian Lillard on stars demanding trades around the league.
— Danny Marang (@DMarang) September 24, 2018
Dame on who's taken the leap - "I need more time to see... Meyers looked really good these past few weeks...I tell him looks good every time but this time was different"
— Peter Sampson (@PeterSampson) September 24, 2018
Damian Lillard on Seth Curry: "From what I've seen, I think he'll fit really well."
— David MacKay (@DavidMacKayNBA) September 24, 2018
Dame on lifting footwear restrictions: "Pretty sure I'll be wearing a lot of different colors
— Peter Sampson (@PeterSampson) September 24, 2018
Damian Lillard on what would be a successful season: "Give ourselves a chance in the postseason again. In the Western Conference, that can be considered successful."
— David MacKay (@DavidMacKayNBA) September 24, 2018
Lillard. "One team gets to win the championship. Everyone else goes home losers." #RipCity https://t.co/JTANIbCPxq
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) September 24, 2018