Trail Blazers Gearing Up for Competitive Series Against Thunder

The Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder had a contentious relationship in the regular season. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook got into with several Blazers in one game back in January. For Portland, they know this series will be hard-fought. Joe Freeman of The Oregonian talked to the team Wednesday night as their series with OKC was locked in:

“I don’t think we dislike them,” Lillard said Wednesday night. “I can’t speak for them. But once you step on the court, we fought to get to the postseason and now somebody’s got to go. Obviously, there ain’t going to be no buddy-buddy stuff. I think that’s obvious. Something is on the line. Top point guard against a top point guard. Top team in the West against another top team in the West. It’s always something on the line. But I don’t think there’s any dislike.”

Evan Turner even shared excitement over the upcoming series:

“It’s going to be a great, competitive matchup,” Evan Turner said. “We always seem to have some pretty good games. They’ve been heated, but it’s all in the spirit of competition. Me, personally, I don’t have any ill-intentions toward anyone over there. Half the time, we’re in chapel with them before the game. I’ve never stayed up a night worrying about it. There’s people in the league where I’m like, ‘Man I can’t stand that guy.’ But this isn’t the case. It’s going to be fun.”

You can read more from Freeman’s piece here.