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The Trail Blazers closed the 2020-21 regular season with a 10-2 record in their final 12 contests. That run of successful results shouldn’t come as a surprise after you glance at Damian Lillard’s individual output during that stretch. After Sunday’s victory over the Nuggets, Lillard reflected on Portland’s turnaround and his championship goals for the future.
The Athletic’s Jason Quick highlighted Lillard’s long-time dream of securing a title during his time with the Blazers.
“Like, I can’t express my desire and how bad I want to win it,” Lillard said. “I want that more than anything. Not just to say I won a championship. But I want to do it in this city. I want to have a parade on Broadway and ride past El Gaucho (steakhouse). That’s what I think of. Every time the playoffs is starting, I’m going into it like, ‘Is this going to be the year that we shock the world or that we come up big?”’
Lillard and the Blazers will embark on their 2021 postseason journey with a first-round matchup against the Nuggets.
You can read Quick’s full feature at The Athletic (subscription required).