No playoff chance, no play says Blazers’ star Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call in the third quarter against the Miami Heat during their game at Moda Center on February 09, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Abbie Parr/Getty Images/AFP
Portland star Damian Lillard says he won’t play if the resumed NBA season doesn’t offer the Trail Blazers any chance of making the playoffs.
Multiple reports have said that the NBA is keen to ensure that all teams complete a minimum of 70 regular seasons games in order to fulfill contractual obligations with regional television networks.
That could mean the Trail Blazers, who are one place outside the playoff berths in the Western Conference with a 29-37 record, have no realistic prospect of overhauling Memphis for the eighth spot in the post-season.
Lillard said if that scenario unfolded, he would effectively boycott the Blazers’ remaining games.
“If we come back and they’re just like, ‘We’re adding a few games to finish the regular season,’ and they’re throwing us out there for meaningless games and we don’t have a true opportunity to get into the playoffs, I’m going to be with my team because I’m a part of the team,” Lillard told Yahoo Sports.
“But I’m not going to be participating.”
The NBA is exploring a plan to resume the season in late July at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, although final details of a plan have yet to be determined.
It remains unclear whether the league will aim to complete the rest of the regular season or go straight into the playoff schedule.
Lillard is adamant, however, that he won’t play if Portland has no chance of reaching the post-season.
“If we come back and I don’t have an opportunity to make the playoffs, I will show up to work, I’ll be at practice and I’ll be with my team. I’m going to do all that … and then I’m going to be sitting right on that bench during the games,” Lillard said.
Lillard said he backed the idea of holding a mini-tournament involving teams currently outside the playoff places to determine the post-season line-up.
“If they come back and say it’s something like a tournament, play-in style, between the No. 7 and No. 12 seeds, if we’re playing for playoff spots, then I think that’s perfect,” he said.
