Damian Lillard and the Blazers are going through a difficult period and are 13th in the Western Conference, far from direct qualification for the playoffs. The Portland point guard did not dodge thorny issues in front of the media following the loss to the Lakers. On the other hand, he does not want anyone to insinuate that he is putting pressure on General Manager Joe Cronin to upset the team before the deadline.
Without raising his voice, or disrespecting his interlocutors, Damian Lillard admitted to being offended that he was asked if he was going to lose patience with the situation.
“I want us to be in the best possible situation. Me, I’m a leader and I do what I have to do. Everyone has their job. At the moment, we don’t win, we don’t It’s not regular enough, but it’s not my job to say who should move where and what should happen to the roster.
All I can say is that for the moment, we can’t do it. I want to win, it’s no secret. We have to do everything possible to be in a position to win. I’m up for whatever that means.
I don’t think it’s fair for you to ask me this question (on possible threats to management, editor’s note). It’s a low blow. Our team is struggling at the moment and I’ve been very transparent regarding that, that we might do better. There you put me in the position where I have to answer a question that is not cool.
I understand that you have to, but there are other people you can ask the same question and they will answer you. Even if this question concerns me, moreover. I think it’s not cool to ask that following a painful defeat and in a period when we are in difficulty.
I always answer questions, it’s just that I find it a bit disrespectful to put myself in this situation.
Even on complicated or trivial questions, Lillard always manages to give frank and interesting answers. We can understand that he feels a little trapped in the face of journalists who are waiting for a strong sentence like “we must recruit players before the deadline, otherwise we are going straight into the wall”. “Dame” has already shown in the past that he does not operate in this way and that he is ready to go following his convictions with his team.
Which of course does not mean that there will be no movement at the deadline and the All-Star point guard has also said that he is in phase with whatever the front office chooses to do.
