TUALATIN, Ore. — In their first practice since clinching a playoff spot Wednesday, the Portland Trail Blazers remained in the moment, concerned with finishing off the season strong, as well as locking up the No. 5 seed.
And no, over the next five days the Blazers do not plan to rest players, including All-Star Damian Lillard.
“I want to keep the same rhythm and when you start worrying about other things they crop up,” head coach Terry Stotts said about Portland’s approach to the last two games. “I think it’s important to keep the same rhythm that we’re going on. We have a young roster, we play 10 guys, 9 guys. I think it would be more beneficial to play them regular.”
Lillard said he doesn’t see the benefit in resting, at least for him.
“I’m a guy who feels better when I play,” Lillard said.
The Blazers have two games remaining. The Memphis Grizzlies, with whom the Blazers are currently tied in the standings for the fifth seed, have four.
The Blazers would like to keep their rhythm ahead of the playoffs, but they also need to win both of these games.
The first opponents for the Blazers are the young Minnesota Timberwolves, who are fresh off a signature win over the 70-9 Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.
While the Blazers employ CJ McCollum, a near-lock for the NBA’s Most Improved Player, the Timberwolves have the near-consensus NBA Rookie of the Year in Karl-Anthony Towns.
“(Towns is an) exceptionally talented big man who continues to get better,” Stotts said. “He’s extending his range, comfortable in the paint. He’s a good passer.”
The Blazers came back from 17 points twice to win in both trips to Minnesota.
But thinking in the moment doesn’t preclude the Blazers from preparing for their playoff opponent, whether it’s the fourth-seeded Clippers or the third-seeded Thunder.
The Blazers are preparing their playoff scouting, but they won’t begin planning for the playoffs until next week.
With the Grizzlies playing both Dallas on Friday and Golden State on Saturday, the playoff picture should become clearer in the coming days.
“I think we’ll start on Monday,” Stotts said regarding playoff preparation. “We’ll probably have a better idea of where we are. We won’t talk about playoffs much until next week.”
