April 28--By no means, Damian Lillard said late Wednesday night, does this young Portland Trail Blazers group sense that they have broken the will of the injury-depleted Clippers.
The Trail Blazers' three consecutive wins in the first-round playoff series has given them a 3-2 edge. They play Game 6 of the Western Conference playoffs at home Friday night in Portland and can close out the best-of-seven series then.
But it's not over until it's over, and it won't be over until the Trail Blazers defeat the Clippers once more. That's the approach Lillard and the Trail Blazers are taking, even knowing that Chris Paul (broken right hand) and Blake Griffin (left quad tendon injury) will not play.
"They're a competitive group, even without CP and Blake," Lillard said. "I think they have a team that can really compete. They've got some explosive guys out there. They still have guys where they can be a really good, disruptive defensive team. They know that if they can try to come win this next one in Portland that the series is coming back here [to Los Angeles]. At that point, anything can happen on your home floor.
"I wouldn't say that their will is broken, just understanding that part of it. But it also makes it tough when you know you've got to go back to an arena like ours and win a game."
The Trail Blazers have been very successful at the Moda Center, boasting a 28-13 record this season.
It's where they turned things around after losing the first two games in the series, winning two at home and winning Wednesday night at Staples Center.
But the Clippers haven't been a slouch on the road this season, going 24-17.
It's just that this time the Clippers won't have Paul or Griffin to face the Trail Blazers.
"We want to close the series out," Portland guard C.J. McCollum said. "We've got a unique opportunity here to play an elimination game at home and we went to make sure we take full advantage of it."
Twitter: @BA_Turner
