Blazers Praise Lillard’s Locker Room Speech

The players and coaches want the details of the meeting to stay in house, but (Damian) Lillard said the essence of his speech was that it was up to the players, not the coaches, to step up in crunch time, and to not accept the “we competed hard” as a pacifier for losing.

“He took control,’’ said Dorell Wright, who is in his 10th NBA season. “It was a big step for him.’’

Added Wesley Matthews: “It showed he’s grown. He’s one of those guys who has always led by example, and he put it on himself. He was tired of losing so he voiced his opinion. It was good.’’

“I just felt like it needed to be said,’’ Lillard said.

via Jason Quick of The Oregonian