Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from 2018-19 Media Day

1. Blazers players are trying to “Remember to forget”

Yes, the Portland Trail Blazers still remember their disappointing first round playoff loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the refrain from the returning players and staff is that they are not letting it wholly define their season or themselves as players.

The team appreciates the fact that they finished third in the Western Conference and won the Northwest Division. Specifically, general manager Neil Olshey made sure to remind media members of those two facts on multiple occasions during his interview.

Evan Turner feels the team understands why they were swept, but is ultimately looking forward instead of dwelling in the past.

"“You have to be motivated, but you have to also remember, but also remember to forget, in a sense. Last year was last year, and obviously going into preparation, things like that, into the season, you really have to remember to go forward and take one day at a time.”"

Damian Lillard echoed the same sentiment when asked a similar question.

"“It happened. I think it’s something we got to remember, something that we should be, I guess, motivated by. But we can’t let it pull us down, you know, it’s something that you go through. Sometimes bad things happen, and it’s how you respond to it. One team gets to win the championship, and everyone else goes home a loser.”"

We’ll see how well the Blazers uphold that ethos, as the Western Conference will be quite the gauntlet in 2018-19. In fact, their first regular season opponent will be LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 18.