The Portland Trail Blazers finished the regular season with the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference but were swept in the first round by New Orleans Pelicans.

Lillard believes the Pelicans did an excellent job of taking him out of the offense.

"The reality of it is, their game plan was to take me out," said Lillard. "I come across halfcourt and there are two guys guarding me. There's really no excuse on my behalf. You've got to take the good with the bad. I can accept the credit when I do great things and I accept the criticism."

Lillard believes the Blazers currently have potential to hit another level the way the Warriors did after their first round exit to the Clippers in 2014.

"I honestly feel like our team is capable of something like that," Lillard said.

Lillard also disagrees with the suggestion that the Blazers may be better off breaking up his backcourt pairing with CJ McCollum.

"I mean, I don't agree with it. I think it's that simple. That's the easiest thing to say, but I don't agree with it."