Blazers' Aldridge on facing elimination: 'The pressure is on them to close us out'

For the second consecutive game, the Portland Trail Blazers are facing elimination at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies.

But while LaMarcus Aldridge once again faces the possibility of suiting up for what could be his last game in a Blazers uniform, the All-Star power forward believes the pressure is on the Grizzlies' shoulders.

"The pressure is on them to close us out," Aldridge told reporters on Wednesday. "We're just trying to get this back to Portland."

It's a common refrain among teams in do-or-die situations.

Aldridge and those who've claimed the same before him have a point. Each elimination game that isn't capitalized on by the series leader allows the rallying team to creep closer to a Game 7, and if the Blazers can find a way to steal Game 5 in Memphis, they'll be a home win away from that winner-take-all contest.

But regardless of cliches and narratives, the fact remains that the Blazers are a loss away from their season coming to an end, while the Grizzlies have three more opportunities to put Portland away, including two in Memphis.

The Blazers avoided a sweep with a 99-92 Game 4 victory at the Moda Center on Monday in what might have been Aldridge's last game in Portland as a Blazer.

Aldridge posted 18 points and 12 rebounds, but struggled shooting the ball (6-of-22), to say the least. The nine-year veteran is averaging 23.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and two assists through four games, while shooting a pitiful 34 percent from the field.

Game 5 tips at 9:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.