Portland Trail Blazers’ Thomas Robinson got advice from Wesley Matthews

Portland Trail Blazers’ power forward Thomas Robinson hasn’t had the career he expected.

The fifth overall pick of the 2012 draft has already played for three different names.

He’s had trouble finding a niche and carving out playing time. Now that he is in Portland, he went to a teammate, swingman Wesley Matthews, for advice.

Joe Freeman of the Oregonian has the scoop.

"So Matthews had a message for Robinson: “You’re damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.”Translation: Robison had two choices. He could lament his lack of playing time, become consumed with the what-ifs of what he might do with more minutes. Or he could look at whatever playing time he got as a gift and attack it with the same reckless abandon he does rebounds and loose balls when he’s inspired on the court.Whether he plays 10 minutes or 30, Matthews told Robinson, he needed to be himself. He needed to attack the glass at will. He needed to focus on defense. And, more than anything, he needed to bring his trademark energy at all times, not just when he was motivated."

Robinson is averaging 4.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game in 49 games this season.