PORTLAND >> It’s a routine that Paul Pierce is getting used to. And, it’s a habit he’d love to break.

At the end of the season, after getting eliminated from the playoffs, Pierce walks away from the team. He heads to the comforts of home and faces the most important decision of his career.

“Is this it?”

With his 18th season now over, Pierce is set to go through the steps once again, and he doesn’t know what he’s going to do.

“Each and every year for the last couple years, I’ve thought long and hard about walking away from the game,” Pierce said after the Clippers were eliminated Friday. “The process is going to continue this summer, as I think long and hard, step closer to getting older in age. (It’s) seeing how my body feels, talk to my family. I just don’t want to make an emotional decision right now. I’ll just take some time off, sit down with my family and think long and hard.”

Pierce has two years and $7 million left on his contract with the Clippers.

If he made a decision today, he might be back because of the pain that comes along with losing.

“Every year when you lose that game, when you say it’s time to go home and no more basketball for the year, and you’re not holding up that trophy, it’s a tough pill to swallow,” Pierce said. “If you’re any type of competitor, if you have any type of dream, you’re always thinking about winning that championship.

“ … I don’t want to make an emotional decision. Every heartbreak makes you want to come back.”

And, to be clear, this was a heartbreak.

The corner of Pierce’s eyes were red and filling with tears as he talked about the Clippers’ Game 6 effort, one that came up a little short.

“You saw it in everybody’s eyes – this group didn’t have no quit in them no matter what the circumstances are,” he said. “ … It didn’t take away from the guys’ effort. … I’m proud of everybody. It was great being able to play with a good group of guys like this.”

Pierce, like everyone in the Clippers locker room, believed the Clippers had a chance to win. And, Pierce probably didn’t think he’d struggle as much as he did to make that happen.

Pierce had career lows in virtually every category, and that, certainly, will be a factor in his decision.

“There’s some evaluation that needs to be done,” Pierce said, “so I’m going to take my time and figure that out.”