A matchup from two years ago that more or less decided who was going to lose to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. For the Nuggets, they have come a long way since then. Meanwhile, the Blazers have more or less stayed where they are in reference to where they stand in the conference.
The matchup is very intriguing and should be aesthetically pleasing to those who enjoy lots of offense. The presumed MVP Nikola Jokic going head-to-head with the elite scorer that is Damian Lillard. Both with strong offensive counterparts.
How The Nuggets Got Here
The Nuggets actually started flat to begin the year, starting 6-7 in their first 13 games. It was definitely a shock. Some of it seemed to do with the Nuggets having one of the shorter off-seasons around the league, as well as losing key role players such as Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee–both deciding to accept a nice payday to flush away their prime in Detroit.
When it came to the trading deadline they were looking to address their needs which were getting a solid off-ball scoring wing and rim protection. They accomplished the first part by acquiring Aaron Gordon from the Magic. After which they got JaVale McGee from the Cavs.
These trades definitely proved to be substantial moves as they won the first seven games with the new additions and the chatter began on whether or not they were legit contenders to win the West. Unfortunately, Jamal Murray tore his ACL and is out for the season. To Jokic’s credit, he managed to keep the team afloat, which only improved his case for MVP. While they’re still a strong team, their chances of winning a championship ended when Murray went down.
How The Nuggets Win The Series
The Nuggets have a better offense than the Blazers. For them, it is mostly about playing that way. The main key will be defense. Nuggets are around league-average defensively, while the Blazers are among the league’s worst. When it comes to closing time, they will need to make one key stop in order to win the game and the series.
How The Blazers Got Here
The Blazers tried to retool some of the defensive depth after being among the league’s worst defense the year before. They managed to sneak into the playoffs last year thanks to Damian Lillard going absolutely berzerk in the bubble.
After some retooling, the defense did not really improve and there are talks about a change at head coach if the Blazers go out of the playoffs early. So, there will be a lot on the line as with every coaching change there are big changes on the roster. Lillard will be the only untouchable asset.
How The Blazers Win The Series
Lillard is going to have to perform much as he did in the bubble. They are a strong offensive team, yet the Nuggets can still outscore them and can play better defense. Defensively it is going to be a challenge. Let’s just leave it at that. So Lillard is going to have to play an extraordinary level for the Blazers to advance.
Series Prediction
As mentioned several times, this will be a fun offensive matchup. Two perennial offensive players, one of which will more than likely bringing home an MVP trophy. However, as fun, as it is the Nuggets just have too much for the Blazers defense to handle. They also have a slight edge on defense as well, and better coaching. It shouldn’t be close.
Prediction: Nuggets in 5
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