Portland Trail Blazers: Top 5 games to watch in 2018-19

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 11: Jusuf Nurkic #27 and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers are seen before the game against the Utah Jazz on February 11, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

2. Nov. 1 vs. New Orleans Pelicans (TNT)

Nov. 1 at the Moda Center will be the Blazers’ first chance at revenge over the team that swept them in the first round of the playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans. This is one of those games the players and coaches circle on the calendar when the schedule first comes out.

The Pelicans flat-out embarrassed the Blazers in four straight games. Portland had no answer for them on either side of the ball, and it exposed some of this team’s most significant weaknesses. The front office went out and addressed some of the needs this offseason, and hopefully, it will show when they see New Orleans.

During the regular season last year, the Blazers and Pelicans split the series, 2-2. These two teams have two of the best players in all of the NBA in Lillard for Portland and Anthony Davis for New Orleans. Either player can take over the game at any moment. If the Blazers want to take the next step and put last season behind them, they have to show that they have recovered by beating the Pelicans the first time their paths cross.

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