Portland Trail Blazers: 5 keys to series vs. Thunder

5. Good 3-point shooting

For the 2018-19 season, the Trail Blazers ranked ninth in the league in 3-point percentage at 35.9 percent. They were 18th in 3-point shots attempted at 30.7 attempts per game and ranked 17th in 3-point makes at 11.0 makes per game.

If they want to beat the Thunder and make a run in the playoffs, they need to shoot around the same percentage (preferably higher) and take and make more 3-pointers.

Last year against the New Orleans Pelicans in the playoffs they shot 33.3 percent from the 3-point line while only making 10.8 3-pointers per game. New Orleans played hard defense on Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum and forced them to give up the ball.

They did not fear any other Trail Blazers from behind the perimeter and allowed/wanted guys like Maurice Harkless, Al-Farouq Aminu and Pat Connaughton to shoot open 3-pointers and they never made the Pelicans pay for it.

The Blazers added Seth Curry and Rodney Hood to help with having more respectable shooters on the floor. Jake Layman has stepped up his play this season and can not be left alone from deep.

Meyers Leonard and Zach Collins have both improved their shooting, and their ability to hit shots at the center position could be a huge benefit for the team in helping limit Steven Adams as a rim protector.

Having shooters OKC has to respect makes them more honest on defense and it spreads them out. If the Blazers can hit their 3-point shots, then that will open up the offense and make life easier for Lillard, McCollum and Kanter.

The more one-on-one matchups those guys see, the better for the Trail Blazers.