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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from Game 1 loss vs. Nuggets

By Raymond Simms

(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

3. Too many turnovers

The Portland Trail Blazers are a ball-handling team. They committed 13.8 turnovers per game during the 2018-19 season, tied (with the Detroit Pistons) for 11th-fewest in the NBA. That average ticked up to 14.4 per game in their first round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but they still placed just eighth among all 16 playoff teams.

Rip City started the first game of this series on the wrong side of the turnover battle. The Blazers conceded 18 turnovers in Game 1 while only forcing 12. Lillard led the way by coughing up six of them to match his six assists. This is the third time this postseason that Portland has reached 18. The last time came during the team’s Game 3 loss in the first round.

Portland committed 18 or more turnovers in 13 games this season. They went 7-6 in those games and 46-23 in matchups with fewer. So while the Blazers can still prevail when they’re sloppy with the ball, the odds are much better when they’re more careful with the rock. This is certainly something they will look to improve upon in Game 2.