4 things the Portland Trail Blazers need to do better to win the series

PORTLAND, OR - MAY 5: Damian Lillard (0) of the Portland Trail Blazers high fives CJ McCollum (3) after earning a trip to the free throw line against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter on Sunday, May 5, 2019. The Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers game four of their second round NBA playoff series at the Moda Center in Portland. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

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3. Better offense from Aminu and Harkless

In the last series when the Blazers beat OKC in five games, Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu were good on the offensive end.

Harkless averaged 11.0 points, 2.0 offensive rebounds and 3.6 free throw attempts per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field. Aminu averaged 10.6 points and shot 90.9 percent from the free throw line, as well as 40.9 percent from 3-point range on 4.4 attempts per game.

This series against the Nuggets, both guys have been somewhat quiet. Harkless is only averaging 6.5 points and 1.3 free throw attempts per game while shooting 41.6 percent from the field. Aminu is scoring 9.5 points per game and is shooting 36.4 percent from the field, with a drastic decrease to 14.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line on 3.5 attempts per game.

Aminu needs to get back to his stable 3-point shooting ways, and Harkless needs to get back to being aggressive slashing to the hoop and attacking the rim for second chance opportunities. If they are playing well, it opens up easier shots for Lillard, CJ McCollum and Kanter because defenses have to pay attention to those two instead of sagging off and using their man for help defense.

When both guys are scoring and are being a central part of the offense, this is an entirely different Trail Blazers team, and they should not have a problem finishing this series in six games if Aminu and Harkless find a way to get it going.