Portland Trail Blazers: 4 keys to victory over the Nuggets in the NBA playoffs

Portland Trail Blazers Key No.1: Blazers stars being great

The Blazers may have to work hard to slow down the two Nuggets stars, but Denver will have to work even harder to guard the Blazers Big-4 of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic and Norman Powell. Portland has a significant advantage in the backcourt, and that should make life easier for everyone else on the offensive end.

Lillard and McCollum are arguably the best backcourt in the NBA, and the Nuggets are going to have to put Rivers and Campzazzo on them to start the game. Campazzo is 5’9″ and will not be able to defend Lillard all series consistently. He won’t be able to check McCollom or Powell either. That leaves Rivers, Harrison and maybe Gordon also to try and defend the Blazers guards.

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Once Denver starts paying extra attention to those three guys on pick and rolls, isolation plays, drives, running off screens, etc., then Nurkic can do damage down low, and Covington and Anthony will see more open looks to score as well.

This will be the first time Nurkic goes up against his former team in the playoffs, and if he can keep up a consistent level of play like he was doing to end this season, it will make life hard on Denver. Nurkic is probably one of the few players in the NBA who has the skill, size and strength to battle with Jokic on both ends.

If Nurkic gets to going down low, Denver has to send help, opening up more shots for his teammates from deep. Also, If Nurkic can get Jokic in foul trouble, Denver is in a tough spot because they will have to use McGee, Millsap and maybe even Bol Bol.

Lillard already admitted that he believes Jokic is the MVP, but I’m sure there will be some motivation on his part to show why he belonged in the MVP conversation. Lillard has to be licking his chops, seeing who the Nuggets are going to put on him.

McCollum was having a career year before hurting his foot and is now starting to get back to his early-season form. Powell has been fantastic on both ends since arriving in Portland, and he is a guy who has won a championship before, so he can help the Blazers be calm in crucial moments because he has been there.

The Blazers Big-4 combined this season averaged 80.4 points, 20.4 rebounds and 17.5 assists per game.

If Portland’s four main guys can stay healthy, knock down shots and play smart on both ends, I could see the Blazers winning this series in five or six games. The Nuggets are a good team, and if they were healthy would be more of a challenge, but I think we see the Blazer’s star power show up this series.