The Portland Trail Blazers tackle one among their hardest remaining opponents tonight, touring to Ball Arena to tackle Nikola Jokic and the burgeoning Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets are very, very, excellent at basketball. It is unhealthy writing apply to use the phrase “very” as an amplifier, a lot much less use it thrice. However, that’s the one means to emphasize how the Nuggets are at the moment rolling. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic nonetheless possesses the flexibility to “turn it on” come playoff time, a top quality evident by the Nuggets’ most up-to-date matchup with the 2nd-seeded San Antonio Spurs. This contest revealed that there are, in truth, ranges to this sport, and the highest seeds within the Western Conference function on that degree.
The Nuggets, plain and easy, are higher than the Blazers. Much like each different staff that exists – and has ever existed – the Blazers don’t match up properly with Jokic. On the again of the world’s greatest participant, the Nuggets possess the league’s greatest offense during the last two weeks of play, trailing solely… the Hornets?? Anyway…
This matchup goes to rely on how the Blazers are ready to include the Nuggets’ three-point capturing. Having to fear about matchups like Cameron Johnson, Jamal Murray, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Aaron Gordon makes that containment simpler mentioned than executed. Not to point out Jokic’s knack for doing a pirouette right into a 720 spin-move earlier than throwing up a one-footed dagger, as he did over Victor Wembanyama on Saturday evening. All of that’s to say, the Blazers might be relying upon some poor capturing luck to stay on this contest.
In their first contest with the Nuggets, throughout the Emirates NBA Cup Group Stage, the Blazers received by means of precisely this fashion, containing the nuggets to 24% capturing from three. Granted, the Blazers additionally shot 28%, but it surely was a bonus, nonetheless! As with most profitable video games, Portland additionally received the turnover battle, committing solely 12 turnovers and grabbing six extra offensive rebounds than the Nuggets. First, I didn’t know the Blazers have been able to committing solely 12 turnovers. Is this stat sheet actual? Are we pulling a reverse-90s and deflating statistics? Second, now that each groups have settled into their respective identities of “really good contending basketball team,” and “oh my god we might be .500” (I’ll allow you to resolve who’s who), it’s unlikely that the Blazers will as soon as once more win the turnover battle. The query might be: How many occasions can they cough the ball up to the league’s most offensively competent staff and get away with it?
If the Blazers do discover the key sauce in opposition to the Nuggets tonight, then they are going to be assured to end with a minimum of a .500 for the primary time because the 2020-2021 NBA Season. That’s extremely miserable, but additionally optimistic! Things are starting to search for for the Blazers. In the speedy time period, a win in opposition to one of many league’s true contenders could be an excellent vibe-boost heading into the Play-In Tournament.
Portland Trail Blazers (40-38) vs. Denver Nuggets (50-28) – Mon. Apr sixth – 6pm Pacific
How to watch by way of antenna or cable: See your choices on the Rip City Television Network.
How to watch by way of streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass or NBA TV in all places else.
Trail Blazers accidents: Jerami Grant, Vit Krejci, Damian Lillard, Shaedon Sharpe (Out).
Nuggets Injuries: Bruce Brown (Questionable); Spencer Jones, Zeke Nnaji, Peyton Watson (Out)
The Jokic Plan. What method will the Blazers take with Jokic? There are sometimes two colleges of thought: First, permit Jokic to rating as a lot as he needs, which restricts the involvement of the remainder of his teammates. Problems start to come up when he scores too a lot, however Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan have nearly as good an opportunity as anybody to gradual him down. Second, you attempt to restrict his particular person scoring impression, which frees him up to throw no-look baseball passes instantly into his teammate’s capturing pocket from 70 toes away. It actually is a “pick your poison” type of matchup. Which one will the Blazers select?
Slow Starts. The Blazers can not afford to come out of the gate sluggish, as they did of their earlier contest in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Nuggets are much less forgiving than the Pelicans when it comes to profitable basketball video games. I’m guessing the Blazers perceive this, however want to channel it into poised, energetic play. A gradual begin is a dropping begin in opposition to probably the most environment friendly offense within the league.
