Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Western Conference NBA Playoffs preview – Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trail Blazers

By Derek Peterson

Feb 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) talk on the bench during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Warriors won 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) talk on the bench during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Warriors won 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
2017 NBA Playoffs
Feb 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) talk on the bench during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Warriors won 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

As the 2017 NBA Playoffs loom, top-seeded Golden State opens its Western Conference title defense on a high note when it meets No. 8 seed Portland in a rematch of last season’s second round matchup.

Season series: Golden State 4-0

The Golden State Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers during the regular season, and it wasn’t even close. The Warriors scored 125 or more in each of the first three meetings and won by an average of nearly 20 a night.

Warriors’ projected starters:

Point Guard:  Stephen Curry (6-foot-3, 190 pounds)

Shooting Guard:  Klay Thompson (6-foot-7, 215 pounds)

Small Forward: Kevin Durant (6-foot-9, 240 pounds)

Power Forward:  Draymond Green (6-foot-7, 230 pounds)

Center:  Zaza Pachulia (6-foot-11, 270 pounds)

Key reserves: SF Andre Iguodala, C JaVale McGee, PG Shaun Livingston, SG Ian Clark

MUST READ: Russell Westbrook: The Real MVP

Trail Blazers’ projected starters:

Point Guard: Damian Lillard (6-foot-3, 195 pounds)

Shooting Guard:  CJ McCollum (6-foot-4, 200 pounds)

Small Forward: Maurice Harkless (6-foot-9, 215 pounds)

Power Forward:  Noah Vonleh (6-foot-10, 240 pounds)

Center: Jusuf Nurkic (7-foot-0,  280 pounds)

Key reserves: SF Evan Turner, SG Allen Crabbe, SF Al-Farouq Aminu

Last Playoff meeting:

Golden State defeated Portland 4-1 in the second round of the 2016 Playoffs.

Home/Thunder News