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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 /
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2017 NBA Playoffs
January 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the basketball against Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Trail Blazers 125-117. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Biggest advantage for Golden State

Rebounding and free throw shooting:

Honestly, this should be Kevin Durant, but we’ll get to him in a minute. In four games against the Blazers, Golden State was effective clearing the boards on both ends of the floor. The Warriors out-rebounded Portland, on average, 45 to 37 and held the Blazers to nearly five boards below their season average.

Golden State was also the better team at forcing its way to the free throw line throughout the four-game series. The Dubs took nearly 10 shots more per contest from the foul line than the Blazers and hit at a near-80 percent clip.

Despite the blowout nature of games one and two during the regular season, the Blazers proved capable of hanging with the Warriors in games three and four, losing by just eight and two points. In those close situations, free throws could loom large and if the Warriors consistently have big advantages in trips to the charity line, that can only mean good things, right?

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Biggest advantage for Portland: Something new

Nothing really worked for the Blazers in four meetings against the Warriors this season. They had the doors blown off in a 135-90 loss back on Dec. 17. On Jan. 4, they shot 46 percent from deep, nailed 12 triples and still lost by eight.

Fortunately for Portland, the postseason series might look a lot different (maybe).

On Feb. 12, Portland traded Mason Plumlee to the Denver Nuggets for backup big Jusuf Nurkic. Nurkic, made expendable by the emergence of Nikola Jokic, wasted no time earning Rose City’s love. He scored double-digits in seven of his first eight games, capped by a 28-point, 20-rebound, 8-assist, 6-block explosion.

Nurkic’s style is a departure from the more calculated Plumlee. He can create offense for himself on the block and use his size and strength to bully to the free throw line. Where Plumlee passed, Nurkic has shot.

Nurkic’s biggest impact has been felt on the other end, though. The Blazers have been statistically better in almost every major defensive category since Nurkic’s arrival, helped by his huge frame and rim protection.

Key to the series however, will be whether Nurkic is available given his injury. Reports have him back on the court, but not in terms of any  one-on-one contact.  If Nurkic plays the series takes on a completely different shape, without him the Blazers are in tough.

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