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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
Mar 28, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) posts up against Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

X-Factors

Golden State: Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala, a veteran and Finals MVP, is my pick for Sixth Man of the Year. With Iguodala on the court this season, the Warriors scored more points per possession and opponents’ field goal percentages dropped. When Iggy joins the Warriors’ four stars, Golden State outscores its opponents by 25 points per 100 possessions. And he can still score when he needs to. When Kevin Durant sat with a knee injury, Iguodala averaged 12 points on 59.4 percent shooting in the month of March.

MUST READ: An ode to a magnificent, terrifying regular season

Portland: Jusuf Nurkic

I was told not to pick a starter for this but how can the Blazers x-factor not be the Bosnian Beast? Nurkic has not played a single minute against the Warriors in a Portland uniform, and even though there’s still tape on Nurkic within Portland’s scheme, you can bet head coach Terry Stotts will have some tricks up his sleeve. Nurkic is currently battling injury, but if he’s available, the Blazers would have a low-post threat they didn’t have in their four losses during the regular season. In 38 minutes against the Warriors this season, Nurkic has scored 24 points and missed a whole three shots.

If he plays, Portland doesn’t have to push the tempo. If he can’t, the Blazers have to try and out-shoot Golden State from deep. Which route do you think gives them a better shot at dethroning the West champs?

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