Portland Trail Blazers
Nurkic's Night.
The @trailblazers big man explodes for a career high 33 PTS & 16 REB.#RipCity defeats @nuggets 122-113. #NBAGIF pic.twitter.com/sIQ6F0V76W
— NBA (@NBA) March 29, 2017
We said this earlier in the season. Blazers general manager Neil Olshey simply needed to find a way to get Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum some help. When this squad was struggling throughout the first several months of the year, it became readily apparent that Portland’s supporting cast wasn’t up to snuff.
Enter into the equation center Jusuf Nurkic, who was acquired from Denver with a first-round pick in exchange for Mason Plumlee during February’s trade deadline. All the 22-year-old big man has done since then is put up 15.4 points and 10-plus rebounds per game.
More than simple stats, Nurkic’s scoring ability inside has given Portland a tremendous balance to go with its star-studded backcourt. Portland boasts a 13-6 mark since this trade and now finds itself with a one-game lead over Denver for the eighth and final playoff spot.
We know what you’re thinking. That likely means a first-round matchup with the two-time defending Western Conference champs and an early exit in the playoffs. Sure the Warriors are heads and shoulders above other teams in the NBA at this specific moment. But remember, Portland played this squad extremely tough in the postseason last spring. That came without Nurkic in the mix.
In no way does this mean that Portland will upset the Warriors in the first round. Instead, it will provide the NBA Finals favorites a difficult playoff matchup. That in and of itself makes Terry Stotts squad dangerous.