Analyzing Potential Playoff Matchups for the Portland Trail Blazers
By Jakob Ashlin
Oklahoma City Thunder
If the playoffs were to start today, the Blazers would play the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have hovered around the three, four, and five seeds all season long, and they seem to be the Blazers most likely first-round opponent.
However, playing the Thunder would certainly be the least appealing outcome for the Blazers. Oklahoma City has gone 3-0 against Portland this season. Paul George is averaging 40 points against the Blazers this season; that is his highest scoring average against any Western Conference opponent. George has been, perhaps, the best two way player in the league this season, and he can easily exploit Portland’s lack of an elite perimeter defender.
On the positive side, all of the Blazers losses have been by single digits, and they have not faced the Thunder since acquiring Enes Kanter. Kanter and Rodney Hood have proven to be great additions, and they could possibly be the x-factor in a series with the Thunder. The Blazers will face the Thunder on Thursday night, and that game could an accurate idea of how the new look Blazers could fare against the Thunder in the playoffs.