Portland Trail Blazers:Key games to start the regular season

With the regular season almost here, the Portland Trail Blazers will be eyeing their first few games. Which matchups are key to starting the season well?

In a stacked Western Conference none of the contending teams can afford an early slip-up. The Portland Trail Blazers will be targeting all these key early matchups to start the season strongly.

Denver Nuggets – Game one

First game up this is a massive matchup. A Western Conference rival who they beat in an amazing seven game series in last years playoffs, this matchup is important to get a jump on their Northwest division rivals. The Nuggets have improved on last year, adding Jerami Grant with Michael Porter Jr making his much awaited début after missing last year with injury. The combination of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum is key to getting past the Nuggets. In last years playoff series these two were the difference.

Sacramento Kings – Game two

The young Kings will be an interesting matchup in game two. Missing the playoffs in a breakout season last year, they have exciting young pieces in De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley Jr. Portland are the experienced big brother with a settled squad. They should be too strong in this early matchup for Sacramento, but will need to be up to their game defensively. The Kings like to play fast so transition defense will be of importance.

Dallas Mavericks – Game three

Another young squad beckons in game three. With Kristaps Porzingis joining dynamo Luka Doncic the Mavericks are looking to contend in the West again. They are probably a year or two away from making the playoffs in the West, but with this young duo in they will be a threat on a nightly basis. Zach Collins will be tested early in the season defensively in this matchup.

Oklahoma City Thunder – Game five

The rebuilding Thunder will be another intriguing matchup for this Blazers squad. After being playoff contenders for almost ten years they are now without Russell Westbrook who was traded in July. They still have Danilo Gallinari, Chris Paul and Steven Adams so this will be an opponent the Blazers can’t take lightly. Like some of the other matchups mentioned above the Blazers will look to use their established pieces to power past some of the teams that are less familiar with each other.

Starting well is important for this Blazers team. In a stacked conference they can’t afford to fall behind early. Getting home advantage this year will be tougher but they will still need to put themselves in the best position possible for the postseason. Winning four of their first five games would be a statement to start off with!