Portland Trail Blazers: Game-by-game picks and analysis of the schedule

Portland Trail Blazers: Game-for-game picks and analysis of the eight-game schedule

PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 18: Jusuf Nurkic #27 (L) and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers have a conversation on the bench in the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors during their game at Moda Center on December 18, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Game 6 vs. Brooklyn Nets

Score Prediction: Blazers, 107; Nets, 95
Record Prediction: 34-38

Previous Matchups:
— Nov. 8 — Nets, 119; Blazers, 115

In a perfect world, this would be one of those games where McCollum goes nuclear on the likes of Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert in an authoritative statement of: “Oh, you journalists thought these guys were worth trading for me?”

There’s a chance it could happen, too. Jun. 5 offered a vibe killer, when Kyrie Irving announced his potential return — but only as sideline assistance. Kevin Durant has already confirmed he wouldn’t be present, either.

That first meeting featured a ton of anomalies. Lillard won’t get you 60 points every night, but with the team he has now, he won’t need to.

His other four starters combined for just 24 points. Mario Hezonja’s days as a Portland starter are probably done away with, and McCollum won’t shoot 4-of-19 on most nights.

The two replacements the Nets sign won’t be of Durant and Irving’s caliber, so there’s reason to be confident. There’s no need to belabor this; the Blazers should be able to pull out a confidence-building dub here.