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

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

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)
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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Portland Trail Blazers
Rodney Hood, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Game 8 vs. Denver Nuggets

Previous Matchups:
— Oct. 29 — Nuggets, 108; Blazers, 100
— Dec. 12 — Nuggets, 114; Blazers, 99
— Feb. 4 — Nuggets, 127; Blazers, 99

Score Prediction: Nuggets, 114; Blazers, 110
Record Prediction: 35-39

There isn’t a game on the Blazers’ eight-game schedule that they can’t win, but imagining them running off a 7-1 record feels a tad bit overzealous. Expect at least a hiccup or two. This feels like it could be the one.

For his career, Nurkic averages 18.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game against Denver, without question the best splits of his career. With eight games under his belt, my hunch is that he does something similar.

In the meantime, the Nuggets have always been something of a thorn in Portland’s side. Sure, the Blazers were able to beat them in a Game 7 last year, and had a come-from-behind in the standings act in 2017 to sneak into the postseason.

But, in the Lillard-McCollum-Nurkic era, the Blazers have won just nine of 22 games against Denver. Far from a sure thing, the Blazers drop one here, and go to a respectable 6-2 over the eight-game slate.

Final Standings:

In this predicted setting, the Blazers would finish at 35-39.

There’s yet to be an actual NBA confirmation on the schedule, but 35 wins would certainly be enough to earn a spot in the play-in tournament. My hunch is that who they play comes down to how worlds collide — Memphis’ toughest schedule in the NBA vs. New Orleans’ easiest schedule vs. San Antonio’s penchant for stepping up when it matters.

I believe Memphis hangs on just enough, but loses their hold on the No. 8, meaning they have to beat Portland twice.

Ranking the top 5 PGs in the NBA. dark. Next

And from there, who knows what the future holds?