NBA Playoffs 2019: Keys to Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder matchup

By Ben Ladner | Apr 14, 2019

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 7: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers look on during the game on March 7, 2019 at the Moda Center Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 9: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 9, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Who takes the pressure off of Damian Lillard?

The cost of losing Nurkić goes far beyond his 15.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game (all career highs). His refined scoring ability and improved playmaking smarts allowed Lillard to work against more balanced defenses and punished opponents for tilting too far toward Lillard. With the big man sidelined and CJ McCollum battling minor maladies of his own, Lillard has more strain on him than ever. Everything will run through him by both design and necessity. When the Thunder overcommit to him, Portland’s role players must capitalize. Seth Curry’s ability to space the floor could be crucial when those two guards share the backcourt. Using Zach Collins or Meyers Leonard in the pick-and-pop might be an antidote to Oklahoma City’s preoccupation with Lillard.

In addition to finding tertiary scoring outlets, the Blazers must also figure out how to consistently free Lillard for his own offense. He can make shots against any defense and make his teammates better by virtue of his gravity and playmaking, but there’s only so much one player can do when his most central support pieces are tampered with. Oklahoma City, already an aggressive defense by nature, won’t hesitate to trap Lillard well beyond the 3-point line and force the ball out of his hands in the pick-and-roll. Defenders will help off of nearly anyone but McCollum, forcing Portland’s cast of role players to read situations and make the appropriate decision. When given the choice, the Thunder will almost always opt to smother Lillard, even at the expense of leaving the players around him open. Lillard will find himself in tight quarters, dumping the ball off to Aminu, Zach Collins or Enes Kanter on the roll rather than the reliable Nurkić. Can Portland trust them to consistently tie possessions together for 48 minutes?

Terry Stotts will look for ways to alleviate some of that pressure from Lillard’s shoulders by moving him off the ball and allowing McCollum or Evan Turner to handle the ball, or finding creative ways to create more breathing room out of the pick-and-roll. Even without Nurkić, an offense built around Lillard is one potent enough to win a first-round series, so long as Lillard is at his best.

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