Portland Trail Blazers: Losing Jusuf Nurkic dooms their playoff chances
After losing Jusuf Nurkic, the Portland Trail Blazers’ playoff chances have taken a huge hit
With less than 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Portland Trail Blazers were poised to finish in the top 4 of the Western Conference once again, and could still even finish as high as the three seed.
However, they will now have to navigate the rest of the regular season and playoffs without one of their key cogs. In their Monday night win over the Nets, Jusuf Nurkic suffered a gruesome leg injury that will keep him out the remainder of the year.
Officially, Nurkic suffered compound fractures to the tibia and fibula of his lower left leg, after awkwardly falling trying to grab a rebound.
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The injury couldn’t come at a worse time, especially considering the season that Nurkic was having. In his third year with the Blazers, Nurkic was enjoying arguably the best statistical season of his career, averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists on 50 percent shooting from the field.
Nurkic is Portland’s best big and losing him will create a big void in their frontcourt that the team wouldn’t be able to fill before the playoffs. Enes Kanter is one player that will likely have to step up in Nurkic’s absence, which is something that they probably couldn’t have envisioned just a few weeks ago.
The good news for the Blazers is that C.J. McCollum, who has been sidelined with an injury of his own, is expected back sooner rather than later. No matter how you look at it though, you can’t help but feel for both Nurkic and the Blazers.
Next. NBA Power Rankings: Are the Warriors destined for failure in the playoffs?. dark
In a wide open Western Conference, this could’ve been their year to make a run to the Western Conference Finals (assuming they could avoid the Warriors until then).