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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers playoff cheat sheet

By Brandon Osborne

DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 26: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter at the Pepsi Center on February 26, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - FEBRUARY 26: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter at the Pepsi Center on February 26, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Taking a closer look at the first-round playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers

Record:

Portland: 53-29

Oklahoma City: 49-33

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Regular Season Series:

Thunder 4-0

Avg. Score: Thunder 120.75, Trail Blazers 113.75

Summary: The Trail Blazers come into the 2019 NBA playoffs looking to avoid another upset after losing last year to the Pelicans. Just like last season the Blazers enter the playoffs as the No.3 seed bad Portland would like to avoid a second straight sweep to a No.6 seed.

The Thunder on the other land are looking to pull the upset over a team they swept the regular season series from. Oklahoma City will have to hope that the shoulder injury to Paul George doesn’t limit as the Thunder are a completely different team when he isn’t healthy.

Stats:

PPG

Trail Blazers: 114.7

Thunder: 114.5

OFF RTG

Trail Blazers: 114.7

Thunder: 110.3

Pace

Trail Blazers: 99.1

Thunder: 102.8

OPP PPG

Trail Blazers: 110.5

Thunder: 111.1

DEF RTG

Trail Blazers: 110.5

Thunder: 107.0

FG%

Trail Blazers: 46.7

Thunder: 45.4

3FG%

Trail Blazers: 35.9

Thunder: 34.8

EFG%

Trail Blazers: 52.8

Thunder: 51.4

Tov%

Trail Blazers: 12.1

Thunder: 11.7

X-Factors:

Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard

For Portland to make it past the Thunder they will need their superstar point guard to outplay the Thunder’s superstar point guard Russell Westbrook. Lillard has been amazing this season and will likely be named to the All-NBA team. Lillard averaged 34.75 PPG against the Thunder while having at least six assists in all four meetings. Lillard had a 51-point game against the Thunder back on 3/7.

Thunder: Paul George

For the Thunder the key to the series is going to be the health of Paul George. If George isn’t bothered by his shoulder injury then he can lead the Thunder to the upset but should his injury linger and have an effect on his shooting then the Thunder will be in trouble. George scored at least 32 in every matchup vs Portland this season including a 47-point performance.

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Prediction: Thunder in 7

As long as the Paul George injury isn’t significant then the Thunder should be able to take advantage of a Trail Blazers team missing Jusuf Nurkic. However, if the shoulder injury hobbles George then Portland should have the advantage.