Portland Trail Blazers
X-factor: Jusuf Nurkic
We know the narrative that has surrounded the Portland Trail Blazers for the majority of the 2019-20 NBA season. And it’s that this team was one of the most disappointing during the regular season. Fresh off a run to the Western Conference Finals, the Blazers will enter the restart bubble out of the top 8 in the West.
However, they are welcoming the return of both Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins when the season resumes. Before his injury, Nurkic was an important and impactful player for the Blazers. During his last healthy season with the Blazers, Nurkic averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists per game on 51 percent shooting from the field.
The return of Nurkic will add some much-needed depth to the frontcourt and could add another scoring punch in the starting lineup or off the bench – depending on how the Blazers elect to use him. The question, though, is whether his return will be enough to get the Blazers back on track. That’s no guarantee.