2017 NBA Playoffs Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The 2017 NBA Playoff schedule is officially set and the Golden State Warriors will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. This series will make up a small portion of the total sports betting pie for the NBA playoffs. However for the savvy bettor there is plenty of opportunity here if you're will to take a few risks.
No. 1 Golden State Warriors
After their championship title dreams were cut short last season after a devastating loss, the Golden State Warriors have returned to the 2017 NBA Playoffs as the No.1 seed in the Western Conference. Back better than ever, the team barely skipped a beat after Kevin Durant was out for 20 games with a sprained MCL. Upon his return, the star player was able to maintain his 25 point per game scoring average.
The Warriors have literally been the golden child of the NBA this season, breaking records with every shot they got. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry took over the record books when it came to three-pointers this season. The Splash Brothers managed to make more than 200 3’s in the span of five successive seasons. Lillard and McCollum are a tough duo, but it seems safe to say that the Golden Boys can handle them.
History may also have a way of repeating itself. In the second round of the playoffs last year, the Warriors won five games against the Blazers even with Curry being out for three. Aside from 2-time MVP winner Curry being another one of the team’s 25-point scorers, when you consider that the Warriors have Defensive Player of the Year Candidate Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson who averages 22.5 points per game, Golden State is a tough squad for any team to beat.
No. 8 Portland Trailblazers
The Splash Brothers are a force to be reckoned with, but there is definitely something to be said about the dynamic duo of C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard. Combined, the two players average a high scoring 50 points per game.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the fate of the Trailblazers is if or how center Jusuf Nurkic will play. He was traded to Portland at the deadline and has been a valuable asset as the Blazers are 14-6 with Nurkic manning the center. Nurkic helped lead Portland to the playoffs until he had to miss the last 7 games due to a non-displaced fibular fracture in his leg. It still remains up in the air as to if Nurkic will even make an appearance in the first round, as one bad move could result in a more serious injury.
If he does play, we know that the Warriors will have to put up a fight as they have no one like Nurkic to defend the center. Portland could easily give the ball the Nurkic in the interior and let him throw off Golden State. Without him, it will likely just be a show of Lillard and McCollum trying to get more points on the Warriors.
Who Will Win Game 2?
With GS coming off a 121-to-109 win over Portland it's hard to see the Warriors losing game two at home. The 75 points CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard dropped on Golden State weren't enough to out score the NBA's best team. Captain obvious has to point out that in order for the Trail Blazers to blaze a trail to the finals they have to steal a game on the road.
With Durant leading his new team in scoring in his first playoff game with Golden state and the overall juggernaut they are as a whole I doubt game two is the game they drop. To be honest I can see the Warriors sweeping their way into the Finals.
Portland is a 13.5 point dog to the Warriors in game two and sit at +975 on the moneyline. That seems light for team on the road. Right now Oregon gambling sites that offer sports betting have lower limits on this game and that should tell you all you need to know.
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