The Portland Trail Blazers face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and John Hollinger of the Athletic has selected the Blazers to triumph over the Nuggets in seven games. Hollinger’s reasoning touches on how while the defense has struggled, the Blazers’ offense is torching opponents’ nets.
Portland’s defense ranked 29th overall, with no real stopper and at times embarrassing transition sequences, but the Blazers did defend more credibly over the season’s final 10 games. They still aren’t exactly amazing at this end but don’t need to be because their own offense is so good.