In an attempt to overtake Memphis for the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoff standings, the Trail Blazers will need to channel their inner Feb. 19 selves. Back on that day, Portland pulled off a surprising 31-point win over the Dubs, who are closing in on the NBA record for wins in a season.
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SCHEDULING
Leaving the confines of the Moda Center after a four-game homestand, the Trail Blazers visit Golden State after a matchup with Miami on Saturday. The second of a back-to-back is also the third game in four nights for Portland as they try to remain in possession of playoff spot in the Western Conference. It’s not an ideal situation for the Blazers, who are just 5-12 SU and 8-9 ATS in the second game of a back-to-back this season. Portland can rest on the fact that they defeated the defending champs, knocking the Warriors off rather convincingly back in February.
If anyone doubted whether the Warriors were going to push for a record 73 wins instead of saving energy for the playoffs, that thought should now be put to rest. Playing on the back end of a back-to-back on the road against a playoff-hungry team, Golden State conceded nothing in a win at Utah on Wednesday night. After spending much of the season deflecting talk of breaking the mark set by the 1995-96 Bulls, the Warriors are now embracing it. “It’s something we want to do. We’ve spoken on this. It is not secret,” Draymond Green said.
INJURIES
The Blazers got some troubling news last week when forward Myers Leonard was informed he needed surgery to repair a twice dislocated shoulder. He is out for the rest of the season. Also, reserve center Chris Kaman missed a few games while battling an illness.
Andre Iguodala is nearing a return from an ankle injury he suffered March 11. Coach Steve Kerr said the other day he expects the Finals MVP to return “in about a week.”
KEY MATCHUP
The Warriors could set the NBA record for wins in a season and Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are the two biggest reasons why. Curry is the best pure shooter that ever lived, and whether he has the ball in his hands or not, defenses disintegrate when he’s on the floor. There’s never been an offensive weapon like him. Green doesn’t get the pub like his Splash Brother teammates, which makes us feel like he is still underrated. Green is a beast on the floor. He crashes the glass, guards all five positions really well, shoots threes and can run both a fastbreak and pick-and-roll, he impacts virtually every area of the game. The Warriors are never better than when he’s on the floor. Green averages a near triple-double in three games against the Blazers with 14.0 points, 12.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists. But he remains motivated by his nine turnover game against Portland on Feb. 19, which the Warriors lost by 31 points.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
It’s fun to watch the display of basketball put on by the Warriors every game. They are so slick and confident, and the record is theirs for the taking. I think they’re going to take it. Which is why Golden State’s 137-105 loss to Portland on Feb. 19 is so shocking. The Blazers aren’t mentioned among title contenders and will likely be first round fodder for one of the upper crust teams in the West. I guess even the best teams can have a night off. The Warriors extracted revenge from that 31-point shellacking by beating Portland at home on Mar. 11. But you know that loss will be discussed by the team more than the recent win. And with a chance to be immortalized among the best ever in the NBA, the Warriors aren’t going to let that slip away.
Golden State 111, Portland 104
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